Bacterial Contamination of the Hospital Environment - The Experience of an Infection Control Team in a Tertiary Hospital in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are a major public health problem, contributing to morbidity and mortality of susceptible patients. In order to ascertain potential sources of HAI in a tertiary hospital, certain critical surface areas of the hospital, water sources and theatre instruments were sampled. Out of the 44 items sampled, 13 (29.5%) yielded 15 bacterial isolates. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated microorganism (60% of isolates), while Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus accounted for the remaining 40%. Bacterial load was heaviest in stored bucket water and the tip of the suction tube from the theatre. Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a baby cot from the Special care Baby Unit was resistant to all antibiotics tested. Most bacterial isolates were resistant to cefuroxime and cefexime. S. aureus was particularly resistant to ceftazidime and ceftriaxone. The results confirm the importance of water and environmental surfaces as potential sources of transmission of HAI. We recommend the overhauling of the Water supply system and institution of robust infection prevention and control practices. Hospitals ought to strictly adhere to infection control guidelines that include cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of hospital surfaces and equipment as appropriate, regular practice of hand hygiene and routine preventive maintenance of water systems.