ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF INANIMATE OBJECTS IN CLINICAL ENVIRONMENT
Patient-care equipment and inanimate objects contaminated with bacteria and fungi are a persistent problem in countries like Nigeria, and remain overlooked. This study aimed to elucidate the magnitude of contaminations, diversity, and antimicrobial-susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from selected wards of State Hospital in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. Samples were collected using a sterile swab moistened with sterile normal saline and inoculated into bacteriological media and identified by biochemical characterization, followed by antimicrobial-susceptibility tests of the bacterial isolates using agar diffusion method. Of the 63 bacterial isolates from the inanimate objects and items of patient-care equipment examined, Gram-positive bacteria were 52 representing 82 % while Gram-negative bacteria were 11 representing 18 %. Among the Gram-positive bacteria isolated, Staphylococcus spp were predominant followed by Bacillus spp and Micrococcus spp. whereas common Gram-negative counterparts were Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacter spp., Neisseria spp. and Klebsiella spp. The fungal isolates were commonly Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp. and Cuvulleria spp. Antibiograms of S. aureus and Bacillus species showed high resistance against penicillin (Augmentin). Isolates of Neisseria spp., Enterobacter spp and Pseudomonas showed 80 % resistance to Imipenem and ampicillin, whereas those of Klebsiella spp. displayed high resistance against ampicillin and nalidixic acid. Overall prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria was observed especially for augmentin both in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates. Therefore based on the obtained results, a stringent infection-vigilance program comprising routine sampling from equipment and inanimate objects combined with antimicrobial-resistance surveillance and decontamination efforts must be instituted promptly to cub the prevalence of hospital acquired infection.
Keywords: Antibiogram, Antibiotics, Inanimate objects, Clinical Environment, Bacteria
