Bacteriological assessment of the hospital environment in two referral hospitals in Yaoundé-Cameroon

Abstract

IntroductionMany studies still show significant numbers of surgical patients contracting nosocomial infections each year globally with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to identify potential bacteria reservoirs that may be responsible for nosocomial infection in surgical services in the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital (YUTH) and the Central Hospital Yaoundé (CHY).MethodsA cross sectional descriptive study was conducted from June to August 2012. Air, water, and surface samples were collected from two surgical services and subjected to standard bacteriological analysis.ResultsA total of 143 surface samples were collected. Bacteria were isolated in all surfaces except from one trolley sample and a surgical cabinet sample. The predominant species in all services was coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS). The average number of colonies was 132. 82CFU/25cm2. The bacteria isolated in the air were similar to those isolated from surfaces. From the 16 water samples cultured, an average of 50.93 CFU/100ml bacteria were isolated. The distribution of isolated species showed a predominance of Burkholderia cepacia.ConclusionThese results showed the importance of the hospital environment as a potential reservoir and source of nosocomial infections amongst surgical patient at YUTH and CHY, thus we suggest that Public health policy makers in Cameroon must define, publish guidelines and recommendations for monitoring environmental microbiota in health facilities.

Characterization of Potential Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated in High-Risk Infectious Services at the University Hospital Center of Suru-Léré in Benin

“…. About to microbiological quality in operating theaters, bacterial contamination was also observed by Gonsu et al [24] in two reference hospitals in Yaoundé. Degbey et al [11] in their study conducted at the CNHU-HKM identified the species Enterobacter agglomerans versus Enterobacter cloacae at CHUZ-SL.…”

Bacteriological Monitoring of Inanimate Surfaces and Equipment in Some Referral Hospitals in Assiut City, Egypt

“…Gonsu et al detected 148 bacterial isolates in inanimate surfaces in two referral hospitals, with CNS (57.43%) being the most predominant species [24].…”

No hints for abundance of Bacillus anthracis and Burkholderia pseudomallei in 100 environmental samples from Cameroon

“…The absence of B. pseudomallei in moist soil is well in line with lacking reports on melioidosis in Cameroon. Nevertheless, it might be interesting to further differentiate the B. cepacia complex strains that were reported from hospital environments in Cameroon [8] to exclude misidentified B. pseudomallei stains.…”

“…B. anthracis as well as Bacillus cereus Biovar Anthracis are constant threats to Cameroon's wildlife and cattle breeding [3][4][5][6][7]. In contrast, melioidosis has not been reported from Cameroon so far, although at least strains of the Burkholderia cepacia complex seem to be commonly isolated in local hospitals [8]. As B. pseudomallei can be easily confused with other Burkholderia spp.…”