Drug-resistant bacteria were found to contaminate inanimate surfaces and equipment in the Intensive Care Unit at Kawempe National Referral Hospital.

Abstract

Background Hospital inanimate surfaces and equipment in intensive care units (ICUs) provide a worrisome reservoir for drug-resistant microorganisms, which cause healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) in mostly developing countries. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of bacteria isolated from inanimate surfaces in the intensive care unit at Kawempe National Referral Hospital (KNRH). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to April 2023 in the ICU at KNRH. Random sampling was used to swab 15 pieces of selected equipment on points of contact with the user and points of contact with the patient and inanimate surfaces. The samples were analyzed for bacterial growth using standard microbiological methods. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the identified bacterial isolates was tested against commonly used antibiotics. All the data were analyzed in STATA version 12. Results A total of 76.2% (76/101) of the samples were positive for bacterial growth. The most common bacterial contaminants of inanimate surfaces and equipment in the adult ICU and neonatal ICU were CNSs (46.9% vs. 34.64%). All the gram-negative bacteria isolated were resistant to ceftazidime and ampicillin. Among the Enterobacterales strains tested for ESBL production, 62.5% were ESBL positive Conclusion The intensivecare unit (ICU) environment is known to act as areservoir of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Inanimate surfaces and medical equipment were found to be highly contaminated,and the predominant bacteria isolated from inanimate surfaces and medical equipment were coagulase-negative staphylococci, Acinetobacter species, Bacillus species, Micrococcus species, A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae. These isolates can potentially cause health care-associated infections. Therefore, routine surveillance of hospital inanimate surfaces and medical equipment is needed for timely intervention to reduce environmental contamination by resistant bacterial species and prevent hospital infection.