Healthcare-associated infections: bacteriological characterization of the hospital surfaces in the University Hospital of Abomey-Calavi/so-ava in South Benin (West Africa)

Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare-associated infections have become a public health problem, creating a new burden on medical care in hospitals. The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria poses a difficult task for physicians, who have limited therapeutic options. The dissemination of pathogens depends on “reservoirs”, the different transmission pathways of the infectious agents and the factors favouring them. Contaminated environmental surfaces are an important potential reservoir for the transmission of many healthcare-associated pathogens. Pathogens can survive or persist in the environment for months and be a source of infection transmission when appropriate hygiene and disinfection procedures are inefficient. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial species from hospital surfaces in order to effectively prevent healthcare-associated infections.MethodsSamples were taken from surfaces at the University Hospital of Abomey-Calavi/So-Ava in South Benin (West Africa). To achieve the objective of this study, 160 swab samples of hospital surfaces were taken as recommended by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14698-1). These samples were analysed in the bacteriology section of the National Laboratory for Biomedical Analysis. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics 21 software. A Chi Square Test was used to test the association between the Results of culture samples and different care units.ResultsOf the 160 surface samples, 65% were positive for bacteria. The frequency of isolation was predominant in Paediatrics (87.5%). The positive samples were 64.2% Gram-positive bacteria and 35.8% of Gram-negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus predominated (27.3%), followed by Bacillus spp. (23.3%).The proportion of other microorganisms was negligible. S. aureus and Staphylococcus spp. were present in all care units. There was a statistically significant association between the Results of culture samples and different care units (χ2 = 12.732; p = 0.048).ConclusionThe bacteria found on the surfaces of the University Hospital of Abomey-Calavi/So-Ava’s care environment suggest a risk of healthcare-associated infections. Adequate hospital hygiene measures are required. Patient safety in this environment must become a training priority for all caregivers.

Infection Risks and Antimicrobial Resistance in Tertiary Hospitals in Benin: Study Cases of Sakété-Ifangni and Menontin Hospitals

“…The involvement of invasive procedures in the occurrence of bacteremia linked to catheters was also noted by this study. Similar results have been noted for secondary hospitals such as the secondary hospital of Abomey-Calavi/So-ava (17).…”

Risk Factors and Microbiological Control of Soils, Surfaces and Medical-technical Equipment at the Abomey-Calavi / So-Ava University Hospital Center, Benin

“…In addition, the presence of Enterobacteriaceae testifies to extremely variable and man-made accidental contaminations. This rate of 77% is lower than the 98.60% obtained by Kamga et al [17] in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and is greater than 65% by Afle et al [6] at the Abomey-Calavi / So-Ava University Hospital Center in South Benin. To compare with Afle et al [6] work, this difference could be explained by a deficit in hospital hygiene and inadequate maintenance of surfaces and materials.…”

“…This rate of 77% is lower than the 98.60% obtained by Kamga et al [17] in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and is greater than 65% by Afle et al [6] at the Abomey-Calavi / So-Ava University Hospital Center in South Benin. To compare with Afle et al [6] work, this difference could be explained by a deficit in hospital hygiene and inadequate maintenance of surfaces and materials. Moreover, these results suggest a strong implication of the surfaces in the risks of infections during the hospitalization.…”

“…8). Afle et al [6] have observed this high contamination of paediatrics. However, the rate of Staphylococcus contamination in the pediatric and operating theatre is very critical and this shows the non-compliance with the hygiene protocol.…”

“…In Benin, a prevalence of 32% of Care associated bacterial infection was observed in the neonatology department of the departmental hospital of Zou and Collines [5]. Recently, the work of Afle et al [6] on surface samples at the Abomey-Calavi / So-ava University Hospital Center (Benin) showed a predominance of Staphylococcus aureus strains (27.3%). In addition, care-associated infections are a major public health problem because they are of concern especially in high-risk services since the immune status of the exposed patients is a deficient immune field makes it easier for a microorganism to express its virulence and opportunistic pathogens to trigger infection [7].…”