<p>Bacterial Profiles and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Isolates from Inanimate Hospital Environments at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia</p>

Abstract

Introduction Microbial contamination of the hospital environment plays an important role in the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). This study was conducted to determine bacterial contamination, bacterial profiles, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates from environmental surfaces and medical equipment. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) from June to September 2018. A total of 164 inanimate surfaces located at intensive care units (ICUs) and operation theaters (OTs) were swabbed. All isolates were identified by using routine bacterial culture, Gram staining, and a panel of biochemical tests. For each identified bacteria, antibiogram profiles were determined by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results Out of the 164 swabbed samples, 141 (86%) were positive for bacterial growth. The predominant bacteria identified from OTs and ICUs were Staphylococci aureus (23% vs 11.5%), Acinetobacter baumannii (3.8% vs 17.5%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (12.6% vs 2.7%) respectively. Linens were the most contaminated materials among items studied at the hospital (14.8%). Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) had significantly high resistance levels to penicillin (92.8%), cefoxitin (83.5%), and erythromycin (53.6%). On the other hand, Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) revealed the highest resistance levels to ampicillin (97.5%), ceftazidime (91.3%), ceftriaxone (91.3%), and aztreonam (90%). However, a low resistance level was recorded for amikacin (25%) followed by Ciprofloxacin (37.5%). Of the 63 S. aureus isolates, 54 (85.7%) were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Conclusion The inanimate surfaces and commonly touched medical equipment within OTs and ICUs are reservoirs of potentially pathogenic bacteria that could predispose critically ill patients to acquire HCAIs. The proportions of the antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolates are much higher from studied clean inanimate environments.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Contamination of Frequently Touched Objects in Intensive Care Units: Potential Threat of Nosocomial Infections

“…In our study findings, contamination by Gram-positive bacteria was higher than that by Gram-negative bacteria. Similar findings are reported by other studies [ 19 , 20 ]. In contrast to our findings, a study from India reported higher contamination rates with Gram-negative bacterial isolates [ 22 ].…”

“…The overall bacterial contamination rate in ICU was 64.7% (152/235) which is higher than that in findings of other studies [ 18 , 19 ]. Some of the studies have reported higher percentage of bacterial contamination than our findings [ 20 , 21 ]. This reflects that bacterial contamination rates vary from hospital to hospital within and outside the country.…”

Indoor air microbial load, antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacteria, and associated factors in different wards of Arba Minch General Hospital, southern Ethiopia

“…pneumoniae displayed the highest resistance to two antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin and tetracycline and this profile is comparable to the results of a prior study done in Hawassa, Ethiopia [ 31 ]. Besides, susceptibility profiles exhibited by isolates against trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate were relatively similar to the results of an earlier work done in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [ 37 ].…”

Bacterial profile of high-touch surfaces, leftover drugs and antiseptics together with their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

“…High-touch surfaces in the hospital are potential sources of nosocomial infections, which increases the risk of contamination among susceptible hosts [ 36 , 37 ]. In this study, the overall bacterial contaminations of high touch surfaces, leftover drugs, and 80% ethanol was 26.6%, which is lower than a study carried out at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (86%) [ 38 ]. This difference might be due to differences in diagnostic techniques and infection control policies.…”