Microbiological Monitoring of the Environment Using the “Association Rules” Approach and Disinfection Procedure Evaluation in a Hospital Center in Morocco

Abstract

Background. The hospital environment, especially surfaces and medical devices, is a source of contamination for patients. Objective. This study carried out, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time at Taza Hospital in Morocco aimed to assess the microbiological quality of surfaces and medical devices in surgical departments and to evaluate the disinfection procedure in time and space. Methods. Samples were taken by swabbing after cleaning the hospital surface or medical device, to isolate and identify germs which were inoculated on semiselective culture media then identified by standard biochemical and physiological tests, using the analytical profile index (API) galleries. Moreover, the association rules extraction model between sites on the one hand and germs on the other hand was used for sampling. Results. The study showed that 83% of the samples have been contaminated after biocleaning. The most contaminated services have been men’s and women’s surgeries. 62% of isolated germs have been identified as Gram-positive bacteria, 29% as Gram-negative bacteria, and 9% as fungi. Concerning the association rules extraction model, a strong association between some contaminated sites and the presence of germ has been found, such as the association between wall and nightstand and door cuff, meaning that the wall and nightstand contamination is systematically linked to that of the door cuff. The disinfection procedure efficacy evaluation has enabled suggesting renewing it each 4 h. Conclusion. Microbiological monitoring of surfaces is necessary at hospital level through the use of the association rule extraction model, which is very important to optimize the sampling, cleaning, and disinfection site scenarios of the most contaminated ones.

Hospital-Based Air-Borne and Surface-Borne Bacterial Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Profiles in Wolaita Sodo, Southern Ethiopia

“…Nosocomial infections affect approximately 5–10% of patients in developed countries, but the risk is 2 to 20 times higher in developing countries and their presence induces an extension in the length of hospitalizations. Overuse of antibiotics leads sometimes to the emergence of resistant microorganisms [ 5 ]. The main reservoirs of infections include patients' environment, such as hospital rooms' surfaces and medical or accommodation equipment [ 5 ].…”

“…Overuse of antibiotics leads sometimes to the emergence of resistant microorganisms [ 5 ]. The main reservoirs of infections include patients' environment, such as hospital rooms' surfaces and medical or accommodation equipment [ 5 ].…”

Evaluating Cleaning Services in Civil Environments: Microbiological and Life Cycle Analysis Comparing Conventional and Sustainable Methods

“…The specimens were conveyed in insulated containers (2-6 • C), and the temperature conditions were supervised via a data logger. Incubation was conducted at 36 • ± 1 • C for 48 h, except for SDA plates, which were incubated at 25 • C for 72-120 h. Subsequently, the colonies were counted, isolated, and subjected to identification [7,10,11].…”

An Evaluation of Hospital Cleaning Regimes—Microbiological Evaluation and LCA Analysis after Traditional and Sustainable/Green Procedures

“…The temperature was monitored via data logger. PCA plates were incubated at 36 • ± 1 • for 48 h and SDA plates at 25 • for 72-120 h. Colonies were then counted, isolated, and identified [14][15][16][17][18].…”