Abstract
Cross- infection from patient to patient or from hospital personnel to patients represents constant hazards. It is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality especially in Intensive Care Unit all over the world. To identify the types and the source of bacterial contamination in ICU and to study the sensitivity of bacterial isolates to commonly used antibiotics in hospitals this study had been conducted in Al-Imam Al-Hussein hospital in Thi-qar province for the period from the 1st of September to the end of December 2011. A total of 320 swabs and samples were collected from 17 different sites of Intensive Care Unit environment and inoculated on a normal cultural media, then incubated at 37°C for 24 hour. The obtained growth revealed different bacterial colonies which had been tested for their morphological and biochemical characteristics. Sixty eight of pure isolates were obtained including 24 (35.29%) Gram positive bacterial isolates, and 44(64.71%) of Gram negative bacterial isolates, the highest rates (19.11%) of bacterial contamination had been found on the walls and the floor. Sensitivity tests for all isolates were done using 25 types of commonly used antibiotics in Iraq, among Gram negative bacteria and gram positive bacteria the genus Enterobacter spp and Staphylococcus spp respectively, showed the highest resistance to most of the tested antibiotics, MIC tests for 5 types of antibiotics being applied for the most resistant and the most sensitive isolates had identified that all isolates have a low rate of MIC against Ciprofloxacine. Bacillus spp and Enterobacter spp were the most prevalent bacterial contaminants of Intensive Care Unit environment. such contamination could be managed mostly by strict application of sterilization measures.
Highlights
Hospital infection is called nosocomium, occur in about 5% of all admitted patients
Sensitivity tests for all isolates were done using 25 types of commonly used antibiotics in Iraq, among Gram negative bacteria and gram positive bacteria the genus Enterobacter spp and Staphylococcus spp respectively, showed the highest resistance to most of the tested antibiotics, MIC tests for 5 types of antibiotics being applied for the most resistant and the most sensitive isolates had identified that all isolates have a low rate of MIC against Ciprofloxacine
Among gram negative bacteria that cause Nosocomial infection, mostly urinary tract infection, are; Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas spp and Proteus spp, while Streptoccoci are among gram positive bacteria that may cause respiratory tract infection, beside Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were detected to cause septicemia (Otter & French, 2009)
Summary
Hospital infection is called nosocomium, occur in about 5% of all admitted patients. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) up to 10% of the patients acquire a Nosocomial infection. An overall of about two million Nosocomial infections occur each year in USA, (Nester et al, 2004, Berriel et al, 2006). The rate of death as a Nosocomial infection in Iran 2003 among hospitalized infants in neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Imam Reza hospital in Mashhad was 17.3% (Naderi, 2007). Khan et al (2010) found that the rate of Nosocomial urinary tract infection in a teaching hospital in Pakistan was (20.43%). Among gram negative bacteria that cause Nosocomial infection, mostly urinary tract infection, are; Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas spp and Proteus spp, while Streptoccoci are among gram positive bacteria that may cause respiratory tract infection, beside Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were detected to cause septicemia (Otter & French, 2009). The patients will need additional treatment and long periods of admission in hospital, which may end with severe side effects (Deep et al, 2004, Dorchis, 2005; Hotchkiss et al, 2007; Vasselle, 2008)
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