Abstract
Knowledge of the microbial diversity on hospital bed linens has implicit significance for infection control because bed linens are likely reservoir and vehicles for healthcare-associated Infections (HAIs). In this study, the diversity of microorganisms that persist on bed linens at Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, Nigeria was evaluated. Patients’ bed and surface areas on bed linens were chosen at random from ten different wards and the swab sampling method employed. Of the 30-bed linens sampled, bacteria were more prevalent at 63.3%, and fungi at 34.48%. We identified both bacteria and fungi from eight wards, only fungi from the antenatal ward and no contamination from the amenity ward. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus dominated the bacterial profile. Similarly, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Microsporium ferrugenium fungi were also recovered from the bed linens. Amongst the bacteria identified, Escherichia coli gave the highest prevalence at 36.84%, whereas, Candida albicans revealed the highest among the fungi isolates with 50%. Chi-square analysis showed a significant relationship (χ2 = 68.48, df =8, P<0.05) between the microbial contamination and the wards sampled. The mean bacterial count (cfu/ml) was checked for each ward and the female surgical ward showed the highest count of 31.3 × 103 and the paediatric ward had the least count of 2.3 × 103. Control beddings were also contaminated with 1.3 × 103. These results suggest that the bed linens from the hospital wards were contaminated with pathogenic microbes which can contribute to HAIs.
Highlights
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are absent in patients at the point of admission; yet occur while receiving medical care in a hospital or healthcare facility
Data obtained revealed that approximately 8.9 million HAIs occurred in both hospitals and long-term health facilities in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries.[6]
According to the AWMF Working Group for Hygiene in Hospital and Practice[8] and Ayliffe et al.[9] the hospital bed, consists of bed rail, bed linen, mattress, and pillows. These components are in direct contact and are routinely touched by patients, health care workers or visitors. 10,11The propensity of textiles to foster, sequester and convey microorganisms, from humans to the environment may occur at any time, before, in the course of, and following laundry.12,13With good environmental conditions, these microbes could result in significant public health threats of hospital-acquired infections, if not well disinfected
Summary
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are absent in patients at the point of admission; yet occur while receiving medical care in a hospital or healthcare facility. 325 undetermined due to multiplex diagnosis, the dearth of expertise and capital for monitoring, to promote health.5In 2016 and 2017, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control coordinated point prevalence studies of HAIs. Data obtained revealed that approximately 8.9 million HAIs occurred in both hospitals and long-term health facilities in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries.[6] In a point prevalence study conducted in US hospitals by CDC and the Emerging Infections Program (EIP), a 3.2% prevalence of hospitalized patients had HAIs in 2015, by comparison to 4.0% in 20117, and one out of 25 hospitalized patients had at least one HAIs. According to the AWMF Working Group for Hygiene in Hospital and Practice[8] and Ayliffe et al.[9] the hospital bed, consists of bed rail, bed linen, mattress, and pillows. The aim of this study is to; assess the microbial diversity from bed linens from ten wards at the BSUTH, Makurdi
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