Abstract
Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) remain a major public health concern. The aim of this study was to characterize potential pathogenic bacteria isolated in high-risk infectious services at the University Hospital Center of Suru-Léré in Benin. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out on 215 samples with 8 air samples, 20 hand samples and 187 samples of medical-technical material. Genes for resistance to β-lactam antibiotics (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M and blaOXA-1) were sought. The data were processed and analyzed using EPI Info version 3.5.4 software. A total of 10 bacterial species were identified. Of the 319 bacterial strains identified, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis were predominant at 20.06%, 17.87% and 11.28% respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility showed that the majority of bacterial strains were multidrug-resistant. Of the 4 resistance genes sought, only the blaTEM and blaSHV genes were found. The poor microbiological quality observed in high-risk infectious services could be a risk factor for healthcare-associated infections. It is therefore useful to implement preventive measures in order to prevent or reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
Highlights
Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) remain a major public health concern [1]
About 81% of the bacterial strains were isolated from medical-technical equipment
This study revealed that the microbiological quality of the technical medical equipment, the hands of the health personnel, and the air in some high-risk infectious services at the CHUZ-SL are low
Summary
Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) remain a major public health concern [1]. The multiple causes of HCAIs are related to systems, procedures and behavioral practices [2]. The consequences of their occurrence include prolonged hospital stays, excess costs, high antimicrobial resistance of microorganisms, and higher mortality or morbidity [3] [4]. To control HCAIs, many preventive measures have been implemented by the Hospital Infection Control Committees (NICCs). These main measures concern hand hygiene, isolation of sensitive individuals, monitoring of antibiotic use, and monitoring of the microbiological quality of air, water, soil and surfaces. Surveillance is one of the main components of the policy to reduce HCAIs [3] [5]
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