Abstract
Multidrug-resistant bacteria remain a serious worldwide public health problem. Health care workers are particularly implicated in dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria (MRB) carriage by health care workers in high risk units of the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital (YUTH). Nasal, rectal and hand swabs were collected from a sampled staff involved in patient care in the targeted units. The different bacteria were isolated on the appropriate selective culture media. The susceptibility of the different species isolated was done to confirm their different resistance phenotypes. Multidrug-resistant bacteria were isolated in 18.4% of the specimens and distributed in the different collection sites as follows: nose (60%), rectum (24%) and hands (16%). Methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureusrepresented 76% of these multidrug-resistant bacteria, extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing enterobacteracae (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Esherichia coli andEnterobacter cloacae) represented 22%, and highly productive cephalorinase enterobacteracae (E. coli) represented 2%. 62% of the staff included in the study carried at least a resistant bacterium. Health care worker in the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital serve as an important reservoir for multidrug-resistant bacteria. Key words: Multidrug-resistant bacteria, nosocomial infections, carriage, hospital staff.
Highlights
Resistant bacteria can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients with serious underlying diseases
A total of 66 participants were recruited in this study
This study showed that the intensive care participants represented 54.5% of the sample size followed by the neonatology unit (19.70%), the surgical block (13.6%) and obstetrical block (12.1%)
Summary
Resistant bacteria can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients with serious underlying diseases. The transmission of bacteria is amplified because of the highly vulnerable patient population, and the selection pressure exerted by antibiotics. Encountered multidrug-resistant bacteria include Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterobacteraecae resistant to third generation cephalosporines (Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Proteus), extended spectrum beta lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBLE), cephalosporinases hyper productive Enterobacteriaceae (EBCASE), Gonsu et al 63. Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to ceftazidime (PARC), Acinetobacter baumannii resistance to ticarcillin and imipenem (ABRT) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) (Health Canada, 1998; Lemaitre et al, 1996; Lee et al, 1998). They are involved in 20 to 30% of nosocomial infections (Lemaitre et al, 1996)
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