Abstract
The key to success of healthcare quality is the control of hospital environment. Challenge of infection prevention and epidemiology practice continues to be an increasing emergence and spread of pathogenic bacteria is of great concern. The study is about the prevalence and isolation of bacteria from hospital surfaces environment in Kenya. About 246 samples of the two hospitals was obtained using sterile cotton swabs from random sampling of hospital different surfaces, drainages, hands of healthcare givers and hospital waste dump site among others. The samples were aseptically collected, transported and processed following standard procedures. Bacteria were isolated and identified using various biochemical tests and confirmed using API 20E. Door handle surfaces had the highest percentage of isolated bacteria (13%) while the least was cupboard surfaces (3%) in both hospitals. Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) had the most isolated bacteria as compared to Kikuyu Mission Hospital (KMH) in most swabbed surfaces; the difference however was not significant. Various bacteria were isolated where the most abundant bacteria in both hospitals was Providencia species, while the least was Enterobacter species. There is therefore, high bacteria contamination of objects of hospitals frequently touched sites and surfaces act as a source of infectious diseases as they harbor potential pathogens.
Highlights
Nosocomial infection or hospital acquired infection; is an infection acquired in hospital by a patient who was admitted for a reason other than that infection [1]
The isolation of bacteria was highest on door handles (13%) followed by nurse’s hands surfaces (11%), while the least was cupboard surfaces (3%) followed by bed rails (4%)
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) (52%) had more bacteria isolated from its surfaces as compared to Kikuyu Mission Hospital (KMH)
Summary
Nosocomial infection or hospital acquired infection; is an infection acquired in hospital by a patient who was admitted for a reason other than that infection [1]. Diseases caused by nosocomial infections that are acquired from the hospital and healthcare environment within few days of admission and are responsible for nosocomial infections [2]. A closed community like a hospital, is not surprising that certain microorganisms become predominant and cause diseases. The pathogens can be expelled from an infected or colonized patient either through direct contact, aerosols droplets or feaces to the environmental surfaces [2]. Healthcare workers and patients can be contracted by these pathogens. Improper handling and management of the hospital surfaces waste and general environment is an important cause of nosocomial infections [1]
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