Microbial Ecology of Hospital Surfaces of Maternities in the Public Hospitals of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Introduction: in the health care milieu, germs can contaminate surfaces that are in contact with vulnerable anatomical sites. The study had as objectives to identify the nature of germs present on the hospital surfaces and to evaluate their resistance to antibiotics used in clinical practice in the maternity wards of public hospitals of Lubumbashi. Methods: The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in seven maternities in January 2015. These maternities were chosen depending on whether they met the inclusion criteria. Data collection was performed by swabbing the surfaces in using ISO / DIS 14698-1. The sample analysis was achieved in the laboratory of the University clinics in Lubumbashi. Results: On 77 sampled and analyzed surfaces, 47 surfaces i.e., 61% have made one or several germs. Candida albicans was the most isolated on 20 surfaces i.e., 43% followed by Escherichia coli on 17 surfaces (36%), Staphylococcus aureus on 4 surfaces (9%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterococcus faecalis respectively on 2 surfaces (4%). Klebsiella oxytoca was found in the solution of Dakin reserved for disinfection in the operating room. The germs were multi-resistant to several antibiotics commonly used clinically in these maternities, including Amoxicillin, Ampicillin and the Augmentin (Amoxicillin + Clavulanate). Conclusion: We found a significant presence of multi-resistant germs on the hospital surfaces. We need to improve the biocleaning and good political use of antibiotics and disinfectants.