Surveillance of operation theatres of a tertiary care hospital by settle plate method and surface swab technique

Abstract

Infection control by environmental monitoring plays a significant role in reducing the morbidity and mortality of patients who are victims of hospital associated infections. Many developing countries have reported high postoperative infection rate in their hospital, so regular monitoring of pathogens in the air sample is one of the preventive measure for post-operative infections. This study was carried out with an interest to look for the organisms and the frequency of isolation in air sample and surface swabs before and after fumigation.Study was conducted over a period of 12 months from August 2018 to August 2019. Total of 6 OT, two staff room, one washing room were included for settle plate and surface swab method of monitoring for air contaminants and pathogens.Total of 252 settle plate samples were collected over a period of 12 months before and after fumigation, bacillus was major (59%) contaminant followed by pathogens like (14%), CONS (10%), (7%), (5%), (3%) and (2%). Surface swab method- Fungus isolated from AC filter were (78%), (14%), (6%), (2%). Swabs collected from OTs were tested for growth of . Growth was observed in the month of October, February and May. Advised fumigation and through cleaning of OTs with high level disinfectant whenever grown was observed before and after fumigation, results found to be satisfactory and advised to continue with procedures when growth found <10 colonies on settle plate and no growth of CT in RCMB.Regular monitoring of pathogens in the air is one of the preventive measures for post-operative infection. Settle plate method and surface swab method is useful for observing the aerobic and anaerobic growth in operation theaters.