Abstract:
The main aim of this study was to isolate and identify the most common bacterial
contaminants in operating theatres in Khartoum State Hospitals during the period from
January to April 2010. Briefly, one hundred samples (n=100) were collected from
different sites of the operating theatres. The samples were collected from the major
complex theatres at Khartoum North Teaching Hospital (KNTH) and Khartoum Teaching
Hospital (KTH). By employing standard morphological and biochemical techniques, both
Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were isolated and identified.
The
common
bacterial
contaminants
isolated
from
operation
theatres
were
Staphylococcus aureus (30.8 %) , Staphylococcus epidermidis (20.5%), Staphylococcus
saprophyticus (5.1%), Escherichia coli (20.5%), Pseudomonsa aeruginosa (15.4%),
Proteus mirabilis ( 5.1%) and Enterobacter cloacae( 2.6%). The highest contaminants
were isolated from the beds (17.9%), followed by floors (15.4%), trollis (12.8%), shoes
and air conditions (10.3%), suckers, focusing lamps and anaesthesia machines (7.7%),
oxygen cylinders and air (5.1%).
While all S. aureus isolated from KNTH (100%) were methicillin resistant, only (50%)
were methicillin resistant in KTH. However, 50% of S. aureus isolated from KTH and
KNTH were sensitive to erythromycin, gentamicin and co-amoxiclav. S. saprophyticus
was resistant to ampicillin but sensitive to erythromycin, gentamicin and co-amoxiclav.
Similarly, S. epidermidis was sensitive to gentamicin and co-amoxiclav; however
E. cloacae was resistant to ampicillin, co-amoxiclav and sensitive to chloramphenicol.
In KNTH P. mirabilis was sensitive to ampicillin, co-amoxiclav and resistant to
chloramphenicol and gentamicin. In contrast, P. mirabilis isolated from KTH was
resistant to ampicillin, co-amoxiclav and gentamicin, but sensitive to chloramphenicol.
E. coli isolated from KTH was highly resistant to ampicillin and co-amoxiclav, and
sensitive to gentamicin and chloramphenicol, while that isolated from KNTH, 83.3%
were resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and gentamicin, and 66.7% were sensitive
to co-amoxiclav. While 100% of
P. aeruginosa isolated from KNTH were resistant to
chloramphenicol, 66.7% of them were resistant to ampicillin, gentamicin and co-
amoxiclav. However, 100% of P. aeruginosa isolated from KTH were resistant to
ampicillin and 66.7% of them were resistant to co-amoxiclav, but sensitive to gentamicin
and chloramphenicol.
In conclusion, isolation of different resistant bacterial isolates from different surgical sites
in various hospitals is a living evidence that various serotypes of bacterial species are
persistant contaminants of the operating theatres in Khartoum hospitals.
