Assessment of Gram-Negative Bacterial Contamination on Door Handles of Service Offices in Sudanese Universities, Khartoum State

Abstract

Door handles microbial contamination is clearly associated with different type of diseases like gastrointestinal infection and lesser extent to respiratory infections. The objective of this study was to assess the Gram-negative bacteria on door handles of service offices in three universities. These were University of Khartoum, Sudan University of Science and Technology (SUST) and Alneelain University. The study was conducted in the period August-September, 2014. A total of 200 office door handles were sampled in aseptic manner using sterile cotton swabs moistened in sterile nutrient broth. The swabs were used to inoculate nutrient agar plates and incubated at 35ᵒC for 48 hours. Bacterial load was assessed semi-quantitatively at the end of incubation period. Gram-negative bacteria were identified by standard bacteriological methods, including colonial morphology, Gram stain, and biochemical tests used. The results revealed that 87swabs showed bacterial growth. The rest, 113 swabs showed no growth. Bacterial load was found high (++++) in Khartoum university and moderate in SUST and Alneelain university. Gram-negative bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas spp. 19 (34.6%), Klebsiella spp.13(23.6%), Escherichia coli 10(18.2%), Serratia spp.7 (12.7%), Proteus spp. 3( 5.5%), Citrobacter spp. 2(3.6%), Yersinia sp.1(1.8%).

The study concluded that the bacterial contamination was very high. Regular cleaning and disinfection of door handles is highly recommended to reduce bacterial contamination.