Isolation of Bacterial Contaminants from Operating Theatres in private Hospitals in Khartoum State

Abstract

Microbial contamination of hospital environment, especially in an operating theatre and other specialized units had continued to increase prevalence of nosocomial infections. However, the contamination of operating theatres is considered among the most common life- threatening sources of nosocomial infections. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify bacterial contaminants in operating theatres in private hospitals in Khartoum State. Between March and April 2018, 518 samples (From 50 hospitals) were collected from different sites of the operating theatres. By employing standard microbiological techniques, all isolated bacteria were identified. During this study 6 types of bacteria were isolated from the 26(5%) positive specimens in 21 hospitals. The ratio of contaminated hospitals from total of Khartoum hospitals was 10(45.5%), and 6(40%), 5(38.5%) in Omdurman and Bahri hospitals respectively. The result showed that the common bacterial contaminants isolated from operating theatres were Pseudomonas aeruginosa 11(42.3%), Bacillus subtilis 8(30.7%), Micrococcus spp 3(11.5%), Acinetobacter baumannii 2(7.7%), Citrobacter freundii and Klebsiella pneumoniae 1(3.8%). The highest contaminants were isolated from the sucker 13(50%), and the lowest contaminants were isolated from Focusing lamp and anesthesia mask 1(3.8%). The result of antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that all pathogenic organisms isolated from operating theatres are highly resistant to ceftazidime and ceftrixone and highly sensitive to rest of antimicrobial agents. Except Klebsiella pneumoniae which was resistant to ciprofloxacin. This study may point to fact that there was a bacterial contaminants at operating theatre in private hospitals in Khartoum State that can cause surgical site infection (SSI). The reason of contamination may be due to an excessive presence, movement of staff, un-effective sterilization and disinfection procedure.