ABSTRACT

This study determines the possible roles of cross examination in the hospital environment. One hundred swabs were obtained from doctor’s stethoscope diaphragm, cell phones of health care workers (HCWS). Patient’s bed linen, pillow and door knobs at the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia from May 4th to May 11th 2016 using sterile cotton tipped applicators. Cultures from the swabs were screened for Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that 18.18% of the doctors stethoscopes, 22.73% of the doctors cellphones of the pillows and 13.64% of the bedlinens were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus. Less than 97.73 of the isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin and 95.45% to Levofloxacin and 93.18% to Norfloxacin, while 81.82% were sensitive to Gentamycin. 68.18% to Erythromycin, 63.64% to Rifampin. 54.55% to Amoxacillin , while 40% were sensitive to chloramphenicol and Streptomycin, and 27.27% to Ampiclox. Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to some of the antibiotics used than the others. The isolates were sensitive to most of the antibiotics to different degree except Ampiclox. The risk of having population of Staphylococcus aureus strains with high multi drug resistance is high in the study area. There is need to address indiscriminate use of antibiotics and other risk behaviour related to hygiene measure of the health care workers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certification i

Dedication ii

Acknowledgement iii

Table of content iv

List of Table v

Abstract vii

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.2 Aim of Study 2

1.3 Objectives of Study 2

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Nosocomial Infections 3

2.1 Staphylococcus Aureus 5

2.2 Staphylococcus Genus 8

2.3 Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus Infection 9

2.4 Fomites 11

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.0 Hospital settings 12

3.1 Sample Collection 12

3.2 Media Preparation 12

3.2.1 Macconkey Agar 12

3.2.2 Nutrient Agar 13

3.2.3 Culture 13

3.3 Isolation and characterization 14

3.4 Gram Staining 14

3.5 Biochemical Test (Reactions) 15

3.5.1 Catalase Test 15

3.5.2 Coagulase Test 16

3.6 Antibiotic Susceptibility test 16

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULTS 17

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.0 DISCUSSION 22

5.1 Conclusion 24

5.2 Recommendation 25

REFERENCES