Abstract 

Nosocomial infections are of public health concern globally. Despite the use of a variety of method and techniques for cleaning and sterilization of environmental surfaces, they still play an important role in transmission of pathogens especially healthcare-associated pathogens including Methicillin Resistant Staphylococci (MRSA), Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE), and many others. In this study, 60 swab samples were collected from door handles from the six different hospitals (including wards, offices, and rest rooms). All samples were transported and processed within two hours of collection. The swabs were cultured on routine microbiological media and incubated for 24 hours before examination and bacterial identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated bacteria was also performed according to standard guidelines. The results of this investigation has shown that most of the tested samples contained a variety of organisms like Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Streptococcus spp, klebsiella spp among others. These findings are of public health importance and should be considered by the hospital infection control committees in order to reduce the risks of spread of pathogens from doors handles in the hospitals.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover page  

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of contents v

List of tables vi

Abstract vii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Aims 2

1.2 Objectives 2

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 3

2.1 Definition of door handles 3

2.1.1 Brief history of door handles 3

2.1.2 Bacterial contamination 4

2.2 Healthcare facilities 5

2.2.1 Previous studies 6

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 12

3.1 Study area 12

3.2 Sample collection 12

3.3 Media and materials used 12

3.4 Microbiological analysis 13

3.4.1 Inoculation of samples 13

3.4.2 Isolation and identification of bacterial isolates 13

3.5 Gram staining 13

3.6 Antimicrobial susceptibility test 14

3.7 Biochemical identification of the isolates 15

3.7.1 Catalase test 15

3.7.2 Coagulase test 15

3.7.3 Oxidase test 15

3.7.4 Indole test 16

3.7.5 Citrate utilization test 16

3.7.6 Urease test 16

3.7.7 MR/VP test 16

3.7.8 Triple sugar iron test 17

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULTS 18

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 DISCUSSIONS  25

5.2 CONCLUSION 26 

5.3 RECOMMENDATION 26 

REFERENCES