ABSTRACT

Bacterial contamination ofIntensive Care Unit (ICU) is of public health concern because it is one of tire major risk factors of nosocomial infections and centre point of multi drug resistant (MDR) pathogens. Periodic surveillance can provide early warning signal to nonadherence to basic standard infection control procedures and emergence of MDR pathogens. This study evaluated the bacterial contamination and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates in ICU in FMC, Umuahia. The units sampled were adult ICU, Main theatre, and Newborn special care unit. A total of 300 samples were collected, of which 89(24.7%) yeided bacterial growth. Thirteen (14.6%) were detected from fomites in adult ICU, 5(5.6%) were detected from fomites in main theatre attached to the adult ICU, 8(9.0%) were detected from fomites in newborn special care. Forty two (47.1%) were detected from healthcare personnel in all the units sampled. Eighteen (20.2%) were detected from air in all the units. The potential of biofilm formation was observed in 41(46.0%) of the bacterial isolates. The common bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, 39(43.2%), Escherichia coli, 16(17.9%), Pseudomonas spp, 10(11.2%), Coagulase negative Staphylococci, 7(7.8%). Enterobacter spp, 2(2.5%), was the least common bacterial isolate. Antibiotic sensitivity of the bacterial isolates was carried out using disc diffusion method. Gram negative bacterial isolates were more sensitive to Ofloxacin, Peflacine, Ciprofloxacin, and Streptomycin. Gram positive bacterial isolates were more sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Rifampicin, Erythromycin, Levofloxacin. However, Enterobacter spp and Coagulase negative Staphylococci were resistant to some of the drugs. The In-use test for disinfectants was carried out on the disinfectants from discard jars collected from the units. The two most commonly used disinfectants from discard jars in the Main theatre passed the In-use test. Plasmid analysis was carried out on some ofthe bacterial isolates. Six Escherichia coli isolates had plasmid size between 50-400 base pair, five Staphylococcus aureus isolates had plasmid size between 35-150 base pair, two Proteus spp and two Pseudomonas spp isolates had no plasmid. The DNA sequencing of two Escherichia coli isolates were carried out from Newborn special care unit and Adult ICU to evaluate similiarity and were found different from each other. This study revealed the presence of bacterial pathogens on fomites in the ICU. It is therefore suggested that bacterial contamination should be checked on regular basis to avoid nosocomial infection.