Abstract

Narendra M., Kavitha G., Padmavathi P., Helah Kiranmai

It is well known that putative pathogenic bacteria are ubiquitous and widely distributed in the hospital environment. This study aimed to detect bacterial persistence in the nosocomial environment (different critical areas of the hospital) after mopping by the cleaning staff. Susceptibility patterns to antimicrobial drugs and disinfectants commonly used in health services were also investigated by disk diffusion and agar dilution tests. Rinse water from mops was processed for isolation of Enterobacteriaceae (GNR), non-fermenting Gram-negative rods (NFGNR), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) and enterococci (ENT). Microorganisms were biochemically characterized and 547 strains were recovered. Only CNS and NFGNR were isolated in all critical areas. Overall 67% of the isolated bacteria were resistant to more than three drugs, being considered as multiresistant. Disinfectants were effective in concentrations ranging from 0.125 to 1%. Hospitals provide reservoirs of multiresistant microorganisms borne by patients and staff, but the hospital environment may be an important repository. Preventing the spread of relevant bacteria depends on the quality of hospital routine cleaning services. Monitoring bacteria susceptibility to antimicrobials and disinfectants may help the management of nosocomial infections.