Microbial Flora of Fomites in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of a Nigerian

Abstract

Background: This study addresses the problem associated with the persistently high prevalence of neonatal sepsis, and the unacceptably high mortality rate in the Special Care Baby Unit of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. We therefore, decided to ascertain the role of fomites in the spread of nosocomial infections in our SCBU.

Method: Sixty-seven (67) samples were collected from fomites using moistened sterile swabs, while the air was sampled using Settle-plate method. The specimens were inoculated unto dried Blood Agar and MacConkey agar plates and incubated appropriately at 370C for 18-24 hours. The isolates were identified and the Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates which was responsible for the purported outbreak of neonatal sepsis in the unit were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests.

Result: All the samples yielded growth and the various isolated microorganisms and their prevalence include Citrobacter freundii (1.4%), Escherichia coli (10.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (24.3%), Coagulase negative staphylococci (27.1%) and Bacillus alvei (31.4%). The prevalence of MRSA was 64.7%, while the K. pneumoniae isolates were multiply resistant to most of the antibiotics.

Conclusion: Thus, some of the fomites in our SCBU contributed immensely to the incidence of neonatal sepsis and subsequently, to the high morbidity and mortality rates that were experienced in that unit during the purported outbreak.


Keywords: Fomites, microorganisms, SCBU.

NQJHM Vol. 16 (2) 2006: pp. 41-44