Bacteria profiles and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates from beds and door handles of hospital wards in Tiko Health District, Cameroon

TL;DR

This study analyzed bacteria on hospital beds and door handles in Cameroon, finding high levels of Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium perfringens with specific antibiotic resistance patterns.

Contribution

The study provides new data on bacterial contamination and antimicrobial resistance in hospital surfaces in a low-income setting.

Findings

Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate on beds, with high resistance to bacitracin.

Clostridium perfringens was most common on door handles and showed resistance to bacitracin but sensitivity to gentamycin.

Abstract

in low- and middle-income countries, hospital surfaces contaminated with bacteria, namely beds and door handles in hospital wards, are a major source of nosocomial infections. We sought to evaluate bacterial isolates from beds and door handles of hospital wards and ascertain their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Tiko Health District (THD), Cameroon.

using a multistage sampling technique, this hospital-based cross-sectional study included 40 beds and 20 door handles in THD. Gram staining methods, biochemical reactions, and features of bacterial colonies were used to identify bacterial isolates. A frequency table and bar charts were used to display the data.

Bacillus spp., Clostridium perfringens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Clostridium spp., and Staphylococcus aureus were identified. Patient beds were mainly contaminated with S. aureus (42.5%, 17/40). However, C. perfringens (35%, 7/20) was the most common isolate from door handles. S. aureus was resistant to bacitracin (100%, 21/21) but sensitive to gentamycin (95.2%, 20/21) and azithromycin (95.2%, 20/21). While C. perfringes was resistant to bacitracin (100%, 8/8), it was sensitive to gentamycin (75%, 6/8) and chloramphenicol (75%, 6/8).

beds and door handle harbour largely S. aureus and C. perfringes, respectively. High sensitivity to gentamycin and resistance to bacitracin were observed in S. aureus and C. perfringes, respectively. Good and regular hand hygiene and the cleaning and disinfecting of door knobs and hospital beds should be practiced. Hospitals should fully adopt food safety protocols to prevent or control food poisoning effectively.

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