Faucets and keyboards as major  reservoirs for Gram-negative  bacilli in a regional hospital in  Northeast Brazil

Letícia Barbosa Lima; André Alves da Silva Freitas; Francisco Vitor Aires Nunes; Gabriela Marta da Silva Regis; Marcileide Almeida Amaral; Kalidyjamayra Oliveira Reis de Freitas; Francisco Marlon Carneiro Feijó; Caio Augusto Martins Aires

doi:10.23925/1984-4840.2024v26a23

Autores/as

Letícia Barbosa Lima Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido. Departamento de Ciências da Saúde
André Alves da Silva Freitas Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido. Departamento de Ciências da Saúde
Francisco Vitor Aires Nunes Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido. Departamento de Ciências da Saúde
Gabriela Marta da Silva Regis Universidade Potiguar. Curso de Biomedicina
Marcileide Almeida Amaral Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido. Departamento de Biociências
Kalidyjamayra Oliveira Reis de Freitas Hospital Regional Tarcísio Maia. Núcleo de Vigilância Epidemiológica
Francisco Marlon Carneiro Feijó Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido. Centro de Ciências Agrárias
Caio Augusto Martins Aires Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido. Departamento de Ciências da Saúde

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23925/1984-4840.2024v26a23

Palabras clave:

Disinfection, Infection Control, Gram-Negative Bacteria, Equipment and Supplies, Hospital

Resumen

Infections related to healthcare assistance represent a major public health problem worldwide, and the main etiological agents associated with these infections are microorganisms also found on inanimate hospital surfaces. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of bacterial contamination of hospital surfaces is essential for professionals working in these services. Objective: To evaluate the contamination of inanimate surfaces by Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) in a Regional Hospital in Northeast Brazil. Methods: This is an observational and cross-sectional study. Samples were collected from different hospital wards using a sterile swab soaked in saline solution. They were then plated on MacConkey agar and incubated at 36°C for 48 hours. The bacterial isolates were counted and identified using the Gram staining method, TSI agar, and oxidase test. Results: Out of the 150 samples collected, 71 showed no microbiological growth, 11 showed growth of filamentous fungi, and 66 showed growth of Colony Forming Units (CFU). A total of 132 morphologically distinct colonies were identified, with 55 identified as yeasts and 77 as GNB. In the evaluation of hospital wards, the Adult Emergency Room and the Orthopedic Surgical Clinic showed the highest growth of GNB. Regarding the surfaces studied, the most contaminated were faucets, computer keyboards, mattresses, and beds. Conclusions: Hospital areas with higher human traffic are the most contaminated, particularly on frequently handled objects. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on disinfecting these surfaces to break the transmission chain of these etiological agents.

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