PENS, STETHOSCOPES OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AS VECTORS OF NOSOCOMIAL PATHOGENS IN A HOSPITAL IN NIGERIA
EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO NWANKWO *
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
JOSEPH NNAMDI EKWUNIFE
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Pens, stethoscopes of healthcare workers (HCWs) may act as vectors of nosocomial pathogens in healthcare facilities. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify nosocomial pathogens on the pens and stethoscopes of HCWs in Grimad Hospital and evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. One hundred and twenty two swab samples from pens and stethoscope of HCWs were collected between June and September 2016 and were screened for bacterial pathogens according to standard microbiological procedures by the streak plate method. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by disc diffusion technique. A total of 116 ball point pens and six stethoscopes were screened for bacterial pathogens in the study. While 48 (82.6%) out of 58 samples from HCWs were contaminated, 34 (58.6%) out of 58 samples from NHCWs were also contaminated. All the 6 stethoscopes screened were grossly colonized by several bacterial pathogens. The most frequently isolated bacterium was Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus – showing 31.3% and 47.1% among samples from HCWs and NHCWs respectively. Pens and stethoscopes could become vectors for nosocomial pathogens in health care facilities. Their regular cleaning with antiseptics and hand hygiene is advocated.
Keywords: HCWs, nosocomial pathogens, pens, stethoscopes, antibiotic susceptibility