Dangerous pathogens thrive at Hyderabad hospitals

HYDERABAD:

Operation theatres

,

intensive care units

as well as labour rooms in city hospitals are increasingly emerging as sources of infection. Highly

dangerous bacteria

and fungi have been isolated from these `sanitized areas' in a matter of concern for both patients and

health experts

.

While nosocomial or ho While nosocomial or hospital-acquired infections are common, a study by a team of city doctors has revealed “high level“ of microbial contamination in areas considered safe for patients. Colonies of harmful germs such as Staphylococci species, Pseudomonas, Bacillus species, Micrococci species, Enterobacter, E. Coli, Klebsiella and Citrobacter have been isolated from various operation theatres and intensive care units such as those under paediatrics (PICU), neonatal (NICU), surgical (SICU) and medical (MICU) categories and labour rooms.The colony forming unit (CFU) rate, that indicates contamination levels, is high in most places indicating the gravity of the situation.

Researchers S Kiranmai and K Madhavi of the department of microbiology, Mediciti Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, published their findings in the December issue of the scientific journal, International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (IJRMS). They said while operation theatres were infested with mostly the Bacillus species, ICUs reported “potential pathogens“ such as Klebsiella and Pseudomonas. Pseudomonas is resistant to several antibiotics and it freely thrives in antibiotic solutions, feeding on the drug.

As part of the study, the team collected air samples and swabs from floor, walls, patient beds, cradles, drug and instrument trolleys, ventilators, blood pressure apparatus, pulse oximeter, operation theatre tables, operation theatre lights and suction apparatus.

All of them showed varying degree of contamination of either fungi or bacteria or both.

According to the study, gynaecology operation theatres exhibited relatively less bacterial contamination. The highest level of contamination was noticed in the orthopaedics minor operation theatres. Even dental operation theatres were contaminated. The team isolated bacteria from 43 per cent of the samples tested. The most common pathogens turned out to be Bacillus species (75 per cent), followed by Micrococcus (54 per cent).

The study said, “high le vels of microbial contamination indicate the needs for periodic surveillance for early detection and prevention of hospital-acquired infections. Potential pathogens in operation theatres and intensive care units can pose a great risk to patients.“

The study suggested that manual cleaning should be carried out along with fumigation and use of less toxic disinfectants.

“Fogging cannot replace manual cleaning. Since human activity plays a major role in microbial air quality, meticulous cleaning and strict adherence to operation theatre protocol are essential,“ the study said.

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