Assessment of pathogenic microoganisms from sanitary facilities and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns in referral hospitals at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
Date
2024-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Abstract
This study assessed referral hospital sanitary facilities in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State as reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. A crosssectional descriptive and experimental study designs were adopted for this study. A purposive sampling technique was adopted to select two (2) Referral Hospitals. For the cross-sectional descriptive study, a checklist by the Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) under the World Health Organization was adopted to assess the nature of the sanitary facilities. For the experimental study design, swabbing techniques were adopted. A total of one hundred and forty (140) samples were collected from bathroom floors, toilet seats, door handles, flush knobs, toilet covers and wash-hand basins within the hospital. Results revealed that borehole water was the major water source in the hospitals. Flush toilet facilities were major toilets used. Total viable bacterial counts of the sanitary facilities ranged from 2.0 x 101 cfu/swab to 7.2 x 102 cfu/swab; total coliform count ranged from 4.0 x 101 cfu/swab to 8.0 x 101 cfu/swab while total fungal counts ranged from 2.0 x 101 cfu/swab to 1.2 x 102 cfu/swab. The microbial load of the sanitary facilities showed that toilet seats had the highest total viable bacterial count, followed by bathroom floors and toilet covers. Bathroom floors had the highest coliform count while highest fungal count was recorded with door handles. Bacterial isolates from the sanitary facilities were Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus, Bacillus, Micrococcus, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. Fungal isolates were Candida species, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Mucor species. Out of 24 isolates of Staphylococcus species, 9(37.5%) produced beta-haemolysis, while 7(29.2%) produced gamma-haemolysis. Out of 16 isolates of Streptococcus species recovered, 2(33.3%) produced alpha, while 2(33.3%) produced beta haemolysis. Out of 16 isolates of spergillus species recovered, 5(31.2%) produced alpha, while 3(18.7%) produced beta haemolysis. Zones of inhibition of antimicrobial drugs ranged from 12mm to 36mm, with Bacillus, Escherichia, Streptococcus, and Micrococcus species being resistant to some antibiotics. Aspergillus species and Rhizopus species showed resistance to fluconazole and ketoconazole.
These microorganisms could be vehicles for hospital-acquired infections in the hospital. The provision of safe and accessible water sources and toilet facilities in the hospitals is necessary to ensure effective cleaning of the sanitary facilities.
Description
This thesis is for the award of Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology and Disease Control Option
Keywords
Hospital, microorganisms, pathogenic, referral, reservoir, sanitary facilities, Department of Public Health
Citation
Nwigwe, R. R. (2024). Assessment of pathogenic microoganisms from sanitary facilities and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns in referral hospitals at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State (Unpublished Master's Thesis). Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria