Full Length Research Paper

Distribution of potential nosocomial pathogens in a hospital environment

C. B. Chikere¹*, V. T. Omoni¹ and B. O. Chikere²

¹Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

²Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ujuazed@yahoo.com. Tel: +2348037238102.

Accepted 15 September, 2008

The distribution of probable nosocomial pathogens in a government hospital in Nigeria was investigated. Thirty swab and air samples were collected from patients, hospital personnel, formites and air in four wards namely orthopaedic (OW), paediatric (PW), surgical (SW) and medical (MW). For the patients and personnel, skin and nasal samples were taken. A total of 56 Gram positive (45) and Gram negative (11) bacteria were isolated. Gram positive cocci were the highest number of isolates of which Staphylococcus epidermidis (22; 39.2%) occurred the most especially from the skin in all the wards. This was followed by Staphylococcus aureus (16; 28.5%) and the least being Streptococcus spp. (5; 8.9%). Among the Gram negative bacilli, Escherichia coli was the highest (4; 7.1%). Others were Klebsiella pneumonia (3; 5.3%), Proteus spp. (2; 3.5%) and Enterobacter aerogenes (2; 3.5%). The only Gram positive bacilli isolated were Bacillus cereus. Orthopaedic ward (22) had the highest number of isolates followed by paediatric ward (15). Surgical and medical wards had 10 and 9 isolates, respectively. Statistical analysis of the questionnaire distributed to the patients and hospital personnel in the four wards revealed that duration of admission and length of service were significant determining factors for the carriage rate of the isolates in the individuals examined. The findings of the study showed that the hospital may be a potential reservoir of organisms likely to cause nosocomial infections.

Key words: Distribution, nosocomial pathogens, government hospital, Nigeria, gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria.