Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria isolated from hands of healthcare workers in children hospital complex, Multan

ABSTRACT

To study bacterial contamination of healthcare workers involved in patient care in children hospital with particular reference to Staphylococcus aureus carriage. The study was conducted among one hundred [100] selected healthcare workers comprising of physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, sanitary workers and administrative staff from different wards of Children Hospital Complex, Multan. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by using disk diffusion method according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards Guidelines, 1993. Among 100 samples, 96 cultures yielded growth and four samples showed no growth Out of 96, six healthcare workers had two types of bacteria [Gram-positive and Gram-negative]. Gram-positive cocci were 88%. Of these 88% Gram-positive cocci, 54% were S.aureus, 26% were Staphylococcus epidermidis, 5% were coagulase negative staphylococci and 3% were other Gram-positive cocci. Gram-negative bacteria were only 6%. Males were having high prevalence of S.aureus 31[66%] compared to females 23[44%]. The highest prevalence of S. aureus [24%] was found in the age group of 24-29 years. S.aureus [37%] and S. epidermidis [18%] were isolated on hands of healthcare workers, who have been working for two years. Out of 54 S. aureus isolates 33[61%] were methicillin resistant. The samples collected from healthcare workers 82% isolates were resistant to ampicillin, 67% to methicillin, 51% to erythromycin, 48% to fusidic acid, 32% to amikacin, 29% to ciprofloxacin, but none was resistant to vancomycin. High prevalence and antibiotic resistance of S. aureus was found in physicians and nurses, as compared to technicians and administration staff. Hand washing practices should be promoted among health care workers