Characterization of Bacterial Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile, from Inanimate Surfaces in Tertiary Care Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan

Aim: To isolate, identify and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the bacterial pathogens from inanimate surfaces of hospital which contributes to hospital acquired infections.

Methods: A total of 80 samples, including 20 from each unit (surgical ward, Medical ward, ICU and Operation Theater) were aseptically collected from different surfaces. Isolation and identification were made on the basis of different bacteriological media and biochemical tests. API 10 S (Biomerieux France) kits were used for the identification of gram negative bacteria. Antimicrobials susceptibility was performed according to Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

Findings: Over all prevalence of culture positive samples were (75%) from which 9 different bacterial strains were isolated. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus is (68%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (28%), Streptococcus agalactaie (1.6%), Enterococcus faecalis (1.6%), Escherichia coli (3.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.6%), Enterobacter aerogenes (1.6%) Serratia marcescens (1.6%). Prevalence rate of MRSA was 21.8%. 50% of Gram negative isolates were resistant to Cefotaxime, 50% to Meropenem, 40% to Amoxicillin, 40% Nitrofurantoin, 50% to Polymyxin B. 100% of the gram negative isolates were sensitive to Fosfomycin and Ciprofloxacin.

Conclusion: The hospital inanimate surfaces are heavily contaminated with resistant pathogenic bacteria which can be a potential source of hospital acquired infections. Attention is required for proper decontamination method to avoid the possible dissemination to the patients and hospital staff.