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Gram-Negative Rods on Inanimate Surfaces of Selected Hospital Facilities and Their Nosocomial Significance
Ondrej Zahornacký1, Štefan Porubčin1, Alena Rovňáková1
1Department of Infectology and Travel Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Pavol Jozef Šafarik University, 041 90 Košice, Slovakia.
Abstract:
Inanimate surfaces are often referred to as nosocomial bacterial reservoirs and represent an important vector in the process of spreading pathogens to patients. Most gram-negative rods can survive on inanimate surfaces for several months. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and resistance of gram-negative bacteria isolated from the inanimate surfaces of two selected hospital departments. MALDI-TOF identified gram-negative rods isolated from inanimate surfaces. Antibiotic resistance was determined using a disk diffusion method, and the phenotype of resistance was determined using an inhibitory analyzer. From the inanimate surfaces, 98 strains of gram-negative nosocomial bacteria were identified by the MALDI-TOF MS. The most frequently isolated bacterium occurring in both departments was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 33), followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 20) and Enterobacter cloacae (n = 14). The most common phenotypic type of resistance in both departments was ampicillin resistance-AmpC (n = 38), then production of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) (n = 33), followed by SHV-1 (n = 11), TEM-1 (n = 11), and fluoroquinolone resistance-Qnr (n = 22). The nosocomial important enzymes capable of hydrolyzing carbapenems, OXA-48 and metallo-β-lactamases, were confirmed in 12 and 2 cases, respectively. The results of our study prove that inanimate surfaces in hospitals are a reservoir of resistant gram-negative bacteria, which directly threaten hospitalized patients.
Insights
Inanimate hospital surfaces harbor resistant gram-negative bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, posing a significant threat to patients. This study highlights the need for enhanced disinfection protocols to control these nosocomial reservoirs.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Inanimate surfaces in healthcare settings act as reservoirs for nosocomial pathogens.
- Gram-negative bacteria exhibit prolonged survival on abiotic surfaces, facilitating pathogen transmission.
- Understanding bacterial prevalence and resistance on these surfaces is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of gram-negative bacteria isolated from inanimate surfaces in two hospital departments.
- To identify specific resistant strains and resistance mechanisms present on hospital surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from inanimate surfaces.
- Bacterial identification was performed using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).
- Antibiotic resistance and phenotypic resistance mechanisms (e.g., AmpC, ESBL, carbapenemase production) were assessed using disk diffusion and inhibitory analyzer methods.
Main Results:
- Ninety-eight strains of gram-negative nosocomial bacteria were identified.
- The most frequent isolates were *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* (33 strains), *Acinetobacter baumannii* (20 strains), and *Enterobacter cloacae* (14 strains).
- Common resistance phenotypes included AmpC (38 strains), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production (33 strains), and fluoroquinolone resistance (Qnr) (22 strains). Carbapenem-hydrolyzing enzymes OXA-48 and metallo-β-lactamases were detected in 12 and 2 cases, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Inanimate hospital surfaces serve as a significant reservoir for antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria.
- The presence of these resistant bacteria poses a direct threat to hospitalized patients.
- Findings underscore the importance of stringent environmental cleaning and disinfection strategies to mitigate healthcare-associated infections.
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