Major Bacteria Species Surface Contaminants in Hospitals of Littoral Region, Cameroon

Globally, the levels of healthcare-associated infections (nosocomial infections) are important high, and especially those due to bacterial are significant and costly. Healthcare environments provide a worrying reservoir for spreading infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Low and Middle-Income Countries may be particularly at risk, hence, the need to perform a timely assessment of surface contamination of bacterial origin in the major units of four different hospitals of the Littoral Region, Cameroon. A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted from December 2018 to May 2019. A simple random sampling was used to swap 10 selected equipment (treatment tables, operating tables, delivery tables, office tables, anesthesia equipment, surgical aspirators, oxygen concentrators, wheelchairs, patients and office chairs) and 10 materials (fans, patient bedside tables, patient bed rails, trolleys, door handles, negastoscopes, baby scales, air conditioners, Antiseptic container boxes, and covers) in the mornings after disinfection but before the start of work in each unit. After inoculation in four agar media consecutively (Eosine Methylene blue, Cled, Mannitol salt agar and the blood agar in segmented) and incubated in appropriate conditions, identification and confirmation were based on morphological characteristics of bacteria colonies, microscopy, and biochemical methods using API staph, strep, and 20ETM gallery Biomerieux. Of a total of 236 samples collected, 119 (50.4%) showed bacterial growth, 33 different species of which 62/119 (52.10%) were Gram-positive cocci, 57/119 (47.90%) Gram-negative bacilli. S. aureus, 45/119 (37.81%), E. coli 6/119 (5.04%), and Acinetobacter spp 4/119 (3.36%) were the most common contaminants. Patients’ bedside tables, office chairs, and patients’ bed rails were the highest contaminants respectively 14/119 (11.76%), 13/119 (10.92%) and 12/119 (10.08%). The Emergency units were the mainly contaminated area for Gram-positive cocci, 12/62 (19.35%) majority S. aureus 9/62 (14.51%) as most as Gram-negative non-Enterobacteriaceae 11/31 (35, 48%) with a predominance of C. meningoseptica and M. heamolytica both 2/31 (6.45%). Therefore for the Gram-negative bacilli Enterobacteriaceae family, the highest level of bacterial isolates was recovered in laboratory 7/26 (26.92%), in which E. coli was predominantly reported 4/26 (15.38%). However, S. aureus was the only species found in all hospitals and units. This high level of contamination in various key units in these hospitals is a serious risk of infections with leading to complicated and cost healthcare. This work will help clinical care and decision making to take appropriate actions to improve sanitation and ensure control measures to limit the spread of hospital-acquired infections.