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The Role of Door Handles in the Spread of Microorganisms of Public Health Consequences in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State

Received: 19 June 2017    Accepted: 03 July 2017    Published: 09 August 2017
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Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the microbial loads of surfaces of door handles at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) with a view to understanding their roles in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. Eleven (11) sampling units were identified and used for the study. They included: Emergency Ward, Paediatric Ward, Male and Female Surgical Ward, Intensive Care Unit, Theatre Ward, Consultancy Outpatient Department (COPD), Microbiological Laboratory, Revenue Section, Pharmacy Department, and General Toilet. The samples were collected with the aid of sterile swab sticks moistened with sterile normal saline for a period of Six Months (May 2015 – October 2015) and analyzed using standard microbiological methods. Surfaces of door handles of General toilet, Paediatric Ward and Theatre Ward generally had the highest viable bacterial counts, which ranged from 4.03 ± 0.32 - 4.17 ± 0.27 × 104cfu/cm2, while the Intensive Care Unit, Male Surgical Ward and Microbiological Laboratory recorded the least bacterial load that ranged from 3.03± 0.03 - 3.30 ± 0.21 × 104cfu/cm2. The bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. The most predominant bacterial isolate was E. coli (92.00%), while B. subtilis (60.01%) was the least. Statistical analysis revealed significant correlation (p<0.05) between bacterial isolates and door handles at different sampling units. Findings from this study suggest that hospital door handles harbor a significant variety of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms of public health value, and thus could act as potential fomites for communicable diseases dissemination. Health-care workers, patients and visitors are encouraged to pay greater attention to personal hygiene practices to avoid the incidence and spread of hospital acquired infections.

DOI 10.11648/j.pst.20170102.12
Published in Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (Volume 1, Issue 2, December 2017)
Page(s) 20-21
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hospital, Pathogens, Nosocomial Infections, Wards, Benin City

References
[1] Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology. 29: 3139-3147.
[2] L. Maori, V. O. Agbor and W. A. Ahmed. (2013). The prevalence of bacterial organisms on toilet door handles in Secondary Schools in Bokkos L. G. A., Jos, Plateau Sate, Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences. 8(4): 85-91.
[3] A. A. Aloma, O. S. Olonitola and E. D Jatau. (2016). Isolation, Characterization and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus from Hospital Environment in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State. International Journal of Scientific and Research. 6(4): 141-146.
[4] A. Nworie, J. A. Ayeni U. A. Eze and S. O. Azi. (2012). Bacterial Contamination of Door Handles/Knobs in Selected Public Conveniences in Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria: A Public Health Threat. Continental Journal of Medical Research. 6 (1): 7 - 11,
[5] M. N. Swartz. (1994). Hospital-acquired infections: diseases with increasing limited therapies. Proceedings of National Academy Society. USA. 91: 2420-2427.
[6] T. L. Bannerman. (2003). Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, and other catalase-positive cocci that grow aerobically. Manual of Clinical Microbiology, P. R. Murray, E. J. Baron, J. H. Jorgensen, M. A. Pfaller, R. H. Yolken, 2003, American Society Microbiology, Washington, pp. 384–404.
[7] O. Zaborina, J. E. Kohler, Y. Wang, C. Bethel, O. Shevchenko, L. Wu, J. R. Turner and J. C. Alverdy. (2006). Identification of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates that are highly disruptive to the intestinal epithelial barrier. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials. 2006, 5: 14.
[8] D. M. Musher. (2000). Streptococcus pneumonia. In G. L. Mandell, J. E. Bennett, and R. Dolin (ed.), Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s principles and practice of infectious diseases, 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone, Philadelphia, Pa. pp. 2128–2147.
[9] J. A. Karlowsky, M E. Jones, D C. Draghi and D F. Sahm. (2003). Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae with Different Susceptibilities to Ceftriaxone and Cefotaxime Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 47(10): 3155–3160
[10] C. U. Tuazon. (2017). Bacillus species, In Infectious Diseases Antimicrobial agents, accessed on 24th April, 2017 at www.antimicrobe.org/b82.asp
[11] B. Abera, M. Kibret and W. Mulu. (2016). Extended-Spectrum beta (β)-Lactamases and Antibiogram in Enterobacteriaceae from Clinical and Drinking Water Sources from Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. PLoS ONE, 11(11): 1-10.
[12] M. A. Pfaller and J. Segreti. (2006). Over view of the epidemiological profile and laboratory detection of extended beta-lactamsese. Clinical Infectious Diseases.42 (Suppl 4): 153-168.
Author Information
  • Department of Microbiology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

  • Department of Microbiology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

  • Department of Microbiology, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

  • Department of Gynaecology, Stella Obasanjo University Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Cite This Article
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    Augustine Brian Odigie, Frederick Osaro Ekhiase, Paul Ikechukwu Orjiakor, Sunday Omozuwa. (2017). The Role of Door Handles in the Spread of Microorganisms of Public Health Consequences in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State. Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, 1(2), 20-21. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pst.20170102.12

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    ACS Style

    Augustine Brian Odigie; Frederick Osaro Ekhiase; Paul Ikechukwu Orjiakor; Sunday Omozuwa. The Role of Door Handles in the Spread of Microorganisms of Public Health Consequences in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State. Pharm. Sci. Technol. 2017, 1(2), 20-21. doi: 10.11648/j.pst.20170102.12

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    AMA Style

    Augustine Brian Odigie, Frederick Osaro Ekhiase, Paul Ikechukwu Orjiakor, Sunday Omozuwa. The Role of Door Handles in the Spread of Microorganisms of Public Health Consequences in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State. Pharm Sci Technol. 2017;1(2):20-21. doi: 10.11648/j.pst.20170102.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.pst.20170102.12,
      author = {Augustine Brian Odigie and Frederick Osaro Ekhiase and Paul Ikechukwu Orjiakor and Sunday Omozuwa},
      title = {The Role of Door Handles in the Spread of Microorganisms of Public Health Consequences in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State},
      journal = {Pharmaceutical Science and Technology},
      volume = {1},
      number = {2},
      pages = {20-21},
      doi = {10.11648/j.pst.20170102.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pst.20170102.12},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pst.20170102.12},
      abstract = {This study was aimed at investigating the microbial loads of surfaces of door handles at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) with a view to understanding their roles in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. Eleven (11) sampling units were identified and used for the study. They included: Emergency Ward, Paediatric Ward, Male and Female Surgical Ward, Intensive Care Unit, Theatre Ward, Consultancy Outpatient Department (COPD), Microbiological Laboratory, Revenue Section, Pharmacy Department, and General Toilet. The samples were collected with the aid of sterile swab sticks moistened with sterile normal saline for a period of Six Months (May 2015 – October 2015) and analyzed using standard microbiological methods. Surfaces of door handles of General toilet, Paediatric Ward and Theatre Ward generally had the highest viable bacterial counts, which ranged from 4.03 ± 0.32 - 4.17 ± 0.27 × 104cfu/cm2, while the Intensive Care Unit, Male Surgical Ward and Microbiological Laboratory recorded the least bacterial load that ranged from 3.03± 0.03 - 3.30 ± 0.21 × 104cfu/cm2. The bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. The most predominant bacterial isolate was E. coli (92.00%), while B. subtilis (60.01%) was the least. Statistical analysis revealed significant correlation (p<0.05) between bacterial isolates and door handles at different sampling units. Findings from this study suggest that hospital door handles harbor a significant variety of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms of public health value, and thus could act as potential fomites for communicable diseases dissemination. Health-care workers, patients and visitors are encouraged to pay greater attention to personal hygiene practices to avoid the incidence and spread of hospital acquired infections.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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