Microbial Ecology and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Germs Isolated from Hospital Surfaces and Medical Devices in a Reference Hospital in Douala (Cameroon)

Abstract

Background: The hospital environment is largely contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. This colonization is a threat for hospitalized patients, especially in high-risk services. The purpose of this study was to identify the germs found on surfaces and medical devices in some departments of the General Hospital of Douala, and to establish their susceptibility profile to most commonly used antibiotics in this health facility. Results: We collected 114 surface and medical device samples, and seeded different culture media for Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic bacteria. Of the total samples, 108 were positive and 137 bacterial strains were isolated. The colony count revealed a high rate of contamination. Enterobacter cloacae was the most represented specie (53.3%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.6%). Various coagulase-negative Staphylococci have been isolated in some departments, as well as Cryptococcus laurentii and molds. The isolated strains showed low susceptibility to the antibiotics tested. Enterobacter cloacae showed low susceptibility for all tested molecules, except for carbapenems with rates ranging from 82% to over 94% in Maternity, Intensive Care and Neonatology units. The strains coming from the Haematology Protected Ward were resistant to all antibiotics, except fluoroquinolones with a susceptibility rate of 50% for ofloxacin. Conclusion: The hospital surfaces and medical devices are highly contaminated by environmental bacteria, with low susceptibility rates to antibiotics. Microbiological controls of the environment should be regular in critical areas in order to reinforce measures to prevent diffusion of multi-resistant bacteria.