Potential Reservoirs of Nosocomial Pathogens in a Hospital: An Investigational Study

The transmission of nosocomial pathogens in a hospital is a serious and growing concern worldwide. Environmental reservoirs could be playing a larger role in transmission than was first realized. This study evaluated environmental surveillance for nosocomial pathogens isolated from patients with hospital acquired infections. All the samples collected from the patients and environment were inoculated onto Mac Conkey Agar and 5% Sheep Blood Agar. These culture media were incubated overnight for 37°C. The growths obtained on the culture media were further processed for identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Vitek 2 Compact according to manufacturer’s instructions. A cluster of neurosurgical site infections post craniotomy isolated Serratia marcescens, which was associated with shaving razors contaminated by S. marcescens. In the medical ICU, 2 patients placed next to each other isolated Burkholderia cepacia in their blood cultures. Burkholderia cepacia was isolated from the rim of the sink in the handwash station. Following cardiac surgeries of two patients, both patients were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the surgical site. The same isolate was isolated from operation theatre overhead light handle and door handle of cardiothoracic ICU. In the paediatric ICU, Acinetobacter baumanii was isolated from the endotracheal secretions of two patients. Culture of water and environmental samples grew Acinetobacter baumanii from the oxygen vacuum jar. The environment of a hospital can contribute to hospital acquired infections. Hence, a diligent housekeeping protocol would reduce the risk of transmission of nosocomial pathogens from the environment.