Determination of the antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria isolated from the operating room environment of the Zinder National Hospital, Niger

Abstract

Objective: In a context of limited resources, knowledge of the profile of germs contaminating operating theaters and their resistance to antibiotics constitutes a link in the prevention of infections associated with care. Thus, the objective of our study was to determine the sensitivity to antibiotics of bacteria isolated from the operating room environment of the Zinder National Hospital. Materials and methods: We had conducted a prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study from January to March 2020. The samples were taken by swabbing the morning before the start of activities and had concerned the hands and gowns of the surgeons, the surgical equipment and the operating room equipment. We had carried out the isolation, identification and antibiogram of bacterial strains at the biological laboratory level by conventional techniques. Results: A total of 74 samples were taken. Culture was positive in 58.10% of cases (43/74). The bacteria isolated consisted of 25 strains of Bacillus spp (58.13%), 10 strains of Gram-negative bacteria not fermenting with Acinetobacter bamanii (14.0%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.0%) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (2, 3%) and 8 strains of Enterobacteriaceae represented by Serratia marcescens (4.7%), Enterobacter cloacae (4.7%), Enterobacter aerogenes (4.7%), Escherichia coli (2.3%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (2.3%).Regarding the susceptibility of the strains to antibiotics, only one strain of Enterobacter aerogenes was resistant to Imipenem and 3 of the 9 isolated Enterobacteriaceae produced broad-spectrum betalactamase. Conclusion: In view of the results of this study, appropriate procedures should be put in place for better microbiological monitoring of operating theaters. This will undoubtedly help prevent healthcare associated infections.