Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Contamination of Frequently Touched Objects in Intensive Care Units: Potential Threat of Nosocomial Infections

BACKGROUND: Bacterial contamination in intensive care units is an important risk factor associated with increasing incidences of nosocomial infections. This study was conducted to study the bacterial colonization on commonly touched objects of intensive care units and antibiotic resistance pattern of bacterial isolates. METHODS: This study was conducted in different intensive care units of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. A total of 235 swabs were collected from surfaces of bed rails, monitors, door handles, IV stands, telephone sets, nursing stations, medicine trolleys, sphygmomanometers, wash basin taps, dressing drums, stethoscopes, pulse oximeters, ventilators, defibrillators, and stretchers. Isolation, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility tests of the bacteria were performed following standard microbiological techniques. RESULTS: Of 235 samples, bacterial growth was observed in 152 samples. A total of 90 samples of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 235 samples. Most of the sampling sites included in this study were found contaminated with S. aureus. The highest number of S. aureus was cultured from the surface of bed rails. Of the total S. aureus isolates, 54.4% (49/90) were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Vancomycin resistance was detected among 8.1% MRSA isolates (4/49). Acinetobacter species were the commonest Gram-negative bacterial isolate. CONCLUSION: Bacterial contamination of the objects/instruments of the ICU was recorded to be high. The most common contaminating bacteria were S. aureus with a high percentage of MRSA and emergence of VRSA. Periodic microbiological surveillance, detection of contaminated sites, and effective decontamination methods would minimize the colonization by potential pathogens and their transmission.