Bacterial contamination rates and drug susceptibility patterns of bacteria recovered from medical equipment, inanimate surfaces, and indoor air of a neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric ward at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

Introduction: Bacterial contamination of medical equipment, inanimate surfaces, and indoor air of the hospital environment is the main source of hospital-acquired infection in developing countries. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial contamination rates for medical equipment, inanimate surfaces, and indoor air, and the drug susceptibility profiles of bacteria, in the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric ward of Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH). Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out from October 20 to December 30, 2020. Samples were collected from medical equipment, inanimate surfaces, and indoor air of the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric ward, and processed using standard microbiological methods. Data entry and analysis were carried out using SPSS software version 25.0. Results: Of the total samples collected, 171 (74.7%; 95% CI 68.4‒83.5) were culture positive. These comprised 33 (58.9%) of samples taken from medical equipment, 26 (42.6%) from inanimate surfaces, and 112 (100%) from indoor air . Micrococcus species (41.3%), Acinetobacter species (13.7%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.2%) were the most commonly isolated bacteria. Conclusions: High bacterial contamination rates of medical equipment, inanimate surfaces, and indoor air of the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric ward were found. Most of the bacterial species isolated were known causative agents of hospital-acquired infection. Around one-quarter of the bacteria were multidrug resistant.