Bio contamination of surfaces and medical devices in controlled environment areas at a hospital in Morocco

¹ Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology & Bioactive Molecules, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sidi Mohammed Ben University Abdeallah Fez. BP 2202, Fes, Morocco.
² Higher Institut of Nursing and Health Professions of Fez-Meknes. Regional Directorate of Health Fes-Meknes, El Ghassani Hospital, Dhar El Mehraz, 30000 Fes, Morocco.
³ Medical Analysis Laboratory of the Meknes Hospital Center, Regional Health Department Fes-Meknes.
⁴ Hassan First University, Higher Institute of Health Sciences, Health sciences and technologies laboratory, Casablanca Road km 3, 5 BP 555 Settat – Morocco.

^* Corresponding author:jaouharsam@gmail.com

Abstract

The hospital environment, especially medical devices and surfaces, represents a secondary reservoir for pathogens. This work aims to evaluate the microbiological quality of surfaces and medical equipment of controlled environment services (burn unit, operating room, and sterilization service) at a hospital in Meknes (center of Morocco). This study was carried out for three months (September-December of 2017). A total of 63 samples were taken by swabbing technique from different surfaces and medical equipment after bio-cleaning. Identification was performed according to conventional bacteriological methods and by microscopic observation for fungi. The study showed that 68% of the surface was contaminated. The operating room recorded a rate of 93% of contamination (p-value <0.01), 83% for sterilization service, and 47% for burn unit. A percentage of 67% of the isolates were identified as Gram-positive bacteria against 32% Gram-negative bacteria (p-value <0.05). Bacterial identification showed Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (45%), Enterobacter cloacae (14%), Micrococcus sp (10%), Klebsiella pneumoniae, peptostreptococcus sp and Pseudomonas fluorescens (7% for each one), Escherichia coli, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (5% for each one). These results require corrective action represented by rigorous cleaning and disinfection procedures.