Bacterial flora of fomites in a Nigerian multi-disciplinary intensive care unit

Background: The general prevalence of nosocomial infection is approximately 6.0%, and a disproportionate 20% of these occur in critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) with the attendant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, a study of the bacterial flora on the 70 sampled fomites in our ICU was carried out to ascertain the contributory role of the fomites in the spread of nosocomial infections in that unit. Methods: The samples were inoculated onto dried blood agar, mannitol-salt agar (MSA), and Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) plates and incubated aerobically at 37°C for 18-24 hours. Results: Overall, 69 (99%) of the cultures yielded growth. The isolates are Staphylococcus aureus (44.3%), coagulase negative Staphylococci (74.3%), and Bacillus alvei (90.0%). Out of the S. aureus isolates, 7 (22.6%) were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). These were isolates from fan switches, X-ray viewing boxes, dwarf partition walls, ventilators, tables, floors, and hand towels. Conclusions: The possible contributory role of fomites in the spread of nosocomial infections in our ICU patients has been demonstrated. © 2011 by The American Society for Clinical Pathology.