Bacterial Contamination of Medical and Surgical Wards in Two Tertiary Healthcare Facilities in Abia State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Bacterial contamination of medical and surgical wards remains a major concern due to the increased risk of nosocomial infections among vulnerable patients. This study aimed to assess bacterial contamination in medical and surgical wards of two tertiary healthcare facilities in Abia State, Nigeria. A total of 524 samples were collected and cultured on Blood, Mannitol Salt, and MacConkey agar, followed by biochemical characterization of isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Out of the 524 samples analyzed, 35.68% (187/524) yielded bacterial growth. Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant isolate, accounting for 52.41% (98/187), followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (29.95%; 56/187) and Escherichia coli (16.04%; 30/187). Streptococcus spp (1.07%; 2/187) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (0.53%; 1/187) were the least prevalent isolates. The bacterial isolates exhibited varying degrees of resistance to Erythromycin, Cotrimoxazole, Ciprofloxacin, and Gentamicin. The findings highlight the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria on fomites and in the nostrils of healthcare workers in both medical and surgical wards, emphasizing the need for improved infection control measures, including routine environmental decontamination and strict hygiene practices.