Abstract

The study assessed potential sources of nosocomial infections as well as the knowledge of healthcare workers about these infections in a peri-urban polyclinic of Ghana. Swabs were taken in duplicates from beds in the wards, door knobs, sinks, nurses’ desks, taps handles, delivery beds, wound dressing rooms, and door and flashing handles of lavatories. After overnight incubation, the samples were serially diluted two times and the third diluent was used in culturing unto plate counting agar, MacConkey agar, blood agar and incubated at 35±2°C for 24 h. The plates were read for colonies and isolated colonies were identified. A simple random method was used to sample the respondents from the various departments in the Polyclinic. Structured questionnaires were administered to solicit their knowledge or understanding of possible causes of nosocomial infections and their perception of the efficacy of the cleaning processes employed in the facility as well as measures put in place to protect healthcare workers from these infections. Data collected showed that Bacillus spp. was the predominant bacterium isolated contributing 64.3% of the total isolate. Out of the 24 pathogenic organisms forming 35.7% of the total organisms isolated, Staphylococcus aureus (94.8%) formed the majority and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.2%) was the least isolated. There was no significant difference between the number of isolates recorded before cleaning and after cleaning (P > 0.05) with almost the same number and type of organisms isolated in both cases. Apart from the orderlies who demonstrated little knowledge on nosocomial infections, all the other healthcare workers exhibited adequate knowledge of nosocomial infections. The seemingly high percentage of pathogenic isolates from our study site indicates a high potential risk of nosocomial infections in peri-urban polyclinics.

Key words: Fomites, infections, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa.