Abstract

Nosocomial infections are enhanced due to a flop in the infection control processes such as disinfection. The aim of this study was to assess long term effectiveness and the stability of disinfectants currently used within healthcare settings in Accra, Ghana against two indicator pathogens. Two locally produced and two imported disinfectants usually used in health care settings were obtained. The efficacy and long-term stability of the disinfectants was done using the in-use method, with identified microbial culture isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Counts of both test organisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) were over and above the 5 ≥ CFU recommended standard. All the disinfectants failed the test. However, contamination was observed to be higher in local disinfectants as compared to those imported. Furthermore, Enterobacter spp was isolated as contaminant from one imported disinfected and Proteus spp was also isolated from one local disinfectant. Interestingly, one of the imported disinfectants (Disinfectant I) showed more stability and was effective in the long term. All disinfectants did not pass the in-use test. However, disinfectants that are produced locally are more unstable and ineffective.

Key words: Infections, disinfectants, drug stability, hospital, pathogens, contamination.