SOURCES OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS AND THE BACTERICIDAL EFFICIENCY OF THE DISINFECTANTS USED IN WARDS AT MAHARAT NAKHON RATCHASIMA HOSPITAL

Atchareeya  Choungngam; Tassanee  Saovana

Authors

Atchareeya Choungngam Suranaree University of Technology. 111 Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand.
Tassanee Saovana Suranaree University of Technology. 111 Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand.

Keywords:

Environmental nosocomial sources, Pseudomonas spp, bactericidal efficiency, disinfectant, wards, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital

Abstract

This study investigated sources of environmental nosocomial infections (NI) in wards at MaharatNakhon Ratchasima Hospital. The 415 samples were collected from various environmental sources within the common wards. It was found that the important microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps. aeruginosa), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia), Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterobacter cloacae (E. cloacae). These microorganisms could be associated with human diseases. They were found in most of the environmental sources within the wards except in plaster on patients’ skin, 70% alcohol, and providine® antiseptic solutions. Therefore, a study about the bactericidal efficiency of the disinfectants which were commonly used in the wards (savlon® 1:100, pose-cresol®, and sodium hypochlorite 1:20) were obtained from the hospital’s Pharmacy Department and unused disinfectants from the wards’ stocks. From tests, Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 15442 was killed by sodium hypochlorite (1:20) but not by savlon® (1:100) and pose-cresol®. Then, repeated tests for the 2 disinfectants withlow efficiency were undertaken from stocks freshly prepared by the Pharmacy Department. It was found that savlon® (1:100) could kill Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 15442, but only within 48 hours even though it was stated to expire 7 days after dilution. Pose-cresol® could not kill Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 15442 within 24 hours even though it was stated to expire 30 days after dilution. So, the savlon® (1:100) can be used as a disinfectant solution within 48 hours, but after that it can be used to reducesmell and clean the sexual organs only. At present, pose-cresol® is not used for soaking clinical thermometers anymore because it has no bactericidal activities.

References

Alvarado, C.J., Farr, B.M., and McCormick, R.D. (2000). The Science of Hand Hygiene: AS-study Monograph for Physicians, Nurses and Other Health Care Officials. The College of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Sci-Health Communications, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Asher, E.F., Oliver, B.G., and Fry, D.E. (1988). Urinary tract infections in the surgical patient. Am. J. Surg., 54(1): 466–469.

Association of Official Analytical Chemists. (1990). Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Helrich, K, (ed). The Association of Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA, USA, 684p.

Blazevic, D.J. and Ederer, G.M. (1975). Principles of Biochemical Tests in Diagnostic Microbiology. John Wiley & Sons, NY, USA, 135p.

Burke, J.P. and Zavasky, D.M. (2009). Epidemiology of hospital acquired urinary tract infections in a medical college hospital in Goa India. Indian J. Urol., 25(1): 76-80.

Danchaivijitr, S. and Chokloikaew, S. (1989). A national prevalence study on nosocomial infection 1988. J. Med. Assoc. Thailand, 72(2): 13.

EHA Consulting Group. (2012). What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa? Available from: www.ehagroup.com. Accessed date: May 14, 2012.

Haley, R.W., Culver, D.H., and White, J.W. (1985). The efficacy of infection surveillance and control programs in preventing nosocomial infections in USA hospitals. Am. J. Epidemiol., 121(1): 182-250.

Lim, V. K. E. and Path, F.R.C. (1995). Disinfection and the Control of Nosocomial Infection. Available from: www.e-mjm.org. Accesseddate: May 16, 2012.Not mentioned in the text

Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. (2010). A Point Prevalence Survey on Nocosomial Infections in Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. Nakhon Ratchasima.

Pattarachai, G. (2006). Textbook of Medical Bacteriology, V.J. Printing, Bangkok, Thailand, 730p.

Theanthong, W. (2010). Drug Pharmacy. Songklana-garind Hospital. Available from: Change font.www.drug. pharmacy. psu.ac.th. Accessed date: Feb 12, 2011.

Wistreich, G.A. and Lechtman, M.D. (1988). Microiology. 5th ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA, 424p.