ABSTRACT

The isolation and identification of bacteria from various door handles within the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Abia State was carried out. A total of 15 samples were collected from the door handles of offices, wards and rooms of the hospital. The samples collected were inoculated into nutrient agar, mannitol salt agar and MacConkey agar. They were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and the mean count of the bacteria isolated are ranged as follows: The total heterotrophic bacterial counts, 1.1 x 104cfu/cm2 to 9.0 x 104cfu/cm2, The Staphylococcus counts, 1.0 x 102cfu/cm2 to 6.0x102 cfu/cm2, coliform count, 2.1 x 102cfu/cm2 to 9.2 x 102cfu/cm2. The Bacteria isolated were Staphylococcusspecies, Bacillusspecies, Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli,Klebsiellaspecies. The surfaces of the door handles were contaminated with bacteria of public health importance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgments iv

Table of Contents v

List of Tables ix

List of Figures                                                                                    x

Abstract xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background studies 3

1.2 Aims and Objectives 3

CHAPTER TWO:  LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Bacteria Contaminants Associated with Hospital Door Handles 7

2.1.1 Klebsiellaspecies 8

2.1.2 Staphylococcus aureus 8

2.1.3 Escherichia coli 9

2.1.4 Bacillus subtilis 10

2.1.5 Pseudomonas aeruginosa 11

2.1.6 Streptococcus species 11

2.1.7 Proteus species 12

2.2 Nosocomial Infections 12

2.2.1 Sources of Nosocomial Infections 13

2.2.2 Types of Nosocomial Infections 14

2.2.3 Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections 15

2.3 The Effectiveness of Hand Hygiene and Hand Decontamination in 

Reducing the Risk of Nosocomial Infections. 16

CHAPTER THREE:  MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Collection of Samples 18

3.2 Preparation of Culture Media 18

3.3 Bacterial Inoculation and Isolation 19

3.4 Characterization And Identification of Isolates 19

3.5 Gram Staining 19

3.6 Biochemical Tests 20

3.6.1 Catalase Test 20

3.6.2 Indole Test 20

3.6.3 Citrate Test 21

3.6.4 Coagulase Test 21

3.6.5 Methyl Red 21

3.6.6 Sugar Fermentation 22

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Discussion 27

5.2 Conclusion 28

5.3 Recommendations 29

REFRENCES 30

APPENDIX

LIST OF TABLES

Table                               Title    Page

1 Mean Count of Bacterial Isolates         25

2 Bacterial Isolates and Percentage Occurrence         26