Multidrug-resistant bacterial profiles of inanimate objects at Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2025
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Introduction: Nosocomial pathogens cause serious nosocomial infections and are acquired in
healthcare settings within a few days of patient admission. The transfer of bacteria from
inanimate surfaces to patients is a major factor in the spread of HAIs.
Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was done at Zewditu Memorial Hospital from June to
November 2024. A total of 204 inanimate objects situated at operational rooms and intensive
care units were swabbed. All of the specimens were cultivated onto MacConkey as well as blood
agar. Each positive sample was evaluated using colony structure, gram-staining plus biochemical
assays. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents test was done by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion
technique. ESBL producers were confirmed by the Double disc Synergy and combination disc
test while carbapenemase producers was checked using the Modified Carbapenem inactivation
method. MRSA was identified using the Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion Test. All tests were done
according to the guidelines of CLSI 34th edition 2024.
Result: Out of the 204 swabbed samples, 77.45% (n=158/204) showed bacterial growth with an
overall count of 171 bacteria isolates. Among them Gram-positive bacterial agent were 71.3%
(n=122/171) and Gram negative bacteria were 28.6% (n=49/171). CoNS 46.1% (n=79/171) and
Bacillus spp. 21.6% (n=37/171) were the most prevalent isolates identified. Out of the total
isolates 55 were identified as pathogenic based on their ability to cause disease and selected for
antibiotic resistance testing. Gram negative bacteria showed high resistance to ampicillin
(67.3%), amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (61.2%), ciprofloxacin (63.2%), sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim
(63.2%), cefepime (57.1%), and piperacillin-tazobactam (55.1%). Similarly gram
positive bacteriashowed high resistance to azithromycin (100%), penicillin (100%), clindamycin
(100%), and erythromycin (100%). Multidrug resistance was observed in 61.8% (34/55) of the
isolates. The total incidence of ESBL as well as carbapenemase-producer bacteria from the
suspected isolates was 26.5% (n=13/49) and 12.2% (n=6/49) respectively while the prevalence
of MRSA was 50% (n=3/6).
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Keywords
Multidrug-resistant, Operational Rooms, Intensive Care Units, Inanimate Environments, Nosocomial Infections