Objective: the aim of the study was to assess the microbial contamination of antiseptics, disinfection and detergents in various hospitals located in Mwanza region.
Methods: the samples were collected in sterile collection tubes and transported to the laboratory for analysis. The samples were inoculated on Blood Agar (BA) and MacConkey Agar (MCA) and incubated at 37˚C for 24 hours. Followed by determination of bacterial load and standard biochemical identification tests.
Results: A total of samples of were collected of which antiseptics, disinfectants and detergents were 55(39.3%), 34(24.3%) and 51(36.4%), respectively. Of these, 45 (32.1%) were contaminated by microbes, with pathogenic and nonpathogenic microbes accounting for 15.0% (n=21) and 17.1 %( n=24), respectively. Nine samples were contaminated by 2 different bacterial species. A total of 8 different bacterial species were isolated, with predominance of bacillus spp 33.3% (18/54), coagulase negative staphylococci 14.8% (8/54), and pseudomonas aeruginosa 13.0%(7/54). The proportion of contamination was highest in detergents (46.7%). The median bacterial load (IQR) was 70(20 to 100) CFU/ ml.
Conclusion: approximately one third of antiseptics, disinfectants and detergents used in various hospitals in Mwanza are contaminated by microbes. The fact that these agents are in use on daily bases for infection prevention and control gives an awakening call to properly evaluate their safety and effectiveness so as to improve the well of patients and prevent occurrence of health care acquired infection(HCAIs)