Abstract

BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF THE STRETCHERS’ SURFACES OF A PHYSIOTHERAPY UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL CLINIC

Simone Lima Nascimento Viana, Antonio Neres Norberg*, Nelson Ayres Barradas1, José Tadeu Madeira de Oliveira, Aluizio Antonio de Santa Helena, Maria de Lourdes Ferreira Medeiros de Matos and Alcemar Antonio Lopes Matos

ABSTRACT

The presence of bacterial elements represents a risk to human health and is frequent on inanimate surfaces and equipment of outpatient clinics and in the hospital environment. This research has the objective to identify bacterial elements contaminating the surface of the procedure stretchers of the Physiotherapy School Clinic of the Uniabeu University Center. The material collection was performed using sterile swabs moistened with physiological solution, which were rubbed on the surface of each unit of the 60 stretchers used in the clinical routine of the Physiotherapy School Clinic. The material was seeded in Brewer's media, incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and the bacterial growth was seeded into the following culture media: blood agar, Teague, agar-cetrimide and agar-salt-mannitol. The dishes were incubated at 37oC for 24 hours and the obtained growth was identified by morphotinorial characters, through the Gram method, biological and biochemical tests. The following bacteria were isolated: Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus 41 (68,33%), Staphylococcus aureus 8 (13,33%), Enterococcus spp. 17 (28,33%), Streptococcus α-haemoliticus 10 (16,67%), Enterobacter spp. 6 (10%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3 (5%), Escherichia coli 2 (3,33%), Klebsiella spp. 2 (3,33%), Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli 8 (13,33%), Bacillus spp. 12 (20%). Analysing the results, it was concluded that the surfaces of the stretchers were contaminated by pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria. The presence of pathogenic bacteria in procedures stretchers shows that these can be sources of contamination. This colonization points to the absence or deficiency of disinfection of the surfaces. Efficient hygiene procedures are recommended in the interval between patient attendance.

Keywords: Stretchers, Hospital environment, Bacteria, Contamination, Surfaces.