MICROBIAL DIVERSITY AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF BACTERIA ON WASHROOM FOMITES IN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ejhs.497Keywords:
Diversity, antibiotics, fomites, contamination, floraAbstract
Purpose: To determine the diversity and distribution of bacteria contaminants on washroom fomites in a public university and their resistance to common antibiotics.
Methodology: A sanitation audit was conducted on 21 selected washrooms on seven different blocks in a university. Swabs were collected from 68 washroom fomites for bacterial isolation and biochemical identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for 22 Gram positive and 41 Gram negative bacteria species.
Findings: Of 21 washrooms none had toiletries, 71% did not have flowing water and 90% were in the category of generally unclean. Of 169 bacteria isolated Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the predominant species. Of 68 fomites all had bacterial contaminants with 83.8% having 2 to 3 co-occurring species. Gram positive bacteria isolated were resistant to augmentin (100%), meropenem (94%), penicillin (91%), cefuroxime (86%), vancomycin (86%), erythromycin (67%), cloxacillin (64%), tetracyclin (64%), ciprofloxacin (59%), cotrimoxazole (59%), ampicillin (50%) and gentamicin (36%). Gram negative bacteria isolated were resistant to meropenem (97%), ceftriaxone (95%), ampicillin (93%), cefuroxime (91%), cefotaxime (84%), vancomycin (82%), tetracyclin (80%), cotrimoxazole (78%), chloramphenicol (50%), ciprofloxacin (71%), amikacin (40%) and gentamicin (24%).
Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Previous studies on bacteria on fomites in Ghana have focused on healthcare settings. This study focused on a university campus which is a non-healthcare setting with a high human presence and pressure on existing washroom facilities leading to contamination. The diversity of bacteria on the fomites are representative of clinically significant antibiotic resistant human enteric and skin flora carried by a seemingly healthy population and provide an indication of the potential antibiotic resistance burden in the user community.
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