Bacterial contamination, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation on operating rooms surfaces at Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia
- 1School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Mizan Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia
- 2School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia; Corresponding author. Address: Rahel Tamrat, School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jimma University, P. O. Box 788, Jimma, Ethiopia. Tel.: +251 912128654.
- 3School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Abstract
Background: Microbial contamination in hospitals, especially in operating theatres and specialized units, greatly contributes to the increasing number of hospital-acquired infections, which pose high morbidity and mortality risks for postoperative patients. Therefore, this study aimed to assess bacterial colonization on surfaces and in the air of operating rooms at Jimma Medical Center (JMC), southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2022, during which a total of 239 samples were collected, including 159 swabs from frequently touched surfaces and 80 air samples. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed using standard bacteriological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase production were detected using combination disc and modified carbapenem inactivation methods. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and biofilm formation were identified using cefoxitin discs and a 96-well microtitre plate assay. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Stastics for windows, version 25.0 (IBM Crop, Armonk, NY, USA) descriptive statistics and χ 2 test was applied, with a P value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 243 bacterial isolates were recovered. Gram-positive bacteria were predominant 218 of 243 cases (89.7%), with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONSs) in 96 of 218 (39.5%) and S. aureus 76 of 218 (31.3%) cases being the most common. Methicillin resistance was found in 19 of 76 cases (25%) of S. aureus and 18 of 96 cases (18.8%) of CONSs. Among Gram-negative isolates, 6 of 25 cases (24.0%) were carbapenemase producers, and 3 of 14 (21.4%) of Enterobacteriaceae produced ESBL. Overall, 63 of 243 (25.9%) of isolates were multi-drug resistant, and 34 of 47 (72.3%) demonstrated biofilm formation. Conclusion: The inanimate hospital environments in JMC operating rooms are colonized with potentially pathogenic bacteria, and the load of bacteria on surfaces and in the air were higher than standards. It is crucial to maintain strict infection prevention and control measures.
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BibTeX
@article{fikadu2026bacterial,
title = {{Bacterial contamination, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation on operating rooms surfaces at Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia}},
author = {Surafel Fikadu and Rahel Tamrat and Tesfaye Kassa},
journal = {Infection Prevention in Practice},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1016/j.infpip.2026.100610},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infpip.2026.100610},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Bacterial contamination, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm formation on operating rooms surfaces at Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia
AU - Surafel Fikadu
AU - Rahel Tamrat
AU - Tesfaye Kassa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Infection Prevention in Practice
DO - 10.1016/j.infpip.2026.100610
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infpip.2026.100610
AB - Background: Microbial contamination in hospitals, especially in operating theatres and specialized units, greatly contributes to the increasing number of hospital-acquired infections, which pose high morbidity and mortality risks for postoperative patients. Therefore, this study aimed to assess bacterial colonization on surfaces and in the air of operating rooms at Jimma Medical Center (JMC), southwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2022, during which a total of 239 samples were collected, including 159 swabs from frequently touched surfaces and 80 air samples. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed using standard bacteriological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase production were detected using combination disc and modified carbapenem inactivation methods. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and biofilm formation were identified using cefoxitin discs and a 96-well microtitre plate assay. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Stastics for windows, version 25.0 (IBM Crop, Armonk, NY, USA) descriptive statistics and χ 2 test was applied, with a P value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 243 bacterial isolates were recovered. Gram-positive bacteria were predominant 218 of 243 cases (89.7%), with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONSs) in 96 of 218 (39.5%) and S. aureus 76 of 218 (31.3%) cases being the most common. Methicillin resistance was found in 19 of 76 cases (25%) of S. aureus and 18 of 96 cases (18.8%) of CONSs. Among Gram-negative isolates, 6 of 25 cases (24.0%) were carbapenemase producers, and 3 of 14 (21.4%) of Enterobacteriaceae produced ESBL. Overall, 63 of 243 (25.9%) of isolates were multi-drug resistant, and 34 of 47 (72.3%) demonstrated biofilm formation. Conclusion: The inanimate hospital environments in JMC operating rooms are colonized with potentially pathogenic bacteria, and the load of bacteria on surfaces and in the air were higher than standards. It is crucial to maintain strict infection prevention and control measures.
SN - 2590-0889
ER -