Bacterial Contamination of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background and objectives. The environmental impact assessment plays an important role in ensuring environmental media. This study aimed to assess the environmental pollution of the neonatal intensive care unit in Al-Jala hospital of obstetrics and gynecology, Tripoli, Libya through environmental monitoring of bacteria on different surfaces. Methods. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in the neonatal intensive care unit from December- to February 2022 at Al-Jala hospital, Tripoli. A total of 61 samples were collected with a sterile swab from high-contact environmental surfaces. Isolation, identification, and antibiotic resistance of bacterial isolated were performed by standard technique. Blood culture isolates from neonatal intensive care unit patients were compared with the environmental isolates during the study period. Results. Out of 61 samples, bacterial growth was observed in 58 samples, out of which 40 (68.9%) were gram-positive and 18 (31.03%) were gram-negative. The observed gram-positive bacterial isolate was Staphylococcus aureus 13(32.5%), and most of gram-positive isolates were recovered from an incubator, suction tip, stethoscope, ambu bag, and staff hand. The potential gram-negative bacterial isolates were E. coli 10 (55.5%), and the majority of gram-negative isolates were recovered from the door handle, suction tip, neonate breathing tube, and staff hand. The isolated bacteria were resistant to amoxicillin (41.3%), clindamycin (39.6%), imipenem, and tetracycline (27.5%). Common potential pathogens isolated from the blood culture of NICU patients were staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion. Bacterial contamination of objects and instruments in neonatal intensive care units was high (95%). This study emphasizes the need for rigorous decontamination protocols and hand hygiene. Clindamycin and tetracycline may be used for empirical therapy in clinically suspected cases of isolates.