Microorganisms isolated from environmental surfaces of an adult ICU in a hospital in Vale of the Rio Pardo – RS

Abstract

Backgound and Objectives: To evaluate the presence of microorganisms on surfaces of adult ICU of a hospital in the valley of the Rio Pardo - RS. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study which included 45 samples of swabs of surfaces from ICU in August 2012. The samples were collected and incubated in Brain Heart Infusion broth (BHI) and taken to the laboratory of Microbiology at the University of Santa Cruz do Sul (Unisc) to conduct microbiological testing. Results: The presence of 40 strains was detected in the 38 surfaces with prevalence of the Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) and by 42% and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in 37%. On the antibiogram in 85.7% of S. aureus strains and 92.8% of the strains of S. epidermidis strains were resistant to penicillin and oxacillin resistance profile was 64.2% and 7.1% respectively. Conclusion: In this study there was a high incidence of contamination with S. epidermidis and S. aureus. This may pose a risk to the health of both the patient and the professional. Thus, prevention interventions should be released and re-education programs and encourage best practices within a hospital are crucial, since only with actions directed may reduce shedding and antimicrobial resistance. KEYWORDS: Intensive Care Units. Surface. Microorganisms.