Distribution, genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of clinically important bacteria from the environment of a tertiary hospital in Malaysia

Phoon, H.Y.P. and Hussin, H. and Hussain, B.M. and Lim, S.Y. and Woon, J.J. and Er, Y.X. and Thong, Kwai Lin (2018) Distribution, genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of clinically important bacteria from the environment of a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 14. pp. 132-140. ISSN 2213-7165, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgar.2018.02.022.

[img] PDF (Full Text)
journal_of__global_antimicrobial_resistance_2018_published.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

Download (1MB)
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgar.2018.02.022

Abstract

Objectives Hospital environments are potential reservoirs of bacteria associated with nosocomial infections. In this study, the distribution of cultivable environmental bacteria of clinical importance from a Malaysian tertiary hospital was determined and their resistotypes and genotypes were investigated. Methods Swab and fluid samples (n = 358) from healthcare workers’ hands, frequently touched surfaces, medical equipment, patients’ immediate surroundings, ward sinks and toilets, and solutions or fluids of 12 selected wards were collected. Biochemical tests, PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing were used for identification following isolation from CHROMagar™ Orientation medium. Clinically important bacteria such as Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter spp. were further characterised by disc diffusion method and rep-PCR. Results The 24 Gram-negative and 19 Gram-positive bacteria species identified were widely distributed in the hospital environment. Staphylococci were predominant, followed by Bacillus spp. and P. aeruginosa. Frequently touched surfaces, medical equipment, and ward sinks and toilets were the top three sources of bacterial species. Nine S. aureus, four Acinetobacter spp., one K. pneumoniae and one Enterobacter spp. were multidrug-resistant (MDR). The ESKAPE organisms were genetically diverse and widely dispersed across the hospital wards. A MDR MRSA clone was detected in a surgical ward isolation room. Conclusion The large variety of cultivable, clinically important bacteria, especially the genetically related MDR S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp. and Enterobacter spp., from various sampling sites indicated that the surfaces and fomites in the hospital were potential exogenous sources of nosocomial infection in the hospital.

Item Type: Article
Funders: University of Malaya Post Graduate Research Fund PPP [PG073-2014B]
Uncontrolled Keywords: ESKAPE organisms; Hospital environment; Antimicrobial resistance; Genetic diversity
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QH Natural history
R Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Institute of Biological Sciences
Depositing User: Prof. Dr Kwai Lin Thong
Date Deposited: 02 Oct 2018 03:16
Last Modified: 15 Oct 2018 05:38
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/18930

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item