Antibiogram Profile of Nosocomial Pathogens on Area Surfaces in Bukan Sidi Primary Health Care Center, Lafia, Nasarawa State

Abstract

Preventing nosocomial infections is essential in providing secure premium healthcare services. This study investigated microbial contamination on four (4) high-touch surfaces in the Bukan Sidi primary healthcare center (PHC), Lafia, Nasarawa State to assess nosocomial infection risks in this low-resource setting. Surfaces were swabbed and microbiological analysis were carried out on these swabs using standard test protocols in order to evaluate their bacterial loads, characterize the bacterial isolates and determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of each identified isolate. Results revealed that patient beds had the highest level of contamination (5.25 log₁₀ total bacteria; 4.20 log₁₀ staphylococci), followed by door knobs (3.42 log₁₀ staphylococci), reflecting poor hand hygiene and inconsistent cleaning practices. Six bacterial isolates were identified Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus agalactiae. Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria occurred equally, with widespread resistance to fluoroquinolone and beta-lactam antibiotics dominated by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumonia (70% resistance each). These findings underscore the urgent need for standardized cleaning protocols, proper antimicrobial stewardship, and routine resistance surveillance to mitigate healthcare-associated infections among the rural-dwellers obtaining their healthcare needs in PHCs across rural areas. Addressing these gaps is critical to safeguarding vulnerable populations in resource-limited settings and curbing the global rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Keywords

• Nosocomial infections
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Surface contamination
• Infection control
• Healthcare-associated pathogens

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