Contamination of health care workers’ coats at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia: the nosocomial risk

Abstract

BackgroundHealth care Associated Infections (HAIs) are a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries. They pose a severe impact in resource-poor settings, where the rate of infection is estimated to be relatively high. Therefore, this study was conducted to establish empirical evidence related to HAIs in Zambia.MethodThis was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted from October, 2013 to May 2014 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. A total of 107 white coats worn by health care-workers at UTH were sampled for possible bacteriological contamination.ResultsOf the 107 white coats screened, 94 (72.8 %) were contaminated with bacteria. There was no difference in the contamination levels between white coats worn for more than 60 min (47.8 %) compared to those worn for 30–60 min (46.7 %) (p = 0.612). Further, the antibiotic sensitivity tests indicated that the bacterial isolates were resistant to some of the antibiotics assessed. Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pnumoniae exhibited the highest resistance to most of the antibiotics assessed.ConclusionThis study has shown that white coats worn by health care-workers at the University Teaching Hospital generally have high microbial contaminations and hence pose a nosocomial risk. It is therefore, recommended that white coats be regularly sanitized, and health care workers also be sensitized on public health risk of HAIs associated with contaminated coats.

Are Stethoscopes, Coats, and Pagers Potential Sources of Healthcare Associated Infections?

“…22 A study from Tanzania has shown that up to 73% of white coats screened were contaminated with bacteria. 23 Another study has demonstrated that 23% of coats worn by health professional were colonized with Staphylococcus aureus including 4% with MRSA. 24 White coat bacterial contamination has been widely variable and ranged from 23% to 95% in different studies.…”

“…Studies have shown that lower rates of contamination were noted when white coats were laundered daily. 23,24 However, others have reported that contamination rates of coats may not correlate with the length of time that they are used. 29,30 In our study 68% of residents reported cleaning their stethoscopes the same day cultures were obtained.…”

Handling of laundry in nursing homes in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 2016 – laundry and professional clothing as potential pathways of bacterial transfer

“…This was particularly evident in the care and treatment of patients with multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) [ 16 ], [ 17 ]. In a study conducted in Lusaka, Africa, 94 of 107 investigated white coats (72.8%) were microbially contaminated after a short time [ 18 ]. In a clinic in Tanzania, the rate of contamination of white coats was in the same range (132/180; 73.3%), with staphylococci being most frequently detected [ 19 ].…”

The Nosocomial Risk of Bacterial Contamination of Surgical Wards at Saint Francis Hospital in Katete District of Zambia

“…These are potential areas for cross infection of this pathogen either direct to the resident patient, health worker or to the the care taker of the patient [15]. In a recent study done at the UTH, Lusaka, Zambia, of the 107 white coats screened, 94 (72.8 %) were contaminated with bacteria [21].…”