High load of multi-drug resistant nosocomial neonatal pathogens carried by cockroaches in a neonatal intensive care unit at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundCockroaches have been described as potential vectors for various pathogens for decades; although studies from neonatal intensive care units are scarce. This study assessed the vector potential of cockroaches (identified as Blatella germanica) in a neonatal intensive care unit setup in Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.MethodsA total of 400 Blatella germanica roaches were aseptically collected for five consecutive months. Standard laboratory procedures were used to process the samples.ResultsFrom the external and gut homogenates, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter spp. Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter diversus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Providencia rettgeri, Klebsiella ozaenae, Enterobacter aeruginosa, Salmonella C1, Non Group A streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter spp. and Shigella flexneri were isolated. Multi-drug resistance was seen in all organisms. Resistance to up to all the 12 antimicrobials tested was observed in different pathogens.ConclusionCockroaches could play a vector role for nosocomial infections in a neonatal intensive care unit and environmental control measures of these vectors is required to reduce the risk of infection. A high level of drug resistance pattern of the isolated pathogens was demonstrated.

First Report of German Cockroaches (Blattella germanica) as Reservoirs of CTX-M-15 Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase- and OXA-48 Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Batna University Hospital, Algeria

“…The important role of cockroaches as a potential reservoir of multidrug-resistant bacteria demonstrated in this study and in earlier investigations with their presence in hospital environments, which has already been reported in Algeria (36) and other countries such as Turkey (9), Japan (37), and Cuba (38), urgently call for regulations regarding their control and elimination from clinical areas (11). …”

“…The medical significance of cockroaches has been largely overlooked, but it has been proven that they can harbor a number of pathogenic microorganisms with different levels of antibiotic resistance (10). Blattella germanica is the most abundant cockroach species (11), and the external surfaces and excrement of these cockroaches can contaminate food, human habitats, and hospital equipment; therefore, these insects can present a threat to human health (12).…”

Blattella germánica (Blattodea: Blattellidae) como potencial vector mecánico de infecciones asociadas a la atención en salud (IAAS) en un centro hospitalario de Villavicencio (Meta-Colombia)

“…Tilahun y colaboradores encontraron quince especies de bacterias en una unidad neonatal en Addis Ababa, las cuales presentaron resistencia múltiple a los doce antibióticos probados (14). En Ghana se realizó un estudio en un hospital de tercer nivel, en donde se hallaron ocho tipos de bacterias, las cuales presentaron diferentes niveles de resistencia a antimicrobianos (13).…”

“…En Ghana se realizó un estudio en un hospital de tercer nivel, en donde se hallaron ocho tipos de bacterias, las cuales presentaron diferentes niveles de resistencia a antimicrobianos (13). Estos hallazgos indican que las cucarachas podrían ser un vector mecánico potencial de bacterias resistentes asociadas con IAAS (14,19), con lo cual se deben extremar medidas para su control efectivo dentro de las instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud.…”

Occurrence of Gram-negative bacteria in cockroaches obtained from different areas of Dhaka city

“…were the predominant bacteria (Tilahun et al 2012) Climatic condition of Bangladesh is very favorable for the survival of cockroaches. In urban areas the density of population is high and this gives poor hygienic condition, allowing cockroaches to infest every premises.…”