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Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies
  • Printed Journal
  • Indexed Journal
  • Refereed Journal
  • Peer Reviewed Journal

P-ISSN: 2394-0530, E-ISSN: 2320-3862

2019, Vol. 7, Issue 3, Part A

Isolation and characterizations of microbes associated with stethoscope from different health workers in Gondar university teaching hospital wards

Mequanente Dagnaw

Stethoscope has always been a part of the physicians’ basic tool for examining patients. Universal use of stethoscope for examination of patients by health care personnel makes it a potential source for spread of nosocomial infection. This study was designed to assess both the potential for bacterial transmission by stethoscopes used by different health-care workers in Gondar university teaching hospital. A cross sectional study was conducted from April to June 2017 in university of Gondar department of biotechnology in cellular and molecular laboratory. During the study period there were a total of 128 stethoscopes from health professionals who had direct contact with patients are collected. Sample was collected by sterile cotton-tipped applicator moistened in a sterile solution of physiologic saline (0.85% sodium chloride) was used to swab the entire surface of the diaphragm of the stethoscope was inoculated into MacConkey agar, nutrient agar and blood agar media. Of the 115(89.8%) Stethoscopes out of total collected stethoscopes had bacterial growth and total 145 bacteria were isolated comprising of 4 different isolates. Isolates included staphylococcus epidermidis 45(31%) Staphylococcus aureus 40(27.5%), Enterobacteria Proteus 32(22%), Staphylococci 28(19.3%). All stethoscopes that had never been cleaned were contaminated while lower levels of contamination were found on those cleaned two week less before the survey. Motivation of health care providers to convert their knowledge to practice could be the next step to decrease the bacterial load significantly from the stethoscope which will automatically minimize cross-contamination and ensure improved patient safety in the hospital and design anther options to use the instrument for physical examinations is important. Further study for molecular characterizations is another next step to identify the isolates in the level of species.
Pages : 33-38 | 1083 Views | 113 Downloads
How to cite this article:
Mequanente Dagnaw. Isolation and characterizations of microbes associated with stethoscope from different health workers in Gondar university teaching hospital wards. J Med Plants Stud 2019;7(3):33-38.
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