Microbiological evaluation of the hands of health professionals of a private hospital in Itumbiara, Goiás, Brazil
Keywords:
Contamination, Hand, Health professionalsAbstract
Objective
The purpose of this study was to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the
microorganisms present in the hands of health professionals in a private hospital
in Itumbiara (GO), Brazil.
Methods
The study was conducted with 48 health professionals, including three nurses,
29 nurse technicians. five nursing assistants, nine physicians and two radiography
technicians. Samples were obtained by placíng the dominant hand of the health
professional in a sterile polyethylene bag containíng trypticase soy broth
Results
Bacterial count (>106) showed that the hands of nurses, nurse technicians and nursing assistants were very contaminated, The most common microorganisms were coagulase-negatíve Staphylococcus (44.5%) followed 67 Staphylococcus aureus (40.0%). Roughly 70% of the staphylococci were oxacillin-resistant. Gramnegative bacilli were not detected
Conclusion
Hands were very contaminated with bacteria that are epidemiologically important in the hospital environment, demonstrating the need for more frequent and careful hand washing.
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References
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