Contamination by antimicrobial-resistant enterobacteria isolated on cell phones and hands in a veterinary hospital

Author(s)

Ana Carolina Valentim Hespanha

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Jaboticabal. 2021-12-15.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal
• Defense date: 2021-07-05
• Advisor: Bruno Watanabe Minto; Marita Vedovelli Cardozo

Abstract

Nosocomial infections represent a serious public health problem, leading to increased mortality and morbidity for affected patients. Cell phones are the target of investigations about their importance in the spread of pathogens, due to their uncontrolled use and presence in all day-to-day environments, including veterinary hospitals. In this sense, the objective of this work is to evaluate the presence of Escherichia coli (E.coli), Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), important bacteria associated with hospital infection, on cell phones of the small animal surgical team at the Veterinary Hospital of Paulista State University - Campus Jaboticabal. For this, samples of cell phones were collected from surgeons, assistants, nurses and anesthetists and those responsible for patients, as well as from their hands, operating table and the patient. The bacteria were isolated and identified through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, genetic diversity by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and susceptibility to antimicrobials through antibiogram. Additionally, the patients were followed up for 4 weeks for signs of nosocomial infection in the surgical wound. Eight samples were positive for E. coli and Proteus mirabilis, from the hand of the anesthetist, hand of the tutor, hand of the surgeon, cell of the surgeon, cell of the nurse, cell of the anesthetist and two surgical tables. The antimicrobial susceptibility test demonstrated that all isolates were resistant to multiple antimicrobials. Pulsed field electrophoresis demonstrated high genetic diversity among the isolates. The identification of multi- resistant E.coli and Proteus mirabilis in cell phones of the surgical team is of great concern and, although not directly correlated, the isolation of these bacteria within the clean area of the operating room has evidenced the possibility of nosocomial transmission from cell phones susceptible patients. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/14382-9 - Nosocomial infection by E.coli and Proteus mirabilis associated with the use of cellular devices in veterinary surgery
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Valentim Hespanha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master