ABSTRACT
Non-resident microorganisms can be picked up by contact with surfaces such as gate pass. This study was aimed at evaluating the microbiological quality of gate pass used in Benin City.
Gate pass samples were collected from entrances in University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and Kada plaza (KADA). Surface areas (10 cm2) of the gate pass were swabbed with sterile swab sticks. Enumeration was done using pour plate, while isolation was by streaking. Media used were Nutrient, MacConkey, Mannitol salt, Salmonella-shigella and Potato Dextrose Agars. Samples were collected for four months. Identification of isolates was based on cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. Antibiotic susceptibility was done using disk diffusion method. The resistant bacteria isolates were subjected to plasmid profiling. Beta lactams and quinolone resistant genes were also assayed in the resistant organisms.
Highest bacterial, coliform and staphylococcal were from KADA (76.66±4.40x103cfu/cm2), KADA (35.00±8.08 x 103cfu/cm2) and UBTH (28.67 ± 2.90 x103cfu/cm2) respectively at week 0. Least bacterial, Coliform and Staphylococcal counts were from UBTH (18.66±4.09 x103cfu/cm2), KADA (7.00±2.88 x103cfu/cm2) and UBTH (4.66±0.33 x103cfu/cm2) respectively. Highest and least fungal counts were from KADA (59.33±5.60 x103cfu/cm2) and UBTH (21.00±3.46 x103cfu/cm2). Identified bacteria isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Shigella sp., Citrobacter freundi, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Micrococcus luteus and Enterococcus faecalis. Identified fungi were Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporium and Mucor mucedo. Isolates with highest frequency of occurrence were S. aureus (16.30%) and A. niger (35.71%). Antibiotics sensitivity revealed E. coli had the highest multiple antibiotic resistance index of 1 while the least (0.6) was from S. epidermidis. All identified bacterial isolates harbored plasmid gene. The gene Tem coding for beta lactams resistance was confirmed in B. cereus, S. aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and B. subtilis while QnrA gene was found in Klebsiella pnueomoniae, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gate pass disk harboured pathogenic microbes. There is need to strengthen existing infection control strategies.
