Staphylococcus Aureus Contamination of Frequently Touched Objects in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Ghana: Staphylococcus aureus contamination of frequently touched objects in a tertiary care hospital in Ghana

Kennedy Gyau Boahen; George Osei Boateng; Kwasi Adom-Boafo; Edwin Dyrasi Terkper; Gifty Nkrumah; Japhet Senyo Kamasah; Debora Akortia; Charlotte Hansen; Isaac Obeng Abankwah; Beatrice Nyantakyiwaa; Francis Opoku Agyapong; Eric Darko; Kofi Antwi Appiagyei; Andrews Amaniampong

doi:10.4314/yqaf8989

Authors

Kennedy Gyau Boahen Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1798-1338
George Osei Boateng Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Kwasi Adom-Boafo Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Edwin Dyrasi Terkper Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Gifty Nkrumah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6746-7728
Japhet Senyo Kamasah - Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0369-555X
Debora Akortia University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3385-8252
Charlotte Hansen Kumasi South Government Hospital, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
Isaac Obeng Abankwah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6441-2505
Beatrice Nyantakyiwaa Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5963-9490
Francis Opoku Agyapong Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Eric Darko Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7074-115X
Kofi Antwi Appiagyei Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7961-2785
Andrews Amaniampong Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7940-411X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/yqaf8989

Keywords:

Staphylococcus aureus, antimicrobial resistance, nosocomial infection, tertiary hospital, Ghana

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus can cause infections that range from mild to serious and sometimes fatal. Surfaces in the hospital environment are vital to the spread of S. aureus. The study aimed to investigate the presence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of S. aureus on doors, benches, and mobile phones at the Kumasi South Government Hospital (KSGH). A total of 199 samples were collected. Standard microbiological techniques were employed for bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility tests. The overall contamination rate of S. aureus was 19.6%, of which 23.5%, 21.2%, and 14.3% were from benches, phones, and doorknobs, respectively. The highest level of resistance was recorded against ampicillin and penicillin, while gentamicin was recorded as the lowest. Occurrence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) was noted among isolates derived from clinical departments (93.1%; 27/29) and non-clinical departments (90.0%; 9/10); however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.752; OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 0.12–18.57). Surfaces with high hand-touch rate assessed in this study harbour S. aureus, serving as potential niches for continuous transmission, highlighting the need for regular disinfection or decontamination.

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Staphylococcus Aureus Contamination of Frequently Touched Objects in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Ghana