Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Care

Microbiological surveillance of hospital environment is an indicator of hospital hygiene. Also, the hospital environment especially in ICUs and OTs has an important role to play in the transmission of HAIs (Hospital Acquired Infections). We studied the bacteriological profile of surface samples taken from high risk areas of a tertiary care hospital. Surface samples were taken by a sterile swab soaked in normal saline from ICUs and OTs. The samples were processed according to standard operative procedures. Out of 691 total surface samples, 476 samples (68.8%) were culture positive. The organisms were either normal flora, contaminants or pathogenic organisms. The predominant pathogenic isolate was Staphylococcus aureus (11.14%) followed by Pseudomonas spp. (3.32%). Although guidelines do not recommend, however, routine environmental sampling in developing countries may give a clue to possible sources and types of infection that may be prevalent in a hospital and thus help to guide the formulation of an effective infection control programme for the hospital.