Correlating Neonates’ Bacterial Isolates with Surrounding Environment in NICU and Detection of Biofilm Formation

The present study aimed to identify the most frequently isolated microorganisms from neonates and their surrounding environment in neonatal intensive care unit and to detect biofilm formation in indwelling medical devices and nursing facilities used in neonatal intensive care unit. Four hundred and seventy samples from neonates and their environment were taken from neonatal intensive care units of Zagazig University Hospitals over the the period from February 2010 to March 2011.The blood samples sent for laboratory investigation as well as swabs from skin of newborns, incubators, environmental room, gowns, hands of health care workers, hand disinfections solutions, feeding tubes, urinary catheters and cannulas. The specimens yielded: 150 Staphylococcus aureus, 150 coagulase negative Staphylococcus, 50 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 100 Klebsiella pneumonia. Genotyping using pulsed field gel electrophoresis revealed that there is a relationship between isolates from health care workers, environmental room with those isolated from blood of neonates. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) of feeding tubes, urinary catheters and cannulas showed biofilm formation.