Bacteremia in critical care units at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania: the role of colonization and contaminated cots and mothers’ hands in cross-transmission of multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control
Abstract
Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major clinical problem in tertiary hospitals in Tanzania and jeopardizes the life
of neonates in critical care units (CCUs). To better understand methods for prevention of MDR infections, this study aimed to
determine, among other factors, the role of MDR-Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) contaminating neonatal cots and hands of
mothers as possible role in transmission of bacteremia at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC), Mwanza, Tanzania.
Methods: This cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted among neonates and their mothers in a neonatal
intensive care unit and a neonatology unit at BMC from December 2018 to April 2019. Blood specimens (n = 200) were sub-
cultured on 5% sheep blood agar (SBA) and MacConkey agar (MCA) plates. Other specimens (200 neonatal rectal swabs, 200
maternal hand swabs and 200 neonatal cot swabs) were directly inoculated on MCA plates supplemented with 2 μg/ml
cefotaxime (MCA-C) for screening of GNB resistant to third generation cephalosporins, r-3GCs. Conventional biochemical
tests, Kirby-Bauer technique and resistance to cefoxitin 30 μg were used for identification of bacteria, antibiotic susceptibility
testing and detection of MDR-GNB and screening of potential Amp-C beta lactamase producing GNB, respectively.
Results: The prevalence of culture confirmed bacteremia was 34.5% of which 85.5% were GNB. Fifty-five (93.2%) of GNB
isolated from neonatal blood specimens were r-3GCs. On the other hand; 43% of neonates were colonized with GNB r-
3GCs, 32% of cots were contaminated with GNB r-3GCs and 18.5% of hands of neonates’ mothers were contaminated with
GNB r-3GCs. The prevalences of MDR-GNB isolated from blood culture and GNB r-3GCs isolated from neonatal colonization,
cots and mothers’ hands were 96.6, 100, 100 and 94.6%, respectively. Significantly, cyanosis (OR[95%CI]: 3.13[1.51–6.51], p =
0.002), jaundice (OR[95%CI]: 2.10[1.07–4.14], p = 0.031), number of invasive devices (OR[95%CI]: 2.52[1.08–5.85], p = 0.031) and
contaminated cot (OR[95%CI]: 2.39[1.26–4.55], p = 0.008) were associated with bacteremia due to GNB. Use of tap water only
(OR[95%CI]: 2.12[0.88–5.09], p = 0.040) was protective for bacteremia due to GNB.
Conclusion: High prevalence of MDR-GNB bacteremia and intestinal colonization, and MDR-GNB contaminating cots
and mothers’ hands was observed. Improved cots decontamination strategies is crucial to limit the spread of MDR-
GNB. Further, clinical presentations and water use should be considered in administration of empirical therapy whilst
awaiting culture results.
Description
Article of Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (2020) pg, 2-14
Keywords
Antimicrobial resistance, Hand hygiene, Hospital surfaces contamination, Multidrug resistant bacteria, Bacteremia