Abstract:

Hospital staff apparel contributed to the spread of microbial infections in susceptible individuals. A survey of presence of pathogenic microorganisms of public health importance in personal protective equipment (PPE) and wears used by hospital staff and patients in hospital in Owerri, Nigeria were carried out to determine the extent of contamination by clinically important microorganisms. A total of three hundred (300) swab samples of personal protective equipment and wears were used. The samples were analyzed and the presence of pathogenic microorganisms identified by swab culture and biochemical methods. The results obtained showed of a total of 300 swab samples of hospital staff apparel, 72 (24%) showed bacterial contamination including 32 (70%) of 46 samples from hand gloves, 28 of 45 (62%) samples from protective gowns, and 12 of 34 (35%) samples from face-shields. The bacteria isolated were Salmonella spp, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. 56 (19 %) showed fungi contamination including 31 (66 %) of 47 samples from protective gowns, 18 of 40 (45 %) samples from Hand gloves and 7 of 23 (30 %) samples from face-shields.