An Investigation of X-Ray Equipment and Accessories as Possible Vectors of Nosocomial Infection in Government and Private Hospitals in Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Nosocomial infections have become a major challenge in health care delivery institutions, as they affect the quality of health care delivered. The medical imaging department is central within the hospital to the diagnosis of illness and disease; hence the need to investigate the role of the imaging department in the spread of nosocomial infection within the health care institutions.
Aim: This study was carried out to investigate whether x – ray equipment and accessories harbour nosocomial pathogens, and their potential role in causing nosocomial infections within healthcare delivery institutions in government and private hospitals within the study area.
Study Design: A non-experimental, prospective study design was used.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in some selected medical imaging departments in Anambra state from March to July 2012.

Method: Wet Sterile swab sticks were used to swab the surfaces of selected x-ray equipment and accessories, at the close of work. The swab samples were then taken to the microbiology laboratory for culturing and identification. MacConkey and Blood agar media (inhibitor) were used to prepare the culture media. The prepared media were put in petri dishes and swab samples were inoculated onto the culture plates. Culture plates were then incubated for 24 hours, at a temperature of 37ºc. At the end of the incubation period, the culture plates were viewed macroscopically under a bright light, to identify the bacteria; according to their colonial characteristics. Data were analysed using frequency and percentage.
Results: Bacteria were isolated in 182 samples (86%), out of the 200 samples collected. Bacteria isolated were; Staphylococcus aureus (140), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (88), Proteus spp (28), Streptococcus (52), and Coliform spp (80) Staphylococcus aureus was the bacterium isolated most often (140 times), while Proteus spp. was isolated the least number of times (28 times). But the largest number of sample was recorded on cassettes (60 times), for both government and private institutions. Bacterial isolates had a higher prevalence in government institutions (96), except Coliform spp. which had a higher prevalence in private institutions.
Conclusion: This study has established the bacteria contamination of X – ray equipment and accessories used in the medical imaging departments of health care delivery institutions. Hence, these equipment and accessories have a potential to cause nosocomial infections in patients and health care workers.