Microbial Contamination of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Diagnostic Equipment and it's Implications for Nosocomial Infections

Abstract Hospital medical equipment frequently comes into contact with healthcare workers, patients, technicians, cleaners, and caregivers, making them potential reservoirs for harmful pathogens. This study investigated bacterial contamination on diagnostic equipment at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. A total of 15 samples were collected from four types of diagnostic equipment: Ultrasound machines, X-ray machines, CT scanners, and ECG machines. Sterile swabs were used to obtain samples from three designated points on each machine: (i) the point of contact with the patient, (ii) the point of contact with the user, and (iii) a hard-to-reach point. The samples were analyzed for bacterial growth using streaking methods. Cultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics were employed to identify bacterial isolates. The bacteria isolated and identified in this study included Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella species. The study identified Staphylococcus aureus (48.5%), Escherichia coli (30.3%), and Salmonella species (21.3%) as the predominant contaminants.