The Nosocomial Risk of Bacterial Contamination of Surgical Wards at Saint Francis Hospital in Katete District of Zambia

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes nosocomial infections as major infectious diseases having a huge economic impact despite the interventions being made to control the infections.This was a prospective study in which a total of 96 swabs were collected from the two surgical wards at St. Francis Hospital.Proportionately, of the potential pathogenic microorganism's contamination, S. aureus had 25.9 %, E. coli 14.8%, P. species 14.8%, P. aerugnosa 11.1%, Enterobacter 11.7%, S. pneumonia 7.4%, Actinobacter species 7.4%, Plesiomonas species 3.7%, K. pneumonia 3.7%, Hamophilus species 3.7%.Further, most of the isolates exhibited highest resistance to penicillin (88.9%),Cotrimoxazole and Ampicillin 66.7%, Chloramphenicol 44.4%, Clindamycin, 55.6% while others were below 20% with the lowest being Gentamycin and Tetracycline at 11.1% and Ceftazidime had a zero resistance (100% sensitive).The surgical wards at St Francis hospital generally have high potential pathogenic microbial contamination, especially on the sinks, shower rooms and the nursing tables.Its therefore, imperative that the surrounding surfaces in the wards are routinely disinfected and sterilized to avoid cross contamination of both patients and medical personnel.