Gastrointestinal Tract Colonization Rate of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Gram-Negative Bacteria and Associated Factors Among Orthopaedic Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania: Implications for Infection Prevention

Background: The dual burden of road traffic accidents and antimicrobial resistance in orthopaedic infections is challenging already strained health-care systems. Limited information exists in Tanzania on antimicrobial resistance surveillance to delineate the potential sources of multi-drug-resistant bacteria for specific mitigation strategies among orthopaedic patients. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza city between January and May 2020. It involved the collection of rectal swabs/stools, hand swabs, and environmental sampling to identify extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing gram-negative bacteria. Participants’ data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed to determine factors associated with ESBL colonization among index orthopaedic patients and correlates with other ESBL sources using OR (95% CI) and a cut-off p -value of ≤ 0.05. Results: We found that 47.2% (125/265) of index patients, 77.8% (14/18) of neighbouring patients, 8.3% (2/24) of health-care workers, 72.2% (13/18) of non-medical caregivers, and 31.4% (27/86) of samples taken from the hospital environment had ESBL producers. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. predominated among participants and Acinetobacter spp. predominated in the environmental samples. Patients with open fractures had increased odds of being colonized with ESBL producers OR (95% CI): 2.08 (1.16– 3.75); p =0.015. The floor below patients’ beds was commonly contaminated; however, the odds of environmental contamination decreased on the third round of sampling OR (95% CI: 0.16 (0.04– 0.67); p =0.012, apparently as a result of parallel infection prevention and control responsive measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Conclusion: We found a high occurrence of ESBL colonization among participants and in the environmentat this tertiary hospital. The importance of routine ESBL surveillance among orthopaedic patients with open fractures on admission and strengthened decontamination of health-care premises is reiterated. Keywords: ESBL colonization, orthopaedic patients, Mwanza, Tanzania