Efficacy of disinfectants in preventing the spread of nosocomial infections

Abstract

Nosocomial infections are the leading cause of death in intensive care units with mortality rates as high as 60% and twice as much in patients with nosocomial infection(s). Nosocomial infections are any clinically recognizable microbiological diseases that affect the patient as a consequence of his being admitted to hospital or the hospital staff as a consequence of their work. The bacteria that are usually associated to hospital acquired infections include Streptococcus spp., Acinetobacter spp., enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Legionella and Enterobacteriaceae family members including Proteus mirablis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Serratia marcescens. In this study, the bacteriostatic and bactericidal, effects were determined to assess the efficacy of the selected disinfectants (0.5% Jik, 70% ethanol and saraya hand sanitizer) in preventing the spread of sampled nosocomial bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae). 0.5% jik was the most efficacious on all the tested bacteria followed by hand sanitizer and the least was 70% ethanol. All disinfectants hand bacteriostatic and bactericidal, effects. However, different bacterial species vary in their response to different disinfectants. This study is good for policy makers to be able to inform the public and health care units on the most effective disinfectants to be used in implementing some preventive measures such as sterilisation and disinfection.