Microbial Isolation

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The white coat is a favourable habitat for a great variety of bacteria due to the constant exposure to air, dust, aerosols and microorganisms present in the hospital environment.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify the microorganisms from the white coats of medical personals in SMIMS & CRH and to test antibiotic resistance profile of the isolated organisms.

Method:

The samples used were obtained from 88 patients which included the students of SMIMS & health personals of CRH. The sample was collected using sterile cotton swab sticks. Specimen was taken from the chest and pocket cuffs of the white coat from each individuals.

Result:

Bacteria isolated were identified as strains of Staphyloccus aureus, Aerobic spore forming bacillus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas spp.

Staphylococcus aureus had the highest degree of occurrence with 40 isolates followed by Aerobic spore forming bacilli with 23 isolates, E coli with 5 isolates, mixed isolates of S.aureus and ASB with 18 isolates while the least was Pseudomonas spp with 2 isolates.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am greatly indebted to Prof. Dr. T.Shantikumar Singh, Head Of the Department Of Microbiology, Sikkim Manipal Institute Of Medical Sciences, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim for the unfailing guidance and support and providing me necessary facilities while preparing for completion of this dissertation.

I recorded my sincere thanks to Dr. Luna Adhikari, Professor and (Department of Microbiology, SMIMS) for her immense help without which preparation of this dissertation would have been marked impossible.

I would equally like to express my deep sense of gratitude to all the teachers of the Dept. for their ungrudging help when ever and how ever possible.

I extend my sincere thanks to all the staff of the department for their help when ever needed. I also am grateful to the librarian for allowing me to take the advantage of all the sources available in the library.

It gives me immense pleasure in expressing gratitude to my parents, my friends for their sacrifices, ever willing love and support in every step towards the completion of my works

Mandip Rai

CONTENTS

PARTICULARS PAGE NO.

1. INTRODUCTION 1-2

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 3

3. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 4-8

4. MATERIALS AND METHODS 9-13

5. DISCUSSION 14-15

6. CONCLUSION 16-17

7. REFERENCE 18-21

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

A white coat, apron or laboratory coat (abbreviated lab coat) is a knee-length overcoat or smock worn by professionals in the medical field or by those involved in laboratory work to protect their street clothes.

The garment is made from white cotton or linen to allow it to be washed at high temperature and make it easy to see if it is clean.1

There has always been some concern that white coats, nurse's uniforms and other hospital garments, may actually play a part in transmitting pathogenic bacteria in a hospital settings.2-6

Many articles of clothing and equipment, such as neckties, stethoscopes, pens, lanyards, identify badges along with the doctor's coat have been noted to carry potential pathogens.7

Also, dental personnel's clothing or uniforms (white coat) are spattered by blood, aerosol and saliva and there is a definite risk of infection with various transmissible agents.8

There has also been controversy over whether doctors should be barred from wearing white coats in areas such as staff canteens, tea rooms, and libraries.

1

However, wearing a white coat is an accepted part of medical and dental practice. The actual use of white coats and how often they are changed varies greatly among individual doctors and their specialties.

The white coat is associated with medicine, science, and the healing, and it is the most recognized and respected dress of a doctor.

Contamination of skin and clothing by "splashes" or touch is practically unavoidable in hospitals. The white coat worn over personnel clothing, is a personal protection equipments (PPE) from such contamination.9

So called hospital infections are among the main causes of morbidity and mortality in hospitals. Also, they increase hospital stays and costs.

Health professionals can harbor many pathogens on their bodies, mainly on their hands and nostril surfaces. However, there are few studies concerning the presence of microorganisms on hospital clothing.

The increasing rate of hospital infections, especially those caused by multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is causing a certain apprehension due to the possibility of microorganism transmission via hospital staff uniforms.

2

AIMS

AND OBJECTIVES

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The main aim of this study was to determine the growth or the contamination of white coat by different organisms.

The