Microbial diversity and antibiotic resistance of bacteria on washroom fomites in a public university

Abstract

Purpose:To determine the diversity and distribution of bacteria contaminants on washroom fomites in a public university andtheirresistanceto common antibiotics.Methodology:A sanitation audit was conducted on 21 selected washrooms on seven different blocksin a university. Swabswere collected from68 washroomfomites for bacterial isolation and biochemical identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for 22 Gram positiveand 41 Gram negativebacteria species.Findings:Of 21 washroomsnone had toiletries, 71% did not have flowing water and90% werein the categoryof generally unclean.Of 169 bacteria isolatedStaphylococcus aureusand Escherichia coliwere the predominant species.Of 68 fomites all had bacterial contaminants with 83.8% having 2 to 3 co-occurring species. Gram positivebacteria isolated were resistant to augmentin (100%), meropenem (94%), penicillin (91%), cefuroxime (86%), vancomycin (86%), erythromycin (67%), cloxacillin(64%), tetracyclin (64%), ciprofloxacin (59%), cotrimoxazole (59%), ampicillin (50%) andgentamicin (36%).Gram negative bacteria isolatedwere resistant to meropenem (97%), ceftriaxone (95%), ampicillin (93%), cefuroxime (91%), cefotaxime (84%), vancomycin (82%), tetracyclin (80%), cotrimoxazole (78%), chloramphenicol (50%), ciprofloxacin (71%), amikacin (40%) and gentamicin (24%).Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy:Previous studies on bacteria on fomites in Ghana have focused onhealthcare settings. This study focusedon a university campus which is a non-healthcare setting with a high human presence and pressure on existing washroom facilitiesleading to contamination. The diversity of bacteria on the fomites are representative ofclinically significant antibiotic resistant human enteric and skin flora carried by a seemingly healthy population and providean indication of the potential antibiotic resistance burden in the user community.