Isolation and Identification of Potentially Nosocomial Bacteria on Hospital Surfaces in the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Areas of the Vicente Coral Moscoso Hospital.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/asce.v5i3.1040Keywords:
nosocomial bacteria; hospital surfaces; bacterial contamination; intensive care unit; MALDI-TOF; microbiological surveillance.Abstract
High-touch hospital surfaces represent potential reservoirs of microorganisms that may contribute to environmental contamination and the transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens, particularly in critical areas such as the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Emergency Department. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify potentially nosocomial bacteria present on hospital surfaces in the ICU and Emergency areas of Vicente Corral Moscoso Hospital using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. A quantitative, observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Eighty high-touch hospital surface samples were collected, equally distributed between both hospital areas. Samples were obtained by sterile swabbing, microbiologically processed, and viable isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF. Twenty-nine samples showed bacterial growth (36.3%). Fifteen bacterial isolates were successfully identified, with Staphylococcus epidermidis (40.0%) and Staphylococcus haemolyticus (26.7%) being the predominant species. Bed rails were the most frequently contaminated surface (40.0%). The findings demonstrated bacterial contamination on high-touch hospital surfaces in the evaluated areas, with predominance of Staphylococcus species, highlighting the importance of strengthening microbiological surveillance and cleaning and disinfection strategies in critical hospital settings.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ángel Giovanny Barros Chávez , Jonathan Gerardo Ortiz Tejedor, MSc. , Dr. Henry Parra, Microbiólogo , Mgs. Dayci Buele
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