title: Microbial contamination in the operating theatre: a study in a hospital in Baghdad.
abstract: Contamination of the operating theatre is a major cause of nosocomial infection. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of bacterial contamination of operating theatres in Al Imam Ali Hospital in Baghdad, and the source of contamination. From 1216 swabs collected from surfaces, equipment and antiseptic solutions from different operating theatres in 2001 and 2002, the rates of positive cultures were 3.7% in 2001 and 4.0% in 2002. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common isolate in 2001 followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whereas in 2002 coliform bacteria were the highest, followed by P. aeruginosa. No clear pattern of isolates was found in different types of operating theatres, although coliforms and P. aeruginosa were mostly found in the delivery theatre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Science, Al-Mustansiriyah University Baghdad, Iraq.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ensayef
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Shalchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbar
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D015984:Causality; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004340:Drug Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D050456:Fomites / Q000382:microbiology; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control; D007493:Iraq; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000254:growth & development; D012621:Seasons; D012996:Solutions; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012996:Solutions