title: Nosocomial diarrhoea in relation to sanitation state: a study in Tikrit, Iraq.
abstract: A cross-sectional hospital-based study of 259 children aged < 5 years was carried out in Tikrit, Iraq, to identify the prevalence of nosocomial diarrhoea and sources of contamination in the ward environment. Nosocomial diarrhoea was diagnosed in 84 children (32.4%). Children with diarrhoea were more likely than unaffected children to be bottle-fed, given unboiled water, to have unclean food containers and contaminated bed sheets. Three out of 5 brands of formula milk (unopened cans) were contaminated. Three-quarters of medical staff and employees had contaminated hands. Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Citrobacter spp. were the most commonly identified microorganisms. A greater emphasis on personal hygiene, improved care practices and promotion of breastfeeding is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Tikrit, Tikrit, Iraq.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Alrifai
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Saadi
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Mahmood
mesh_terms: D001512:Bedding and Linens / Q000382:microbiology; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012499:Sanitation; D014871:Water Microbiology