Methicillin-Resistant Contamination of Frequently Touched Objects in Intensive Care Units: Potential Threat of Nosocomial Infections.

Background: Bacterial contamination in intensive care units is an important risk factor associated with increasing incidences of nosocomial infections. This study was conducted to study the bacterial colonization on commonly touched objects of intensive care units and antibiotic resistance pattern of bacterial isolates.

Methods: This study was conducted in different intensive care units of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal.

Bacterial contamination of neonatal intensive care units: How safe are the neonates?

Background: Intensive care units (ICU) are essential healthcare facility for life threatening conditions. Bacterial contamination of objects/instruments in ICU is an important source of nosocomial infections. This study is aimed to determine the level of bacterial contamination of instruments/objects which are commonly touched by healthcare workers and frequently come in contact with the neonates.

Carbapenemase among Clinical Bacterial Isolates in Nepal.

Gram-negative isolates producing carbapenemase enzymes is a great public health problem in developing countries and their control is challenging task due to the involvement of multiple factors including the practice of self-medication, use of antibiotics on animal farms, poor hospital hygiene, etc. During this study, we searched various databases for relevant publication on carbapenemase-producing isolates in Nepal. Various classes of carbapenemases had been reported in Nepal.

Detection and characterization of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae from the gut of healthy chickens, Gallus gallus domesticus in rural Nepal: Dominance of CTX-M-15-non-ST131 Escherichia coli clones.

The surge in the prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria in poultry is a global concern as it may pose an extended threat to humans and animal health. The present study aimed to investigate the colonization proportion of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (EPE and CPE, respectively) in the gut of healthy poultry, Gallus gallus domesticus in Kaski district of Western Nepal. Total, 113 pooled rectal swab specimens from 66 private household farms and 47 commercial poultry farms were collected by systematic random sampling from the Kaski district in western Nepal.

Bacterial contamination of frequently touched objects in a tertiary care hospital of Pokhara, Nepal: how safe are our hands?

Background: Objects frequently touched by patients and healthcare workers in hospitals harbor potential pathogens and may act as source of infectious agents. This study aimed to determine the bacterial contamination of common hospital objects frequently touched by patients, visitors and healthcare workers.

Methods: A total of 232 samples were collected from various sites like surface of biometric attendance devices, elevator buttons, door handles, staircase railings, telephone sets and water taps.

Nasal and Pharyngeal Colonization by Bacterial Pathogens: A Comparative Study between Preclinical and Clinical Sciences Medical Students.

Background: Upper respiratory tract is one of the commonest sites for microbial colonization. The colonized individuals are at risk of infections and can be a source of transmission of pathogens. Medical students are frequently exposed to a variety of infectious agents and more likely to get colonized by them.