prevalence of environmental gram-negative bacilli in the intensive care units of hospitals from the city of qom

background: the role of the hospital environment as a source of dissemination of pathogens is critical. environmental surfaces in the intensive care units (icus) are suitable for the growth of gram-negative bacteria that normally circulate between the environment and patients and can cause outbreaks of nosocomial infections. in this study, the prevalence of gram-negative bacilli in the environment of the icus and neonatal icu (nicu) of hospitals in the city of qom was evaluated. materials and methods: during a 6 month period from november 2012 to april 2013, samples were collected from environmental surfaces of icus of four hospitals and nicu of one hospital located in the city of qom. sampling was done from equipment, fluids, and surfaces and identification was carried out based on culture and biochemical tests for gram-negative bacilli. results: a total of 230 swab samples was collected and 50 colonies of gram-negative bacilli were isolated from environmental surfaces. overall, 64% of the isolates belonged to non-fermentative bacteria and 36% of the isolates belonged to enterobacteriaceae family.  strains of pseudomonas aeruginosa and acinetobacter baumannii complex accounted for the highest rates of environmental isolates. in addition, klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from nicu. conclusion: the high frequency of genus acinetobacter among gram negative bacteria isolated from environmental surfaces has a public health impact and acinetobacter spp. should be considered in the infection control programs in hospitals. isolation of k. pneumoniae should be regarded as a risk factor for fatal neonatal infections.