Assessment of Ultrasound Equipment as a Possible Source of Nosocomial Infection in Lagos State Hospitals and Radio- Diagnostic Centres

AIM: To assess the role of ultrasound equipment as a possible source of nosocomial infections in Lagos State Hospitals and diagnostic centres and to identify the types of Microorganisms found in the equipment. METHODS : Microbiological cultures were carried out on samples obtained from ultrasound probes, gel and couch before and after scanning period. Cultures were incubated in a culture plate (Chocolate and MacConkey agar) for 48 hours at a temperature of 37 0 in order to grow microorganism, after which the culture plate was examined microscopically against a bright light in order to identify the isolated organisms based on their colonial characteristics. RESULTS :Transabdominal ultrasound probes, transvaginal probe, ultrasound couch and ultrasound gel all were contaminated with microorganisms. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent and most common organisms found (33.8%). Other organisms such as Staphylococcus epidermidis (15.4%), Candida albicans (6.2%), aerobic spore formers (26.2%), Klebsiella pneumonia (6.2%), Pseudomonasaeruginosa (3.1%), among others were also identified. CONCLUSION :Ultrasound equipment is a possible source of nosocomial infection for patient undergoing ultrasonography. The most commonly isolated bacterial were staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococusepidermidis, Aerobic spore formers, among others according to this research.