Microbial Contamination Hands of Healthcare Providers in Intensive Care Units at Al-Zwia Medical Center

Abstract

Nosocomial infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients, medical staff, and visitors, often transmitted through contaminated surfaces, particularly via healthcare workers' hands. This study aimed to isolate and identify bacterial contaminants on the hands of healthcare providers in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) at Al-Zawia Medical Center. A total of 60 hand samples were collected from doctors, technicians, and paramedics, with 52 samples (86.7%) found to be contaminated. The most commonly isolated bacteria were non-pathogenic diphtheroids (53%), which may become aggressive in immunocompromised patients, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (6.7%), Escherichia coli (3.3%), and other pathogens such as hemolytic staphylococci and Acinetobacter baumannii. The findings highlight severe contamination risks, emphasizing the need for strict hygiene practices, including the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and frequent glove changes between patient interactions to reduce the spread of infections.