Microbial contaminations on hands among visitors at critical units of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Mazlan, Nurul Aimi (2017) Microbial contaminations on hands among visitors at critical units of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Project Report. Universiti Sains Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Visitors’ hands can be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms that are dangerous to the vulnerable and immunocompromised critical unit patients. Inadequate cleaning of hands could carry the pathogenic organisms and transmit disease to one self as well as to the visited patients. This study was done to determine the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination on hands among visitors at critical units with respect to their hand hygiene practices. A total of 52 visitors were selected into this study using grab sampling. Questionnaire gathering information on hand hygiene were distributed among the visitors prior their dominant hand swabbing. Identification of the microorganisms were conducted by gram staining, biochemical tests, disc diffusion test and selective agar medium. It was found that 98.1% (n=51) of their hands were contaminated by microorganisms (3.87xl014±1.65xl013 CFU/ml). E. coli was isolated MRSA found. Only 40.4% (n=21) visitors performed hand hygiene before meeting with patients. There was marginally significant association between washing hands before meeting patients and the presence of E. coli (p=0.052). A significant difference was obtained in Staphylococcus aureus contamination among those who perform hand washing before patient contact (p=0.014). As a conclusion, a higher bacterial contamination on hands might be contributed by inadequacy of proper hand hygiene practices as it was unacceptably low (less than 50%), despites no MRSA was found. Thus, behaviour and attitudes regarding hand hygiene among visitors need to be improved by multidisciplinary approach.

Item Type: Monograph (Project Report)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Microbial contaminations
Subjects: R Medicine
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Kampus Kesihatan (Health Campus) > Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan (School of Health Sciences) > Thesis
Depositing User: Mr Abdul Hadi Mohammad
Date Deposited: 22 Jun 2026 07:37
Last Modified: 22 Jun 2026 07:37
URI: http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/63866

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