Jalalpoor S,  Kermanshahi R,  Noohi A,  Zarkesh Isfahani S H. The comparative frequency of β-lactamase production and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacterial strains isolated from staff hands and hospital surfaces in Alzahra Hospital–Isfahan.  Iran J Med Microbiol 2010; 3 (4) :37-45
URL: 
http://ijmm.ir/article-1-167-en.html     
                     
                    
                    
                    
					 
					
                 
                
                    
                    
                    
                    1- Department of Food Industries, Islamic Azad University -Shahraza Branch  , Iran , shilla.jalalpoor@yahoo.com. 
 2- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Alzahra , Tehran, Iran 
 3- Departmen of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 
 4- Departmen of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran 
                    
                    
                    Abstract:       (14582 Views)
                    
                    
                    Background and objectives: Hospital surfaces can serve as reservoirs of potential pathogenic bacteria.Staff 
hands are the main source of bacterial transmission in hospital. The prevalence of bacteria harboring  β–
lactamase enzyme in staff hands and hospital surfaces, leads to spread of β–lactamase producing bacteria 
and ultimate increase of antibiotic resistance nosocomial infections. The aim of this study was to investigate 
the frequency of  β-lactamase producing bacteria and susceptibility pattern of isolated bacteria from staff 
hands and high and low contact hospital surfaces of Alzahra hospital in Isfahan, Iran. 
Material and Methods: This laboratory-based study was performed in Alzahra hospital in Isfahan during 
2005-2007 years. Overally, 274 samples (194 strains from surfaces and 80 strains from staff hands) were 
screened during the study. Environmental samples were collected by using swabs in Nutrient Broth (NB)
and samples from staff hands were collected with Finger Print method. Bacterial identification was 
performed by conventional biochemical identification tests. For determination of  β–lactamase production, 
acidometric method was used, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby Bauer method. 
Results: the 194 isolated strains from hospital surfaces were: Staphylococcus spp. 105 (53.7%), 
Bacillus spp. 74 (24%) Enterobacteriaceae 21 (10.7%), Pseudomonas spp . 9 (4.6%), Streptococcus
spp. 2 (1%), other gram negative bacilli 10 (5.15%), and the 80 strains isolated from staff hands were: 
Bacillus spp. 48 (60%), Staphylococcus spp. 28 (35%), Enterobacteriaceae4 (0.5%). The isolated 
bacteria from both sources were highly resistant to tested antibiotics. According to the results from 
acidometric test, 125 (61.54%) strains isolated from hospital surfaces and 46 (61.85%) strainsisolated 
from staff hands, were β-lactamase producers. 
Conclusion: The results show the high frequency of antibiotic resistant and β–lactamase producing bacterial 
strains on staff hands and hospital surfaces in present study.
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    Type of Study:  
Original Research Article |
                    Subject: 
                    
Antibiotic Resistance  Received: 2013/11/22 | Accepted: 2013/11/22 | ePublished: 2013/11/22