Bacterial Contamination of Neonatal Incubators in Hospitals of Sana'a city-Yemen

Abstract

Objectived of the study: Assessment the bacterial contamination of 
neonate’s incubators surface in hospitals, Sana’a city. 
Methods: This a cross sectional study was conducted from 26 December 
2023 to 7 February 2024 among one hundred incubators are enrolled in the 
study samples from Al-Sabeen Maternity & Childhood Hospital, Al-Gumhori 
Teaching Hospital Authority, Al–Khamseen Hospital and Palestine Hospital 
in Sana’a city, Yemen. The swab samples were taken and placed in a 
separated sterile labeled test tube and transport to university laboratory within 
one hour and inoculated onto pre-prepared culture plates and bacteria were 
identified by standard microbiological methods such as culture traits of pure 
colonies, Gram staining, enzyme production and biochemical tests. The 
collected data was analyzed by SPSS version 17. 
Results: Among 100 samples, 42% yielded positive bacterial growth after 24 
hours of incubation. From those that are positive bacterial growth 76,2% were 
gram-positive bacteria and 23,8% were gram-negative bacteria. Seven 
different pathogens were identified, Coagulase negative Staphylococci 
accounted for majority of the bacterial pathogens isolated 69%, followed by 
Klebsiella spp 9.5%, S. aureus 4.8%, Enterobacter spp 4.8%, Acinetobacter 
spp 4.8%, Escherichia coli spp 4.8% and Pseudomonas spp 2.4%. 
Conclusions: The bacterial contamination of objects and instruments in 
NICU was high. This indicate that they can be vehicles for diseases 
transmission specially in countries that have fragile healthcare system.