Microbial Contamination on High-Touch Surfaces in Outpatient Clinics: Identification of Bacterial Strains from Areas of Patient and Medical Staff Occupancy

Clinics and hospitals inherently increase the risk of adverse events, including hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) transmitted between healthcare personnel and patients. This study aimed to identify bacterial strains present on frequently touched surfaces in outpatient clinics used by patients as well as medical and non-medical personnel. This study was conducted in four outpatient care centers located in two major cities in Poland. A total of 85 samples were collected from frequently touched surfaces, including 53 samples from areas accessed by patients and 32 samples from surfaces used by medical staff. A statistically significant increase in moderate-to-heavy growth was observed in samples containing microbiota compared to those containing other microorganisms (<i>p</i> = 0.003). Similarly, a higher prevalence of spore-forming bacteria was noted compared to non-spore-forming bacteria (<i>p</i> = 0.001). A significant difference was also observed between samples with no or scant growth versus those with moderate-to-heavy growth in both the microbiota and other microorganism groups (<i>p</i> = 0.003), as well as between the spore-forming and non-spore-forming groups (<i>p</i> = 0.001). The findings of this study prompted revisions in cleaning procedures. The frequency of training for medical staff was increased, and systematic quality control of the cleaning company's performance was implemented.