Occurrence of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria on a High-Touch Inanimate Surface (Door-Handle) in Hospital and Community Settings at Okada, Edo State, Nigeria

Door handles in high-contact areas pose significant risk for bacterial transmission, as highlighted by a cross-sectional study at hospital and community settings in Okada from May to July 2025. This study assessed bacterial contamination on door handles through standard phenotypic tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, complemented by antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. In hospital toilet facilities, the most common bacteria included Enterococcus faecalis (22%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (22%), with Escherichia coli (20%) being notable as well. Klebsiella aerogenes and Klebsiella pneumoniae appeared least frequently at 6%. In hospital laboratory, E. faecalis (35.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (32.35%) dominated. Patient wards showed E. faecalis and S. aureus at 23.33%, while administrative offices had Bacillus cereus (38.89%). University hostel toilets had E. faecalis (32.75%) and S. aureus (22.41%), whereas external door handles mostly showed S. aureus at 50%. The Mann-Whitney U test indicated no significant difference in median bacterial prevalence between hospital and community door handles (p > 0.05). Contamination was highest in hospital toilets (83.33%), administrative offices (60%), and laboratory (56.67%), as well as university hostel toilets (96.67%). The Student's t-test indicated community door handles had significantly higher contamination than hospital handles (p < 0.05). Resistance to beta-lactams was widespread, with some bacteria exhibiting complete resistance (100%), while fluoroquinolone and aminoglycoside sensitivity were recorded in most isolates. The highest rates of multidrug-resistant bacteria were found on toilet door handles (30.00%), particularly in E. coli and K. aerogenes. This study recommends the implementation of antimicrobial coatings and better hygiene practices to mitigate public health risks.