Bacteriological assessment and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacteria isolated from hospital door handles in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Hospital door handles are frequently touched by healthcare workers, patients, and visitors, making thempotential reservoirs for the transmission of infectious agents. This study aimed to isolate and identify bacteriafrom door handles in selected hospitals in Port Harcourt and to determine their antibiotic susceptibilitypatterns. Swab samples were collected from door handles in office, reception, and ward areas using sterileswabs moistened with normal saline. The samples were transported to the Microbiology Laboratory foranalysis within 1-2 hours of collection. Isolation and identification of bacterial isolates were carried out usingstandard microbiological procedures, including morphological examination and biochemical tests. Antibioticsusceptibility testing was performed using standard laboratory methods. Data obtained were statisticallyanalyzed, with significance set at p < 0.05. Bacterial counts ranged from 2.30 ± 0.14 × 10⁵ to 5.81 ± 0.28 ×10⁵ CFU/cm² in reception areas, 1.20 ± 0.12 × 10⁵ to 6.66 ± 0.21 × 10⁵ CFU/cm² in ward areas, and 3.58 ±0.70 × 10⁴ to 1.62 ± 0.21 × 10⁵ CFU/cm² in office areas, with significant differences observed amonglocations. Eight bacterial genera were identified: Staphylococcus (15%), Bacillus (14%), Pseudomonas(14%), Escherichia coli (14%), Streptococcus (14%), Klebsiella (11%), Proteus (11%), and Alcaligenes (7%).Gram-negative isolates showed high resistance to Ceporex, Ceftriaxone, Cefuroxime, Augmentin (100%),Streptomycin, and Gentamicin, while Gram-positive isolates were highly resistant to Azithromycin,Amoxicillin, Erythromycin, Ceftazidime, and Streptomycin (100%). Hospital door handles in Port Harcourtharbor significant levels of potentially pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, emphasizing their role inthe transmission of nosocomial infections. Strengthening hand hygiene practices and providing handsanitizer dispensers near doorways are strongly recommended.