H. H Mutib - University of Al-Muthanna, College of Nursing, Samawah, Iraq
S. R Oleiwi - Al-Safwa University College, Nursing Department, Karbala, Iraq
D Majeed Hameed - University of Al-Muthanna, College of Nursing, Samawah, Iraq
S Suhail Hussein - Al-Muthanna Governorate Health Department, Samawah, Iraq

The continuing bacterial contamination in hospitals operating units and theaters has an important role in the spread of hospital infections. The current study evaluated the level of bacterial contamination in the operating theatres at Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital in Al-Samawah, Iraq. For the purpose of sample collection from surgical equipment surfaces, the swab plate method conducted by nurses and laboratory workers was used to collect the samples in the operating theater. The samples were then transferred to the laboratory unit for diagnosis by standard methods. The present study found different rates among operating theatres. According to bacterial contamination rate, especially for the operating theatre in emergency wings with ۳۳۴ contaminated isolates, the highest rates of contaminated bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=۱۷۱; ۲۶.۱%), Bacillus species (spp.) (n=۱۱۸; ۱۸%), S. aureus (n=۱۱۱; ۱۶.۹%), Klebsiella spp. (n=۹۲; ۱۴%), Enterobacter spp. (n=۸۲; ۱۲.۵%), P.aurogenosa (n=۲۴; ۳.۷%), and Escherichia coli (n=۲۳; ۳.۷%). Despite the use of all methods of sterilization among the hospital wards, especially the surgical halls in the hospital wards, bacterial contamination is still widespread among these units. It was noted that the bacteria isolated in this study posed a risk as pathogenic bacteria.

Antibiotic resistance, Bacterial contamination, Operating theatres