Practical experience in the biofilms detection on epidemiologically significant surfaces of medical organizations

Objective: to identify the presence and qualitative of microbial biofilms on epidemiologically significant surfaces of medical organizations, as well as to evaluate the factors contributing to the formation of biofilms.

Materials and methods: 253 epidemiologically significant objects of the medical environment were examined from March to November 2023, after disinfection in four hospitals of various profiles using a catalase rapid test and subsequent application of the bacteriological method, in order to establish the species of microorganisms included in biofilms.

Results: a positive result of the catalase rapid test was recorded on 36 (14.2 %) surfaces. Bacteriological confirmation of the presence of microorganisms and identification of their type were obtained in 29 cases (80.5 %). Biofilms were found in 13.4 % of medical environment objects with a high risk of HAIs and 14.9 % of objects with a low risk of HAI. In our study, monospecies biofilms were found formed by the following types of bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus (41.7 %), Acinetobacter baumannii (22.2 %), Enterococcus faecium (16.7 %), with a predominance of gram-negative bacteria in high-risk surfaces and gram-positive – at low-risk facilities for HAIs. The main factors for the occurrence of biofilms on epidemiologically significant surfaces have been identified: non-observance of the sanitary and epidemiological regime in the departments of medical institutions; use of outdated medical equipment; non-observance of the concentration of the active substance of the finished working solution of the disinfectant; use of a concentrate and/or working solution of a disinfectant outside the expiration date; the use of disinfectants with fixing properties (aldehydes, alcohols) without preliminary mechanical cleaning of surfaces. Recommendations are given to prevent the formation of biofilms in medical environments.

Conclusion: detection of biofilms on epidemiologically significant surfaces is an important part of industrial control aimed at preventing HAIs.

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