Microbial Sampling and Analysis taken from Laboratory white Coats Staff Working at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Lab coats are protective elements to people working in health care and researches that separates them from pollutants. However, if not properly used, it can be a source of multiple microbiological contaminations. This study was done at AL-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital-Baghdad, during from 15th November 2023 to 15th March 2024. It was designed to find the most common bacteria, fungi and yeasts that might be present on staff lab coats.  53 samples (106 swabs) were cultured after collected from the sleeves and pockets of staff Lab coats and observed the antimicrobial susceptibility in lab swabs culture for 14 isolates out of 106 swabs belonged to Gram positive bacteria and sensitivity patterns against 16 antimicrobials. Gram positive bacteria found to be the most common organisms in lab coats represented by Microbiology unit with 71.4%,  followed by Phlebotomy units 21.4% , which represented by Coagulase-negative Staphylococci(CoNS) Staphylococcus epidermidis (43.9%),Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus warneri (21.4% ,14.3%) respectively. , It turns out, higher bacteria growth in  female Lab coats )85.7%( than in male )14.3% (and in sleeves )15.1%( than in pockets(11.3%)  ,in addition , increased response to sensitivity test  for antibiotics , especially Tigecycline antibiotic 100% ,Gentamycin, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin, Teicoplanin and Rifampicin (92.9%),as well  others but in varying degrees , and not any type of fungi were isolated. In conclusion, Gram positive bacteria population was the most common organisms, higher prevalence of microbial infection in female than in men and increased of antibiotic sensitivity specially Tigecycline antibiotic, however, should proper maintenance and educational practices must be applied to minimize contamination.