Radiology imaging equipment and accessories as possible fomites of nosocomial pathogens

Introduction: Radiology is a technical service that provides medical imaging for all sectors of healthcare. Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is a major challenge in radiology and this is exacerbated in contexts where the healthcare system is unable to provide adequate funding and attention to ef...

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Main Authors: Isaac Agyekum Adomako, Dalene Venter, Eric Sampane Donkor, Penelope Engel-Hills
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2022-07-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/14225
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author Isaac Agyekum Adomako
Dalene Venter
Eric Sampane Donkor
Penelope Engel-Hills
author_facet Isaac Agyekum Adomako
Dalene Venter
Eric Sampane Donkor
Penelope Engel-Hills
author_sort Isaac Agyekum Adomako
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Radiology is a technical service that provides medical imaging for all sectors of healthcare. Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is a major challenge in radiology and this is exacerbated in contexts where the healthcare system is unable to provide adequate funding and attention to effective infection control measures. The objectives of this study were to audit current cleaning procedures through the observation of practices in a radiology department, and to determine the types and numbers of nosocomial pathogens present on selected radiology imaging equipment and accessories before and after decontamination. Methodology: In phase one we observed seven radiographers to audit cleaning procedures and practices. In phase two we collected swab samples from selected radiology imaging equipment and accessories and then cultured them for identification of microbes. Results: It was observed that radiographers partially practiced infection control measures. This was due to the absence of documented protocol for infection control procedures. Our results indicated that all the selected equipment and accessories were contaminated with microorganisms pre- and post-cleaning. The identified microbes were Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS), Bacillus species (spp.), Shigella spp., Shigella sonnei., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella paratyphi A (S. paratyphi A), Salmonella typhi (S. typhi), Providencia rettgeri, Enterobacter spp. and Citrobacter spp. and Methicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Conclusions: The research concluded that the recommended cleaning agents did not effectively reduce the number of microorganisms making the selected equipment and accessories fomites for nosocomial pathogens.
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spelling doaj-art-2ed51401772c4360bba113b858bcbf7c2025-08-20T03:52:39ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802022-07-01160710.3855/jidc.14225Radiology imaging equipment and accessories as possible fomites of nosocomial pathogensIsaac Agyekum Adomako0Dalene Venter1Eric Sampane Donkor2Penelope Engel-Hills3Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences; Cape Town, South AfricaCPUT, Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences Cape Town, South AfricaUniversity of Ghana, Department of Microbiology, Korle Bu, GhanaCPUT, Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences Cape Town, South Africa Introduction: Radiology is a technical service that provides medical imaging for all sectors of healthcare. Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is a major challenge in radiology and this is exacerbated in contexts where the healthcare system is unable to provide adequate funding and attention to effective infection control measures. The objectives of this study were to audit current cleaning procedures through the observation of practices in a radiology department, and to determine the types and numbers of nosocomial pathogens present on selected radiology imaging equipment and accessories before and after decontamination. Methodology: In phase one we observed seven radiographers to audit cleaning procedures and practices. In phase two we collected swab samples from selected radiology imaging equipment and accessories and then cultured them for identification of microbes. Results: It was observed that radiographers partially practiced infection control measures. This was due to the absence of documented protocol for infection control procedures. Our results indicated that all the selected equipment and accessories were contaminated with microorganisms pre- and post-cleaning. The identified microbes were Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS), Bacillus species (spp.), Shigella spp., Shigella sonnei., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella paratyphi A (S. paratyphi A), Salmonella typhi (S. typhi), Providencia rettgeri, Enterobacter spp. and Citrobacter spp. and Methicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Conclusions: The research concluded that the recommended cleaning agents did not effectively reduce the number of microorganisms making the selected equipment and accessories fomites for nosocomial pathogens. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/14225radiographerfomitesinfection controlnosocomial infectionscleaningequipment
spellingShingle Isaac Agyekum Adomako
Dalene Venter
Eric Sampane Donkor
Penelope Engel-Hills
Radiology imaging equipment and accessories as possible fomites of nosocomial pathogens
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
radiographer
fomites
infection control
nosocomial infections
cleaning
equipment
title Radiology imaging equipment and accessories as possible fomites of nosocomial pathogens
title_full Radiology imaging equipment and accessories as possible fomites of nosocomial pathogens
title_fullStr Radiology imaging equipment and accessories as possible fomites of nosocomial pathogens
title_full_unstemmed Radiology imaging equipment and accessories as possible fomites of nosocomial pathogens
title_short Radiology imaging equipment and accessories as possible fomites of nosocomial pathogens
title_sort radiology imaging equipment and accessories as possible fomites of nosocomial pathogens
topic radiographer
fomites
infection control
nosocomial infections
cleaning
equipment
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/14225
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AT daleneventer radiologyimagingequipmentandaccessoriesaspossiblefomitesofnosocomialpathogens
AT ericsampanedonkor radiologyimagingequipmentandaccessoriesaspossiblefomitesofnosocomialpathogens
AT penelopeengelhills radiologyimagingequipmentandaccessoriesaspossiblefomitesofnosocomialpathogens