MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM DECONTAMINATED SURFACES OF EXAM AND PROCEDURE TABLES OF VETERINARY HOSPITAL AND THEIR IN VITRO INACTIVATION BY DISINFECTANTS

Abstract

Inanimate surfaces of hospitals and veterinary clinics can be a source of infection by
microorganisms, many potentially pathogenic common between animals and humans,
promoting the health risks of both patients and veterinary professionals. The aims of the present study were to isolate and identify the microbiota found on stainless steel surfaces of
exam and procedure tables of the small animal ward of a veterinary teaching hospital, on
which decontamination (disinfection without prior cleaning) is carried out on a routine basis,
and to check in vitro inactivation by chemical disinfectants. Fifteen collections in three days
of different months, we proceeded with swabs rolled over the surfaces of which were isolated
coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., Sphingomonas paucimobilis,
(non-group D) Streptococcus spp., Enterobacter spp., Acinetobacter Iwoffii, Bacillus cereus,
Pseudomonas spp., Micrococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., non-fermenting coccobacilli,
Bacillus spp., Citrobacter spp. and Candida guilliermondii. The inactivation capacity of
peracetic acid, iodophor, sodium hypochlorite, quaternary ammonium, synthetic phenol,
chlorhexidine and alcohol was assessed. The dilution method by microbial suspension test
was performed using an experimental design consisting of three pools of bacteria (one per
collection day) and a yeast culture at three disinfectant concentrations at 1, 5 and 10 minutes.
All disinfectants inactivate all microorganisms, with quaternary ammonium, synthetic phenol,
chlorhexidine and alcohol inactivated at lower concentration and contact times. It may be
concluded that microorganisms – many of them deleterious to human and animal health –
could be isolated from all of the sampled surfaces; the in vitro tests showed that all of the
assessed chemicals can be used to inactivate the isolates; decontamination, as a unique
hygiene routine procedure used on surfaces in direct contact with health professionals and
patients, did not seem to safely protect the health of animals and health professionals.