Determination Of The Microbial Contamination Of Disinfectant And Antiseptic Produced In Luth

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to determine themicrobial contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics produced and used in three major wards in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and to determine the microbial load in these wards.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the effect of microbial contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics produced and used in LUTH?

2. How can the level of microbial load of the contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics in three wards in LUTH be determined?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H0: There is no significant effect of microbial contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics produced in LUTH.

H1: There is significant effect of microbial contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics produced in LUTH.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is an attempt to improve the delivery of public health care in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, including reducing or eliminating contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics in pharmacy departments, pediatric/neonatal wardsas well as of surgical equipment in surgical wards in LUTH.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this topic and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their work.

1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of bacteria in disinfectants/antiseptics at three departments/wards in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH): 

1. Pharmacy departments (pharmacy stock and diluted samples before delivery to wards). 

2. Pediatric/neonatal wards (after delivery from the pharmacy department, diluted pre-use and in-use samples), and; 

3. Surgical wards (after delivery from the pharmacy department, diluted pre-use and in-use samples). 

The investigation also determined the sensitivity of the bacteria to antimicrobial agents.

1.8 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

This study will have some limitations most especially in the area of data collection. Financial constraints as well as time available for the completion of the study among other factors will limit the scope of the study.

1.9 BACKGROUND STUDY OF LAGOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (LUTH)

Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) is a tertiary referral hospital in Idi-Araba, Surulere, Lagos State, Nigeria. The hospital was established in 1962 and is affiliated with the University of Lagos, College of Medicine.

1.10 DEFINITION OF TERMS

ANTISEPTIC:An agent that inhibits or destroys microorganisms on living tissue including skin, oral cavities, and open wounds.

CHEMICAL DISINFECTANT:A chemical agent used on inanimate surfaces and objects to destroy infectious fungi, viruses, and bacteria, but not necessarily their spores. Sporicidal and antiviral agents may be considered a special class of disinfectants. Disinfectants are often categorized as high-level, intermediate-level, and low-level by medically oriented groups based upon their efficacy against various microorganisms.

CLEANING AGENT:An agent for the removal from facility and equipment surfaces of product residues that may inactivate sanitizing agents or harbor microorganisms.

DECONTAMINATION:The removal of microorganisms by disinfection or sterilization.

DISINFECTANT:A chemical or physical agent that destroys or removes vegetative forms of harmful microorganisms when applied to a surface.

SANITIZING AGENT:An agent for reducing, on inanimate surfaces, the number of all forms of microbial life including fungi, viruses, and bacteria.

SPORICIDAL AGENT:An agent that destroys bacterial and fungal spores when used in sufficient concentration for a specified contact time. It is expected to kill all vegetative microorganisms.

STERILANT:An agent that destroys all forms of microbial life including fungi, viruses, and all forms of bacteria and their spores. Sterilants are liquid or vapor-phase agents.

MICRO-ORGANISMS:Are microscopic organisms that exist as unicellular, multi-cellular, or cell clusters. Micro organisms are widespread in nature and are beneficial to life, but some can cause serious harm. They can be divided into six major types: bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, and viruses.

INFECTION:is the invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease-causing agents, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to these organisms and the toxins they produce. Infectious disease, also known as transmissible disease or communicable disease, is illness resulting from an infection.

INFECTION CONTROL: Is the discipline concerned with preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection, a practical (rather than academic) sub-discipline of epidemiology. It is an essential, though often under recognized and under supported, part of the infrastructure of health care.

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