Microbial Contamination due to Malpractice during Administration of Intravenous Fluids in Baghdad Hospitals

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the suspected bacterial and/or fungal contamination in intravenous (IV) fluids due to malpractice of administration in Baghdad hospitals. The study was conducted during the period from May to August 2010. One hundred and thirteen intravenous fluid samples were collected from different wards in Baghdad teaching hospital, Ibn Al- Nafees teaching hospital and AL Khadhemia teaching hospital in district ofBaghdad. These samples were classified into 2 main groups: Group 1 (test group), include I.V. fluids with inappropriate position puncture in the bag; andgroup 2 (control), include I.V. fluids free from inappropriate puncture in the bag.Then group 1 samples were sub-classified into 2 groups; Group 1A: includes 73 I.V fluid bags with needle puncture by staff nurses in which the needle was leftduring the use to ease flow; group 1B: includes 12 I.V fluid bags in which a puncture was made in the bag during inappropriate I.V admixture and the needlewas removed; and group 2: 28 I.V fluid bags (control) free from any inappropriate puncture. Samples from all I.V fluid bags (113) were cultured immediately after collection in a proper media for bacteriological examination.Results of cultures showed that a 79.45% contamination was present in I.V fluid bags samples from group 1A (n =73), while 100% contamination was reportedin I.V fluid bags samples from group 1B (n=12) and 28.57% contamination in the group 2 (n=28). In the our study, the most common three microbescontribute for contamination of infusate are Candida albicans , Stapylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli.In conclusion, the widely followed improper practice for preparing and administration of I.V. fluids in some of Baghdad hospitals may predispose to fatal bacterial contamination