ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION OF VETERINARY HOSPITAL AND PROFILE OF ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ISOLATED BACTERIA

Abstract

This study assessed the contamination at the Veterinary Hospital of Passo Fundo University (HV-UPF), and the isolated bacteria were submitted to disinfectants efficacy tests and to antibiograms. Contamination was lower than 30 cfu/cm2 (air) and 2 cfu/cm2 (surfaces), within the limits established by APHA, but Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter agglomerans and Arcanobacterium pyogenes were isolated. Alcohol 70%, quaternary ammonium 3.5% and sodium hypochlorite where tested. Sodium was ineffective against all bacteria, alcohol 70 % was ineffective against E. aglomerans and S. epidermidis after 30 s and quaternary ammonium 3.5% was ineffective against E.coli after 30 s, one and five minutes and P. aeruginosa after 30 s. The results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test performed on isolated strains of S. pidermidis revealed that 100% of the strains were resistant to penicillin G, oxacillin and chloramphenicol; 66.6% to ciprofloxacin, cefepime and rifamycin B, and 33.3% to erythromycin, sulfa+trimethoprim and gentamicin. The antimicrobial susceptibility test performed on other isolates showed that most of them were multiresistant, with resistance to three or more antimicrobials. The environmental contamination at HV-UPF can be reduced to acceptable levels through the cleaning procedures but bacteria with pathogenic potential and antimicrobial resistance are still isolated.

Keywords: Antimicrobial susceptibility, disinfectants, veterinary.