A call has gone to Hospital Administrators to ensure strict maintenance of safety in the hospital environment due to the emergence of superbugs in hospitals across the country.
Superbugs are a strain of bacteria, resistant to majority of antibiotics currently used in hospitals. They cause pneumonia, urinary tract and skin infections.
The call follows a study led by a Doctor of philosophy, from the University of Ghana, Legon, Isawumi Abiola, which revealed that critical areas of hospitals such as the intensive care unit and recovery wards contained multi-drug resistant microbes.
During his presentation, Dr Abiola said the bacteria identified raise serious concerns about the delivery of quality care at hospitals.
The study was conducted by the West African Centre for Cell Biology and Infectious Pathogens, WACCBIP, University of Ghana, Legon.
About three hundred samples of trapped air were collected from about four of the ten hospitals sampled. It was found that more than five hundred strains of superbugs also referred to as microbes were discovered.
These were also identified to be highly resistant to antimicrobials which also put patients at risk.
A Clinical Microbiologist, Dr. Japheth Opintan said the findings show that the failure of most hospital managers to implement safety control measures to prevent infections is a contributory factor.
Participants called for consistent surveillance of Anti-microbial resistance at the hospitals as it would be zero work done if the hospitals which are meant to be curative places become a causative of diseases.
