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Published
2026-01-30
Section
Health Sciences
How to Cite
Assessing Risk on High-Traffic Surfaces: Bacterial Burden and Antibiotic Resistance
Prince Elikem Torli
Kumasi Technical University
Mina ofosu
Kumasi Technical University
Linda Opponbea Amoani
Kumasi Technical University
Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Mannitol Salt Agar, Antibiotic resistance
Abstract
Research has shown significant amounts of Staphylococcus species on non-living surfaces in health care environments. However, the door handles and handrails of other public places have not received much attention. This particular study focused on evaluating the prevalence and distribution of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on door handles and handrails across three selected tertiary institutions. Ninety (90) samples were obtained from door handles and handrails of these strategically selected institutions roped in for this study, whereas ten (10) samples were obtained from the university’s clinic used as a control to compare Staphylococcus species concentrations of both settings. Swab samples were aseptically collected and cultured on Mannitol salt agar. Incubation was carried out for 24 hours at 37 oC, after which purification was done for the antibiotic susceptibility test using disc-embedded antibiotics: Ampicillin, Oxacillin, Ciprofloxacin, and Sulfamethoxazole / Trimethoprim. Out of the total 100 samples collected from both settings, 73% showed no growth, while 27% exhibited microbial growth, of which 21% and 6% Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) were isolated respectively. Among the Ninety (90) samples collected from the tertiary institutions, SA accounted for 20%, and CoNS made up 5.6%. In contrast, in the university clinic, 30% of the samples tested positive for SA, and 10% for CoNS out of the ten (10) samples collected. Out of the 21 cultured plates that indicated positive for SA, 4.8% were found to be MRSA due to their resistance to Oxacillin and Ampicillin. Other strains of SA show sensitivity of 95.2%, 85.7%, 95.2% and 81% to CIPROFLOXACIN (CIP), OXACILLIN (OX), AMPICILLIN (AM), and SULFAMETHOXAZOLE-TRIMETHOPRIM (SXT), respectively. All SA isolates were sensitive to CIP, while some were resistant to OX (4.8%), AM (4.8%), and SXT (4.8%). This study revealed that a significant percentage of the collected samples exhibited microbial growth (27%), with 21% showing SA and 6% showing CoNS. MRSA was found in 4.8% of SA isolates, which indicates the presence of antibiotic resistance in these strains. The prevalence of SA was higher in the university clinic (30%) compared to the tertiary institutions (20%). These findings highlight the potential risk of surface contamination by MRSA and other Staphylococcus species in both healthcare and non-healthcare environments, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring and preventive measures. Cleaning and disinfection should be targeted more on door handles and handrails to reduce the spread of MRSA.
Author Biographies
Prince Elikem Torli, Kumasi Technical University
Department of Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences
Mina ofosu, Kumasi Technical University
Department of Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences
Linda Opponbea Amoani, Kumasi Technical University
Department of Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences
