Microbial Pathogens Harboured by Laboratory Instruments

Background: The laboratory instruments harbor many microbial pathogens as the patient samples are processed by these instruments (microscope, incubator, refrigerator, laminar flow and centrifuge machine). The aim of the study was to find out the bacterial and fungal pathogens on laboratory instruments. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in a microbiology laboratory of N.C. Medical College and Hospital, Panipat, India. The period of study was 6 months from January 2017 to June 2017. Samples were collected from – various instruments of microbiology laboratory with moistened (pre-moistened with sterile peptone water) two cotton swabs. One swab was inoculated onto blood agar, MacConkey's agar media and incubated at 37ºC for 24 to 48 hours and other inoculated on Sabouraud's dextrose agar media and incubated for 1 to 7 days at 25-28°C. Results: Bacterial and fungal pathogens were isolated from the various instruments and indentified as standard microbiological procedure. In our study the distribution of microorganisms on laboratory areas were Bacillus species 30.56% followed by Coagulase negative Staphylococcus 16.67% Staphylococcus aureus 13.89%, Diptheroids, Micrococcus and Aspergillus species 11.11% each, and Candida species 5.56% was isolated. Conclusion: Our study showed that the laboratories in which patients samples are directly and rapidly processed are the major source of microbial pathogens and may infection from the hands of laboratory workers after touching the instruments are on risk of laboratory acquired infection.