Evaluation of Bacterial Contamination on Pre Hospital Ambulances in Qom University of Medical Sciences of Iran in 2015

Abstract Background & Aims of the Study: When the issue of the quality of the patientʹs care is addressed, determination of infection degrees in reference to the quality of such cares has gained a high priority. Therefore, infections in ambulance equipment might play a significant role in reduction of the quality of the hospital cares. This study was conducted wishing to determine bacterial infection degrees in ambulances servicing in pre-hospital emergency medical services of Qom University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 132 sampling of the equipments of 12 ambulances were done. Samples were stored on BHI broth as an amplifier for 24 hours. Then, they were introduced to blood agar and Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar culture environments. After 24 hours, negative staphylococcus coagulase and bacillus were specified by different environments, solutions, diagnostic discs, gram staining, catalase test, oxidase test and coagulase test. Then data were analyzed by SPSS16. Results: The results showed that the highest infection prevalence rate was observed in stretchers (12 samples, 100%) and the lowest in oxygenation moisturizers (1 sample, 8.4%). From infected equipments, in addition, four instruments (37%) were mobile and eight of them (63%) were immobile. Conclusion: Results indicated that an infection degree of the utensils and instruments which were used in ambulances employed servicing in the Qom Province Medical Emergency Response Center of Iran is high, that might have their roots in non-application of disinfectants for disinfecting ambulance surfaces and equipment. This is a mandatory for healthcare agents to utilize the protective covers, especially medical gloves.