Safe Maternity in a Context of Limited Resources: Bacteriological Study of the Obstetrical Environment of the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, Cameroon

Introduction: Microorganisms capable of causing nosocomial infections in our healthcare environment are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in our maternity wards. Objective: Our objective was to qualify and quantify the bacterial flora of the hospital environment (surfaces and air) of the Laquintine Hospital Douala gynecology and obstetrics department. Methodology: We took forty-two (42) samples in three units (delivery room, obstetrical theatre and a postpartum unit) of the Laquintine Hospital Douala gynecology and obstetrics department. These samples concerned: surfaces (trolley, operating room light, bedside table, window, wall, IV pole, door handle, switches, footrest, cupboard, operating table, bed, oxygen cannula: n = 37) and air: n = 5. Standard bacterial isolation and identification methods were used. Results: In our study, cultures were positive in 69.04% of samples (29/42), with 67.57% of surfaces and 100% of air samples; 86.21% (25/29) consisted of potentially pathogenic species. The distribution of these potentially pathogenic species showed a predominance of staphylococci with 70.83% coagulase negative staphylococci and 29.67% Staphylococcus aureus. Gram-negative bacilli (Enterobacter cloacae, A. baumanii), and Micrococcus sp were isolated respectively in 5.4%, 8.1% and 10.81% of cases. Conclusion: It appears essential to improve basic hygiene and asepsis in the maternity ward by establishing continuous monitoring and evaluation of hand washing and periodic decontamination of premises.