Rees, Nicki2024-03-142024-03-142024https://hdl.handle.net/10539/37892A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Medicine (MMed) in Clinical Microbiology to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, School of Pathology, Johannesburg, 2023Background: Nosocomial neonatal infection remains a significant cause of mortality and morbidity, particularly in the high care and intensive care settings. Among implicated pathogens ESKAPE- C organisms are considered particularly worrisome due to their virulence, ability to gain resistance and propensity to affect multiple sites. Transmission to neonates is postulated to occur through contact with colonised adults. Objective: This study aims to describe the prevalence of colonisation of both primary caregivers and healthcare workers in contact with admitted neonates. As a secondary objective this study aims to identify the most common resistance patterns in ESKAPE-C organisms isolated from primary caregivers and healthcare workers in a neonatal unit. The overall aim of the study is to provide insight into how best to prevent hospital acquired infections in this group. Methods: This cross-sectional prevalence study describes colonisation of healthcare workers (HCW) and primary caregivers in a neonatal unit in a tertiary South African hospital. Over one week in August 2021, twenty-five primary caregivers and twenty-nine healthcare workers submitted specimens which were processed for the identification of ESKAPE-C organisms. Susceptibility was performed on identified organisms. Results: Of the healthcare worker participants 13,8% (4/29) were shown to be colonised with one or more ESKAPE-C pathogen, while 52% (13/25) of primary caregivers were shown to be colonised with one or more ESKAPE-C pathogens. Of the S. aureus organisms isolated 28,6% were MRSA, of the A. baumannii organisms isolated 66.7% were XDR and of the Enterobacteriaceae isolated 60% were ESBL producing. No CRE or VRE organisms were isolated in this study. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the prevalence of colonisation of healthcare workers and primary caregivers is significant and reinforces the need for stringent infection prevention and control strategies to prevent transmission to vulnerable neonates.enNeonatal infectionNosocomialPrimary caregiversSDG-3: Good health and well-beingSDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsDissertation