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

Background & Aims of the Study: When the issue of the quality of the patient s care isaddressed, determination of infection degrees in reference to the quality of such cares hasgained a high priority. Therefore, infections in ambulance equipment might play asignificant role in reduction of the quality of the hospital cares. This study was conductedwishing to determine bacterial infection degrees in ambulances servicing in pre-hospitalemergency medical services of Qom University of Medical Sciences, Iran.Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 132 sampling of theequipment s of 12 ambulances were done. Samples were stored on BHI broth as anamplifier for 24 hours. Then, they were introduced to blood agar and Eosin Methylene Blue(EMB) agar culture environments. After 24 hours, negative staphylococcus coagulase andbacillus were specified by different environments, solutions, diagnostic discs, gramstaining, 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 instretchers (12 samples, 100%) and the lowest in oxygenation moisturizers (1 sample, 8.4%).From infected equipment s, in addition, four instruments (37%) were mobile and eight ofthem (63%) were immobile.Conclusion: Results indicated that an infection degree of the utensils and instrumentswhich were used in ambulances employed servicing in the Qom Province MedicalEmergency Response Center of Iran is high, that might have their roots in non-applicationof disinfectants for disinfecting ambulance surfaces and equipment. This is a mandatory forhealthcare agents to utilize the protective covers, especially medical gloves.

Keywords:

Bacterial InfectionsAmbulanceEmergency Medical ServicesQom , Iran