EVALUATION OF LEAD APRON AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION IN OPERATING THEATER
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Background: For radiation protection, lead aprons are often carried into the operating theater from the radiology department, where there are few or no dedicated lead aprons for the operating theater and can be a potential source of nosocomial infection.
Objective: The main objective of this research is to evaluate the presence of microorganisms on the lead aprons and devising a simple method of cleaning to lower the risk of contamination in the operating room.
Methods: A total of 64 swabs were taken in two regions of the lead apron, the shoulders (inner and outer) and secondly, the front middle part of the apron (inner and outer). 40 samples were collected before cleaning, while 24 post-cleaning swabs was also taken from areas where growth were isolated using three different agents routinely used in our hospital: (cetrimide and chlorohexidine gluconate (savlon), isopropyl alcohol (methylated spirit) and sodium hydrochloride (Hypo/bleach). The samples collected were cultured on plates of Blood Agar, chocolate Agar, and MacConkey Agar and incubated at 37o c for 48h. The data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0, using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage.
Result: Growth was observed on 72.5% (n = 29) of X-ray aprons, and Staphylococcus aureus 69% (n = 20) and Staphylococcus epidermidis 31% (n= 9), were the pathogens observed on the lead apron, mostly on the outer part of the lead apron at the level of the patients and bed, followed by the inner part at the same level. The least noticeable area of growth is the inner part of the shoulder. After cleaning, no growth was detected in the 24 samples collected.
Conclusion: Lead aprons can be a potential source of nosocomial infections in the operating theater and cleaning them with any of the available disinfectants in the hospital before taking them to the room will significantly reduce the bacteria load.
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