Teshiwal Deress¹, Mekonnen Girma¹, Wubet Birhan¹, Belete Biadgo¹, Teklay G/cherkos¹, Agersew Alemu^1,

Background: Antiseptics and disinfectants are chemical agents that inhibit or destroy microorganisms on living tissue (antiseptics) and on inanimate surfaces and objects (disinfectants). These chemical agents have been used extensively in hospitals and other health care settings for a variety of topical and hard surface applications. Objective: The aim this study was to determine bacterial contamination of commonly used antiseptic and disinfectant solutions and to perform antimicrobial susceptibility test of isolates in Gondar University Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: In this cross sectional study a total of 86 diluted antiseptic and disinfectant samples were collected and assessed for possible bacterial contamination. Isolation of bacterial contaminants was done by culturing for aerobic bacteria on blood and Mac Conkey agar plates using surface plating method. Preliminary identification of bacteria was made based on gram reaction and colony characteristics. Further identification of bacteria was made using a series of biochemical tests then antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates were determined as per the standard procedures using 7 antimicrobial agents. Finally data were calculated manually using scientific calculator. Results: Among 86 samples studied, 3 (3.5%) of them were contaminated by aerobic bacteria. All the bacterial isolates were Klepssilla species (3K. pneumonia and 1 K. ozanae). These bacterial contaminants were isolated from 2 samples of 0.05% bleach and 1 sample of 70% alcohol. All the three isolates of K. pneumonia were multi-drug resistant, while K. ozanaewas sensitive to all antimicrobial agents tested. Conclusion and recommendation: The contamination of diluted antiseptic and disinfectant solutions was as high 3(3.5%). All the bacterial contaminants of these antimicrobial substances were Klebsiellaspecies of which all K. pneumonia species were multidrug resistant that poses a health risk to patients. Periodic assessment of antiseptic and disinfectant solutions for possible microbial contamination should be conducted.

antiseptic, disinfectant, bacterial contamination, drug resistance