Isolation of bacteria present in the veterinary necropsy room and health risks

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to characterize the bacteria of a veterinary autopsy room, their antimicrobial susceptibility profile and testing the efficiency of two sanitizers against these microorganisms. Materials and methods. Three points of the room that professionals do not normally wear personal protective equipment (PPE) getting in direct contact with these bacterias. Anaerobic and aerobic mesophilic count were performed before and after disinfection with hypochlorite and sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate then, isolates were identified by their morphotintorials and biochemical characteristics and their antibiotic susceptibility. Results. Preliminary results indicated that the hypochlorite was the sanitizing agent of choice for surface disinfection and against the most frequent potential pathogenic bacterials isolated such as Staphylococcus spp (75%), E. coli and Klebsiella spp (15%), and Pseudomonas spp (10%). In addition, 25% of the staphylococci were resistant to at least one antimicrobial tested and Klebsiella spp, E. coli, and Pseudomonas spp were taken into consideration, wide antimicrobial resistance tested were observed. Conclusions. The characterization of these bacteria found in the autopsy room is important to alert professionals about the biological risks they are exposed to, as well as the precautions they should take.

Keywords

• Sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate
• antimicrobials
• hypochlorite
• microbiology
• pathology
• veterinary