Effects of Three Different Chemical Disinfectants on Reduction of Bacterial Load (Aerobic & Facultative) in Operation Theatres of a Tertiary Care Hospital of Punjab
Keywords:
Bacteria, disinfectants, fumigation, infection control, operation theaterAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the reduction of bacterial load using three different chemical disinfectants in the operation theatres (OTs).
METHODOLOGY: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the operation theatres of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, from 15th February to 15th August 2025. A total of 1260 samples were collected in three cycles using Alpha Guard, BIB Forte, or Virkon. Sampling was done from air (settle plate method), OT surfaces, and scrub areas before and after fumigation. Samples were cultured on blood and MacConkey agar and identified to genus level by biochemical tests. We analyzed data in SPSS v26 using a paired t-test, with p<0.05 as the significance threshold.
RESULTS: A total of 1260 samples were analyzed. Virkon achieved the greatest overall reduction (48.9%), followed by Alpha Guard (39.2%), while BIB Forte showed minimal effect (3.7%). On surfaces, Virkon reduced bacterial growth by 61.5%, BIB Forte by 25%, whereas Alpha Guard showed no overall reduction. In scrub areas, BIB Forte performed best (64.3%), compared with Alpha Guard (42.9%) and Virkon (no reduction). Statistically significant reductions in Staphylococcus spp. were observed with Virkon (p<0.001) and Alpha Guard (p<0.001), but not with BIB Forte (p=0.056).
CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus spp. was the most common bacterial isolate detected in pre- and post-fumigation samples, while Gram-negative bacteria were frequently identified in scrub areas. Virkon provided the most consistent and effective reduction in bacterial load in both air and surface samples, with Alpha Guard showing moderate but significant reductions.
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