Pharmaceutical Science and Technology 2017; 1(2): 20-26 http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/pst doi: 10.11648/j.pst.20170102.12 The Role of Door Handles in the Spread of Microorganisms of Public Health Consequences in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State Augustine Brian Odigie 1, * , Frederick Osaro Ekhiase 1 , Paul Ikechukwu Orjiakor 2 , Sunday Omozuwa 3 1 Department of Microbiology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria 2 Department of Microbiology, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria 3 Department of Gynaecology, Stella Obasanjo University Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria Email address: * Corresponding author To cite this article: Augustine Brian Odigie, Frederick Osaro Ekhiase, Paul Ikechukwu Orjiakor, Sunday Omozuwa. The Role of Door Handles in the Spread of Microorganisms of Public Health Consequences in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State. Pharmaceutical Science and Technology. Vol. 1, No. 2, 2017, pp. 20-26. doi: 10.11648/j.pst.20170102.12 Received: June 19, 2017; Accepted: July 3, 2017; Published: August 9, 2017 Abstract: This study was aimed at investigating the microbial loads of surfaces of door handles at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) with a view to understanding their roles in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. Eleven (11) sampling units were identified and used for the study. They included: Emergency Ward, Paediatric Ward, Male and Female Surgical Ward, Intensive Care Unit, Theatre Ward, Consultancy Outpatient Department (COPD), Microbiological Laboratory, Revenue Section, Pharmacy Department, and General Toilet. The samples were collected with the aid of sterile swab sticks moistened with sterile normal saline for a period of Six Months (May 2015 – October 2015) and analyzed using standard microbiological methods. Surfaces of door handles of General toilet, Paediatric Ward and Theatre Ward generally had the highest viable bacterial counts, which ranged from 4.03 ± 0.32 - 4.17 ± 0.27 × 10 4 cfu/cm 2 , while the Intensive Care Unit, Male Surgical Ward and Microbiological Laboratory recorded the least bacterial load that ranged from 3.03± 0.03 - 3.30 ± 0.21 × 10 4 cfu/cm 2 . The bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. The most predominant bacterial isolate was E. coli (92.00%), while B. subtilis (60.01%) was the least. Statistical analysis revealed significant correlation (p<0.05) between bacterial isolates and door handles at different sampling units. Findings from this study suggest that hospital door handles harbor a significant variety of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms of public health value, and thus could act as potential fomites for communicable diseases dissemination. Health-care workers, patients and visitors are encouraged to pay greater attention to personal hygiene practices to avoid the incidence and spread of hospital acquired infections. Keywords: Hospital, Pathogens, Nosocomial Infections, Wards, Benin City 1. Introduction Environmental surfaces act as a reservoir for bacterial, fungal and viral proliferation. These organisms can be expelled from an infected or colonized patient through direct contact, aerosol droplet, faeces, or vomit [1]. The major source and spread of community acquired infections are fomites [2, 3]. The role of fomites in the transmission of infection has been debated for many years, however, there is increasing evidence that contaminated inanimate surfaces and especially those frequently touched by hand can contribute to the spread of health-care associated pathogens [4, 5]. One common way by which organisms that are not resident in the hand are picked up is by contact with surfaces such as table tops, hospital door handles, toilet handles and taps in the restrooms [6, 7]. Microbes carried on human skin are of two types, the resident and transient. The dominant resident microbes are