Abstract
Background: Nosocomial infections (NIs) have proven to be persistent and
sometimes complicated problem. More than one third of all nosocomial infections
possibly involve airborne transmission. The aim of this study is to estimate the types
of bacteria that could be present in air-conditioning systems of some hospitals and
their antibiotic sensitivity profile.
Materials and methods: Swab samples were taken from air-conditioning system
filters and rendered for bacterial identification and evaluation of their antibiotic
susceptibility.
Results: The results showed twenty isolates from three different hospitals. Ibn Sina
showed ١٦ isolates (٥ S. aureus; ٣ S. epidermidis; ٤ S. saprophyticus; ١ E. coli; ١
Proteus mirabilis; ١ Klebsiella pneumoniae and ١ Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Ibn Al-
Atheer hospital showed only ٢ isolates (١ S.aureus, and ١ Streptococcus) and Al-
Jumhori hospital showed only ٢ isolates (١ S. aureus, and ١ S. saprophyticus); most of
this isolates are resistant to the antibiotics used in this study.
Conclusion: there are a risky bacteria located in air conditioners especially indoor
conventional systems more than the hospital designed systems and still both represent
a susceptible source for nosocomial infection.
