Comparative Identification of Bacterial Quality in liquid Soap between Nasser and European Gaza Hospitals, Khanyounis Governorate

Background: Liquid soap used in hospitals dispensers can become contaminated bacteria. Many factors have an effect on the contamination of these dispensers. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial contamination in liquid soaps at hospital environment in Khanyounis Governorate. Methods: A total of 82 liquid soap samples (50.0% them from Nasser hospital and 50.0% from European Gaza Hospital) were collected in sterile cups from the same departments of both hospitals. After that, the cups were transported within one hour of collection to the microbiology laboratory. Bacteriological identification was performed. Collected data, and bacteriological identification results were analyzed by SPSS version 18. Results: In Nasser hospital, only one sample were found colonized by staph aureus, and two samples were found colonized by other staph, While, In European Gaza Hospital, 12 samples were colonized by staph aureus, and 13 samples were colonized by other staph. Open dispenser systems and washing of dispensers with water were directly proportional with bacterial growth in liquid soap among study hospitals environments (p-value = 0.033 & 0.000 respectively). In European Gaza Hospital, the departments with the largest number of contaminated soap samples were the pediatric department (n=6), surgery men department (n=4), surgery women department (n=4), Intimal women department (n=4). Conclusions: The contamination of liquid soap in European Gaza Hospital is attributed to high number of open dispenser systems (27 dispensers) that was observed in its departments, in addition to using of water instead of chlorine bleach for washing the dispensers before putting the new liquid soap.