OBJECTIVE: Contamination of medical doctors’ clinical coats with potentially pathogenic organisms is one of the major vehicles for nosocomial infections. We determined the prevalence of bacterial contamination of clinical coats of medical doctors in a National Referral Hospital in Uganda.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of medical doctors working in selected wards at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Sterile cotton swabs were used to take samples from 3 sites of each doctor’s clinical coat (right and left cuffs, and edges of most used lower front pocket) at the end of their work shift. Samples were transported to the laboratory within 30 minutes from collection. Organisms were identified using conventional culture methods and standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire which collected data on their handling habits of the clinical coats. Analysis was performed using STATA software.

RESULTS: A total of 294 swabs were collected from 98 clinical coats of 98 medical doctors, from which 332 bacteria were isolated. Out of the 98 clinical coats, 90 (91.8%) were found to be contaminated with at least one bacterial species. Gram-positive bacteria (n=293, 88.3%) were the most isolated, with Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus as the predominant bacteria (n=214, 64.5%). Among the gram-negative, Acinetobacter spp. was the most isolated (n=29, 8.7%). Thirteen (2.8%) isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). More than half of the isolates (n=223, 67.2%) were found in samples obtained from the cuffs.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a high prevalence of bacterial contamination in clinical coats of medical doctors. Cuffs had the highest bacterial contamination among the clinical coat sites, thus posing a significant risk of transmitting such pathogens to patients.