Ants as carriers of pathogenic bacteria in the Benghazi Medical Center (BMC)

Abstract

Ants are a common insects in hospitals environments; they can spread opportunistic bacteria in the areas where they forage. Many studies have confirmed the presence of pathogenic bacteria in/on ants collected from hospital environments. With the propagation of pathological organisms in the environment, its wondered that most common ants could transfer pathogens in spite of their small size. In this study, pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the exterior parts of ants that were collected from eight different locations in the Benghazi Medical Center (BMC), and it was also determined which ant genera were prevalent in these environments. A total of 125 ant samples were attracted by using carbohydrate traps. Each sample consisted of a group of five ants and put into test tubes containing brain and heart infusion (BHI) broth for the cultivation of fastidious pathogenic microorganisms . After 24 hours, sub-cultured on blood agar, Mannitol Salt Agar, and MacConkey Agar and incubated for 24 hours at 35/37°C. Clinical microbiological standards were followed for the Gram characterization, culture identification, and biochemical characterization. Subsequently, isolates were assessed for antibiotic-resistant. Isolated strains  belonged to different species including: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium spp (diphtheroides), Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter spp. The examination of isolated bacteria for antimicrobial susceptibility revealed that the most active antibiotic against these pathogens was Ciprofloxacin. Gram-positive bacteria showed resistance to Cefoxitin and Oxacillin while Gram-negative bacteria were resistant to Augmentin. It’s also important to highlight that some pathogens show multi-drug resistance (MDR)