Microbial diversity and colonization patterns of two step-down care units from a tertiary care hospital

Nosocomial surfaces are potential pathogen reservoirs. Our aim was to describe the microbial diversity and analyze microbial patterns of healthcare-associated pathogens in two step-down-care-units at a tertiary care hospital. We monitored infected patients over 45 days to describe microbial diversity and colonization patterns. A total of 2762 isolates were recovered from the sampled sites, coagulase-negative staphylococci represented 44.64% (1233/2762) of the isolates. The most frequently recovered ESKAPE species (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter cloacae) were A. baumannii (7.53%; 208/2762 isolates) and E. faecium/Enterococcus faecalis (5.18%; 143/2762). We recovered a high diversity of species, including potential pathogens. A. baumannii was detected more frequently on diverse surfaces and persisted in patients' nostrils during the hospital stay.