Abstract

Background: Nosocomial infections caused by Pantoea agglomerans have become an important potential environmental reservoir in humans. Objective: The present study aimed to isolate, identify, and determine the prevalence of P. agglomerans in the cardiac surgery unit of Al-Sader Teaching Hospital, Basrah Province, Iraq. Methodology: 300 environmental swabs from cardiac surgery were biochemically identified and underwent susceptibility testing to determine bacterial antimicrobial susceptibility. Findings were statistically analyzed using SPSS to assess prevalence and identify antimicrobial susceptibility patternsfor hospital-acquired infections. Results: A total of 96 P. agglomerans isolates were recovered from 300 environmental swab samples. The distribution of isolates was as follows: 29/60 (48.3%) from suction systems, 19/60 (31.6%) from floors, 17/60 (28.3%) from beds, 16/60 (26.6%) from doors, and 15/60 (25%) from nurses’ hands. Identification was performed using morphological, cultural, microscopic, and biochemical characteristics and was confirmed using API 20E biochemical identification strips (bioMérieux SA, Marcy-l'Étoile, France). Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant difference in the isolation frequency among sampling locations (χ²= 9.87, df= 4, p=0.043). The recovered isolates exhibited considerable resistance to several commonly used antibiotics, whereas colistin and imipenem showed the highest susceptibility rates. Conclusion: The P. agglomerans was detected in several sampling locations, although the highest level of contamination was observed in suction systems, suggesting that moist medical equipment may contribute to its persistence within the hospital environment. Strengthening environmental surveillance programs may help limit bacterial persistence and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.