Hospital Infection Control - List of Swabs to be taken for NABH in India

Hospital Infection control and surveillance requires swabs to be taken periodically for the microbiological culture, to ensure that there are no germs growing on these surfaces. It is also a mandatory requirement for NABH. In this article we provide a standard list of swabs that should be collected for adequate surveillance.

Published Date : 2024-08-26T08:05:18.231Z

Updated Date : 2024-08-26T10:28:47.268Z

Operation Theater Swabs List for Hospital Surveillance

Operation Theaters are critical areas where asepsis is essential. The following is a list of locations from which swabs should be taken.

Preparation

Before collecting any swabs, the OT should be completely cleaned. After this fumigation should be done overnight. In the morning, the swabs should be collected before any activities in the theater.

Operation Theater Floor

Collect at least 2 swabs, from two different areas of the theater floor.

Operation Theater Wall

Collect one swab from each wall (4)

Operation Theater Table

Collect 1 swab from the theater table

Operation Theater Light

Collect one swab from the main OT light

How to store the swabs

The swabs should be immediately capped after rubbing against the surface

Operation Theater Air Sampling

For air sampling, we recommend the positive plate method. In this method,a nutrient agar plate is kept for 1 hour, 1 m above the floor, 1 meter from the walls. The plate is then covered and later sent for incubation.

Operation Theater Water Sampling

Water sampling is essential for all operating theaters. The samples should be collected from any taps, or water inlets.

Operation Theater Tap Water - How to collect

Clean the tap from outside with a cloth. Turn on the tap, and let the water run for 2 mins. Turn off the tap and hold a flame/lighter to the outside of the tap for a few seconds. Turn on the tap and allow the water to run for 2 minutes. Now collect it in a sterile screw cap bottle. Store at 2-8 degrees before analysis.

ICU Swabs List

To collect swabs from ICU it is necessary to isolate the main areas of the ICU, and determine which areas are in closest proximity to patients

Locations in ICU to collect swabs

These locations include all high-touch-areas like the following:

• Bed Rails
• Bed Frames
• Moveable Lamps
• Tray Table
• Bedside Table
• Handles
• Iv Poles
• Blood-Pressure Cuff

How to collect swab

Moisten the swab with distilled water/injection water. Rub it over the surface, cap the swab immediately

Complete list of swabs and plates to be a taken for a new hospital

Please note that this list assumes that the hospital has ONE operation theater and ONE ICU facility.

List of swabs for a new hospital : Total 20 swabs for I Theater and 1 ICU

Location	Components	Swabs
Operation Theater	Floor	1
	Walls	4
	Light	1
	Table	1
	Taps	2
	Air	1
	Total	10
ICU Unit	High Touch Surfaces on Bed	8
	Water Source	1
	Air	1
	Total	10

Further Reading

These are useful resources for information of Hospital Infection Control in India

AIIMS Kalyani Hospital Infection Control Guideline

PDF Document