REGIONAL EVALUATION OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION IN HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT COCKROACHES

Cockroaches play an important role in transmission of different diseases either mechanically andoccasionally biolo gically. the aim of current study was on the identification of cockro aches and theircontamination to different bact eria in two hospitals affiliated to the kordestan university of medic alsciences which was performed in 2003. cockroaches were collected from different parts using stickytraps, direct collection, and by means of vacuum cleaner. co llected cockro aches were identified accordingto the reliable systematic keys . some of the collected cockroaches were selected randomly for thepresence of bacteria in their external parts as well as in the digestive tract using specific culture media.totally 450 specimens were collected. from which 44.4% identified as amer ican cockroach, periplanetaamericana and remain ing german cockroach, blattella germanica. among co llected coc kroac hes 58specimens of german cockro aches and 40 american cockroac hes were selected to search for the presenceof bacteria . results of culture media exhibited that 89.8'% (88.98) of cockroac hes were positiv e to thebacteria. the bacteria were found main ly on externa l parts (67%) and remainin g from alimenta ry canal.the main common bacteria was found escherichia coli, however, only 5.1% was escherichia sp ., whichwas found on exte rna l parts. among two hospit als it is found that tohid hospital was more infected(97 .5%). in the hospitals the infectivity of am erican cockroaches was more prevalent than other spec ies.all the american cockroaches and 70% of german cockroaches were infected to at least one bacterium.result showed that the pre sence of cockroache s in the hospitals can threaten the health of hospit alizedpatients. both cosmopolitan species was found infected in the hospitals. sanitation of differentdepartments as well as diff erent method of control is recommended in the context of integrated vectormanagement for cockroac h contro l.