An Analytical Framework for Evaluating Antimicrobial Performance of Detergent and Disinfection Agents on Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Neonatal Incubation Units in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Misurata, Libya
Keywords:
Neonatal intensive care unit, disinfectant efficacy, antimicrobial resistanceAbstract
Neonatal incubation units represent highly sensitive clinical environments where premature and critically ill newborns are exposed to invasive procedures and immunological vulnerability, increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This study develops an analytical framework to evaluate the antimicrobial performance of detergent and disinfection agents against pathogenic bacteria isolated from neonatal incubators in two tertiary hospitals in Misurata, Libya. The research integrates microbiological surveillance, disinfectant efficacy profiling, and resistance pattern assessment to establish a structured evaluation model for infection control interventions.
Drawing upon established evidence that neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are persistent reservoirs of multidrug-resistant organisms (Haque et al., 2018; Polin & Saiman, 2003), the framework incorporates environmental sampling, microbial isolation, and susceptibility testing. Prior studies indicate that bacterial contamination in NICU environments is strongly associated with inadequate disinfection protocols and environmental persistence of pathogens (Bhatta et al., 2021; Bokulich et al., 2013). The present model expands this evidence by systematically evaluating detergent-disinfectant interactions and their bactericidal efficacy under hospital-specific conditions.
Findings from synthesized literature suggest that disinfectant performance varies significantly depending on microbial load, surface type, and resistance mechanisms (McDonnell & Russell, 1999; Sheldon, 2005). Additionally, contamination of incubator surfaces and medical equipment has been identified as a critical transmission pathway for neonatal infections (Silago et al., 2020; Reboux et al., 2023). The proposed analytical framework emphasizes standardized testing protocols, resistance mapping, and infection risk stratification.
This study contributes to infection control policy development by offering a structured model for evaluating disinfectant efficacy in NICU settings and supporting evidence-based hospital hygiene strategies.
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