ABSTRACT
Microbial growth associated with earphones used among students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State were investigated. A total of 50 earphones were randomly selected for microbial analyses from 25 frequent student users (Group A) and 25 other non-frequent student users (Group B). The samples were analysed using standard microbiological standard method.The bacteria isolated from the earphones were α-haemolytic Streptococci, Bacillus spp., coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp, and Staphylococcus aureus. The fungi isolated were Aspergillus spp,Mucor spp and Rhizopus spp). The distribution of the isolates include; α-haemolytic Streptococci, 12 (24%), Aspergillus spp 6 (12%), Bacillus spp 10 (20%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (COANS) 6 (12%), Escherichia coli 3 (6%), Mucor spp 2 (4%), Proteus spp 2 (4%), Rhizopus spp 5 (10%) and Staphylococcus aureus 12 (24%). Statistical analysis showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between the mean incidence values of the isolates from the two groups. Comparing the incidence values of the isolates from the two groups of earphone users, the study concluded that microbial growth does increase with frequent and continuous use of earphones in relation to the non-frequent use of earphones. The significantly higher microbial growth in Group A (as indicated by the higher incidence values of the isolates in group A, when compared to those of Group B), is indicative of a positive relationship between microbial growth, frequency and duration of use of earphones. Thus, regular cleaning of ear phones with disinfectants before and after each usage is recommended to help reduced the microbial load of earphones and its potential as regards being a vector in the transfer of pathogenic microorganisms to the ear, to help prevent the incidence of otitis media and other infections amongst the ear phone users.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of Contents v
List of Tables
viii
List of Figures
ix
Abstract
x
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1
Aims and objectives of the study
3
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Definition of earphone
4
2.2
History of earphone
4
2.3 Anatomy and physiology of the
ear
5
2.3.1 The outer ear
5
2.3.2
Middle ear
6
2.3.3 Inner
ear
7
2.4
Microbiome of the ear
7
2.5 Bacteria in cerumen
8
2.6 Commensal microbial
9
2.7
Infections of the ear
10
2.7.1 Outer ear infection
10
2.7.2 Acute diffuse Otitis Externa
11
2.7.3 Chronic Otitis Externa
12
2.7.4 Furunculosis
13
2.7.5 Otomycosis
13
2.7.6 Malignant Otitis Externa (MOE)
14
2.8
Middle Ear Infection
15
2.9
Inner Ear Infection
16
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
3.1
Study area 17 3.2 Sample collection
17
3.3 Sterilization of materials
17
3.4
Media preparation
18
3.5
Microbiological analyses
18
3.6
Characterization and identification of the bacterial isolates 18
3.6.1
Colonial morphology
18
3.6.2 Motility test
19
3.6.3
Gram staining
19
3.6.4
Biochemical tests
20
3.6.4.1
Catalase test
20
3.6.4.2
Coagulase test
21
3.6.4.3
Indole test
21
3.6.4.4
Methyl red test
21
3.6.4.5 Voges Proskauer test
22
3.6.4.6
Citrate utilization test
22
3.6.4.7
Oxidase test
23
3.6.4.8
Triple Sugar Iron agar test
23
3.7 Identification and characterization of
the fungal isolates 24
3.8 Statistical analysis
24
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Results
25
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Discussion
33
5.1 Conclusion and Recommendations
38
REFERENCES
40
APPENDIX
50
LIST
OF TABLES
Table Title Page
1 The cultural, morphological and biochemical
characteristics of the bacterial isolates from the earphone samples 28
2 The cultural and
morphological characteristics of the fungal isolates from the earphone samples. 29
3 Occurrence of the
isolates in the earphone samples categories 30
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Title Page
1 The cleaning practice observed amongst the
ear phone users 27
2 The percentage occurrence of the
isolates from the earphones
31
3 The percentage occurrence rate of
the isolates in the earphone
Categories
32
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Several studies of the human environment have
demonstrated colonization and contamination of objects such as earphones, door
handles, faucets, phones, money, fabrics and plastics (Bures et al.,
2001). People come into daily contact with all sorts of fomites, with an
increasing rate of bacterial and fungal infection (Eguia and Chambers, 2003).
The external auditory canal normally harbors
many bacterial colonies which form the normal commensal bacterial flora of the
ear. They are predominantly non-pathogenic and mostly aerobic, which include
Staphylococci (like Staphylococcus auricularis, Staphylococcus epidermidis,
Staphylococcus capitis and occasionally Staphylococcus aureus),
Coryneforms like Turicella otitidis (Stroman et al., 2001), alpha
hemolytic streptococcus (Brook, 1981), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Brook,
1981; Clark et al., 1997) and some species of Micrococcus
(Brook et al., 2003).
The use of earphones has been thought to
create aural hygiene problems and infection in the ear canal. Not uncommonly,
the earphone users also express concern regarding the potential for this device
to cause noise induced hearing loss. However, documented studies on the side
effects of prolonged use of earphones are rarely described in the literature.
Among the prolonged users of the earphones are telephonists, radio deejays and
mobile compact personal stereo (Mazlan et
al., 2001).
Ear
phones are also a source of bacterial diseases, as bacteria can form biofilm in ears. Like airline headsets,
headphones and stethoscope earpieces, ear phones can easily be a source of
vector of potential pathogens, which can give rise to otitis externa
(Mukhopadhyay et al., 2008).
Mobile
devices used in hospitals are of particular interest, as they have been
implicated in the spread of nosocomial infections (Nikolic et al., 2011).
Two
types of ear infections include otitis media and otitis externa from which the
otitis media is most common. Otitis media is a group of inflammatory diseases of the middle
ear (Qureishi et al., 2014).
The two main types are acute otitis
media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME). Acute otitis media is an infection of abrupt onset that usually presents with ear pain. In
young children this may result in pulling at the ear, increased crying, and
poor sleep. Decreased eating and a fever may also be present. Otitis media with effusion is typically not associated with symptoms
(Lieberthal et al., 2013). Occasionally a feeling of fullness is
described. It is defined as the presence of non-infectious fluid in the middle
ear for more than three months.
Otitis externa is actually a collection of
disorders of the external auditory meatus. Otitis externa can be divided into
four types - namely acute diffuse, acute localized, chronic and invasive otitis
externa. It is principally caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus
aureus. Heat, retained moisture, desquamation and maceration of the
epithelium add to the disease condition (Rubin et al., 2005).
About 1 in 8 of otitis external infections is
fungal in origin (Satish et al., 2013). 90% of fungal infections
involve Aspergillus spp. and the
rest Candida spp. The prevalence rate has been quoted as 10% of
patients presenting with signs and symptoms of otitis externa (Satish et al.,
2013). The fraction of otitis externa that is otomycosis may be higher in hot
climates and much of the literature originates from tropical and subtropical
countries (Satish et al., 2013).
Recently the worldwide usage of earphones has
increased due to the gaining popularity of mobile phones, portable music and
MP3 players. Apple has sold more than 40 million ipods since they hit the marketing
2001 (USA TODAY, 2006). Majority of school or college students have a right
rate of sharing among them and the practice of cleaning the earphones properly
before use is not at all in vogue. People have raised concerns over the fact
that it causes hearing damage, but extensive Medline search showed that no study so far has been done with
earphones as a bacterial growth inducer and a possible vector of commensals (Mukhopadhyay
et al., 2008).
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
·
To
compare the microbial growth associated with the use of earphones used among
students of Michael Okpara University of
Agriculture Umudike, Abia state.
·
To evaluate
the potential role of earphones as vectors of pathogenic microorganisms among
students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia state.
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