ABSTRACT
A total of 36 samples were collected from different parts (keyboard, touchpad/mouse and screen) of both public and personal computers. Total heterotrophic counts ranged from 0.46×108 - 2.00×108cfu/ml in screen, 0.64×108 - 2.53×108cfu/ml in keyboard and 0.50×108 - 2.32×108cfu/ml in touchpad samples. Coliform counts ranged from 0.17×108 - 1.87×108cfu/ml in screen, 0.46×108 - 2.10×108cfu/ml in keyboard and 0.28×108 - 1.89×108cfu/ml in touchpad samples. Staphylococcal counts ranged from 0.04×106 - 0.14×106cfu/ml in screen, 0.09×106 - 0.41×106cfu/ml in keyboard and 0.03×106 - 0.32×106cfu/ml in touchpad samples. Fungal counts ranged from 0.03×106 - 0.18×106cfu/ml in screen, 0.12×106 - 0.32×106cfu/ml in keyboard and 0.04×106 - 0.25×106cfu/ml in touchpad samples. The microbial counts conducted showed that the public computers had more contamination levels. Seven bacterial species (Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Salmonella sp., Bacillus sp., Klebsiella sp., Escherichia coli and Micrococcus sp.) and five fungal species (Candida sp., Aspergillus sp., Rhizopus sp., Penicillium sp., and Mucor sp.) were isolated. Staphylococcus sp. and Aspergillus sp. had the highest percentage occurrence of 31.55% and 40.38% respectively in personal computers while Bacillus sp. and Aspergillus sp. was predominant in public computers with percentage occurrence of 26.50% and 31.58% respectively. Streptococcus sp. and Penicillium sp. had the least occurrence in personal computers while Streptococcus sp., Candida sp., Mucor sp. and Penicillium sp. were the least in public computers. Statistical analysis showed that only few counts in the Total Heterotrophic Count, Coliform and fungal counts were significantly different at P<0.05 while others were not significantly different.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of Contents v
List of Tables viii
Abstract x
CHAPTER ONE
1
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1
An
Overview on Computer 1
1.2
Aim of
study 3
1.3
Objectives
of study
3
1.4
Places
where computers can be found in Michael Okpara
University
of Agriculture Umudike 3
CHAPTER TWO
4
2.0
LITERATURE REVIEW 4
2.1
Applications
of Computer 4
2.2
Computer
as fomites/microbial reservoirs
5
2.3 Microorganisms associated with the use of
computer
and the infections they cause 6
2.4
Factors affecting growth of
microorganisms on computers 6
2.5 Control of microbial
infections associated with computer usage 7
2.5.1 Cleaning/Disinfection of
computer 7
2.5.2 Hand washing 8
CHAPTER THREE
10
3.0
MATERIALS AND METHODS 10
3.1 Study area 10
3.2 Materials 10
3.3 Sample collection 11
3.4 Sterilization of
materials 12
3.5 Media 12
3.6 Microbiological analysis
of samples 13
3.6.1 Inoculation 13
3.6.2 Serial dilution 13
3.6.3 Enumeration of
microorganisms 13
3.7 Characterization and
identification of the bacterial isolates 14
3.7.1 Purification and storage
of the isolates 14
3.7.2 Colonial morphology 14
3.7.3 Gram staining 15
3.7.4 Biochemical tests 16
3.7.4.1 Catalase test 16
3.7.4.2
Coagulase
test 16
3.7.4.3
Indole
test 16
3.7.4.4
Methyl
red-Voges Proskauer (MR-VP) test 17
3.7.4.5 Citrate utilization test 18
3.7.4.6 Oxidase test 18
3.8 Statistical
analysis 19
CHAPTER FOUR
20
4.0
RESULTS 20
4.1 Results 20
CHAPTER FIVE
49
5.0
DISCUSSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 49
5.1 Discussion 49
5.2 Conclusion 54
5.3 Recommendations 55
REFERENCES
LIST OF TABLES
Table Title Page
4.1
Total Heterotrophic Count of Screen samples
obtained from Personal and
Public computers
28
4.2 Total Heterotrophic Count of Keyboard
samples obtained from Personal and
Public computers
29
4.3 Total Heterotrophic Count of Touchpad
samples obtained from Personal and
Public computers 30
4.4 Coliform Count of Screen samples obtained
from Personal and Public
computers
31
4.5 Coliform Count of Keyboard samples
obtained from Personal and Public
computers
32
4.6 Coliform Count of Touchpad samples
obtained from Personal and Public
computers 33
4.7 Staphylococcal Count of Screen samples
obtained from Personal and Public
computers
34
4.8
Staphylococcal Count of Keyboard samples
obtained from Personal and Public
computers 35
4.9 Staphylococcal Count of Touchpad samples
obtained from Personal and Public
Computers
36
4.10
Fungal Count of Screen samples obtained
from Personal and Public computers 37
4.11
Fungal Count of Keyboard samples obtained
from Personal and Public
computers
38
4.12 Fungal Count of Touchpad samples obtained
from Personal and Public
computers
39
4.13 Cultural, morphological and biochemical
characteristics of the bacterial isolates 40
4.14
Cultural and morphological characteristics
of the fungal isolates 42
4.15 Distribution
of Microbial Isolates 43
4.16 Frequency of Occurrence
of the Different Bacterial Isolates on Personal and
Public Computers
44
4.17 Frequency of Occurrence
of the Different Fungal Isolates on Personal and Public
computers
45
4.18 Results of the
Statistical analysis carried out on Keyboard samples obtained from
Public and Personal Computers
46
4.19 Results of the Statistical analysis
carried out on Touchpad samples obtained from
Public and Personal Computers
47
4.20 Results
of the Statistical analysis carried out on Screen samples obtained from
Public and Personal Computers
48
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1
An
Overview on Computer
Computer has been described as the
latest technological media which are capable of receiving and accepting data
and performing operation according to instruction (program) and providing
result of the operation with great speed and accuracy (Awe et al.,2013). The importance of computer had been identified in
various fields such as Health, Agriculture, Finance, Education and Research
Institution (Onasanya, 2002). Its speed of operation has made its application
in these fields inevitable. The inevitability of the computer in most of the
identified fields has been a major factor for the continuous proliferation of
computer usage in all these fields. Computers continue to have an increased
presence in almost every aspect of our occupational, recreational and residential
environments (Anderson and Palombo, 2009).
Owing to this indispensable nature of
the computer to the various activities of man in this technologically dominated
society, there is increasing rate of interactions with the computer from day to
day (Onasanya, 2002; Anderson and Palombo, 2009; Balci et al., 2009). In various university environments for instance,
students have indicated 100% access to computers, 92.1% regularly use internet
and 73.3% regularly use e-mail (Palmer and Bray, 2001). To accommodate the
extensive use of computer technology, universities have developed multi-user
“computer laboratories” on campuses for general student access (Anderson and
Palombo, 2009).
Microorganisms that cause infections
can be found in any environment including soil, air, water, food and on other
organisms as well as on environmental surfaces or objects. The infections that
these microorganisms cause can spread to humans in various ways: directly or
indirectly via inanimate objects called fomites and/or living organisms called
vectors (Neely and Sittig, 2002). A search of literature has revealed that in
human environment, microorganisms colonize and contaminate environmental
objects in the home (Lori et al.,
2002), hospital (Brady et al., 2007),
schools and day-care environment (Itah and Ben, 2004) and in offices (Bouillard
et al., 2005).
Since microbes and especially
bacteria are found everywhere, it is expected that computers just like other
objects, may harbor such microorganisms (Fatima and Tarek, 2015). In recent
times, keyboards and mice are environmental objects in constant use in the
growing need for computer system application. Keyboards and mice are components
of a computer system that are used on daily basis in accomplishing various
computer tasks in almost every aspect of our society. Their uses have greatly
expanded and can be found in schools, banks, cybercafés, offices and hospitals
(Awe et al., 2013). In universities,
students, faculty and staff use computers. Given that the computers and mice
are not routinely disinfected, the opportunity of the transmission of
contaminated microorganisms is greater (Fatima and Tarek, 2015).
Having been established in
literatures that computer keyboard are capable of hosting pathogenic microbes
(such as S. aureus, E. coli, Bacillus sp. etc.) and hence been able to act as a portal of
infection, it is essential to identify the extent to which the people who
continually interact with computer keyboard are aware of the risk associated
with its possibilities as a portal of infection. People are exposed to this
risk unconsciously because of the low level of awareness among users of
computers, this thus serve as a medium to inform users of keyboard and mouse
about the necessary need to be more careful as they interact with this
wonderful instrument of technology (Awe et
al., 2013).
1.2
Aim
of Study
§ To
isolate, characterize and identify the microbial group associated with
different parts of both personal and public computers used in MOUAU
1.3 Objectives of Study
§ To
assess the microbial load on public and personal computers in MOUAU
§ To
compare the microbial load between public and personal computers in MOUAU
§ To
assess the potential risks microorganisms associated with computers pose to
public health
1.4 Places where computers can be found
in MOUAU
The use of computer
is common in almost every, if not all environments of which Michael Okpara
University is not left out. In the university environment, computers can be
found in colleges, banks, hostels, library and various computer centers within
the campus. These computers are used in all these areas to carry out both
personal activities and for business purposes. Public computers can be found in
places like computer village, research, Afrihub and the e-library of the
institution whereas personal computers are likely to be found in offices in
different departments and also in banks where they are used to serve customers.
Recently, students also make use of personal computers which come in different
shapes, sizes and model. Some have desktop, laptop and palmtop computers; some
of them are screen touch while others are non-screen touch computers. Students
use these for doing their assignments, internet access, research works,
entertainment etc.
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