BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF THE DOMINANT PALM AMONG UNDERGRADUATES

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the bacterial colonization of human hand. The study was conducted within MOUAU. A total number of one hundred (100) swab samples were collected at random from the dominant palm of one hundred (100) different students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike by swabbing the surface of their palms using a sterile swab sticks moistened with normal saline. All samples collected were transported to Microbiology laboratory Mouau immediately and cultured using the streak plate method on MacConkey agar, Blood agar, Mannitol salt agar and incubated for 24 hours at 37ᵒC for bacterial growth. The resulting colonies from the MacConkey agar, Mannitol salt agar and blood agar plates were purified by sub-culturing on freshly prepared nutrient agar plates. The plates were incubated at 35°C for 24hours. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was tested against the following antibiotics. Ofloxacin (10mcg), Peflacine (10mcg), Ciproflox (10mcg), Amoxycillin/Clavulanic (30mcg), Gentamicin (30mcg), Streptomycin (30mcg), Cephalexin (10mcg), Cotrimoxazole (30mcg) and Ampicilin (30mcg), using Kirby Bauer antibiotics disk method. Eight (8) different organisms were isolated which include; Staphylococcus aureus 13(13.8%), Bacillus sp 15(15.9%), Klebsiella sp 2(2.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 4(4.3%), Streptococcus sp 19(20.2%), Coagulase negative staphylococcus 30(31.9%), Proteus sp 6(6.4%) and Escherichia coli 5(5.3%). Coagulase negative staphylococcus was the most frequently isolated organism as it has the highest percentage of occurrence whereas Klebsiella sp has the least percentage of occurrence. Sensitivity test was carried out and most of the isolates were sensitive to Ofloxacin (83.0%), Gentamicin (66.0%), Streptomycin (57.4%), Amoxycillin/Clavulanic acid (43.6%), Cotrimoxazole (40.4%),  Ceftriaxone (35.1%), Pefflacine (33.0%), and resistant to Ampicillin (28.7%), Cephalexin (27.7%) and. Ofloxacin is the drug of choice as a greater percentage of the isolates was sensitive to it, followed by Gentamicin. The spread of the microorganisms and the infection from human hands can be minimized by the use of hand sanitizers by the students, increased sanitary measures, strict adherence to regular hand washing with soap and antiseptics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title                                                                                 Page

Title Page                                                                                           i

Certification                                                                                                                           iii

Dedication                                                                                                                              iv

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                  v

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   vi

List of Tables                                                                                                                          ix

Abstract                                                                                                                                  x

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction                                                                                                                1

1.1       Aim and Objectives                                                                                                    2

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       Literature Review                                                                                                       3

2.1       Bacterial Contaminants Associated with Human Hands                                            3

2.1.1    Staphylococcus aureus                                                                                               3

2.1.2    Escherichia coli                                                                                                          5

2.1.3    Bacillus species                                                                                                          6

2.1.4    Klebsiella Species                                                                                                       6

2.1.5    Staphylococcus epidermidis                                                                                       7

2.1.6    Streptococcus Pyogenes                                                                                             8

2.1.7    Pseudomonas Aeruginosa                                                                                          9

2.2       Microbial Flora on the Hands of Healthcare Workers                                               10

2.3       Comparison of Bacterial Flora on the Hands of Healthcare Workers and

            Non-healthcare Workers                                                                                             12

2.4       Normal Bacterial Flora on Hands                                                                               13

2.4.1    Transient flora (transient microbiota)                                                                        14

2.4.2    Resident flora (resident microbiota)                                                                          14

CHAPTER THREE

3.0       Materials and Methods                                                                                               15

3.1       Study Area                                                                                                                  15

3.1.1    Collection of Samples                                                                                                15

3.1.2    Sterilization of Materials                                                                                            16

3.1.3    Preparation of Culture Media                                                                                     16

3.2       Isolation of Bacteria Found On Human Hands                                                          16

3.3       Identification of the Isolates from Human Hands                                                      15

3.3.1    Gram Staining                                                                                                            17

3.3.2    Biochemical Test                                                                                                        17

3.3.2.1 Catalase Test                                                                                                               17

3.3.2.2 Indole Test                                                                                                                  17

3.3.2.3 Citrate Utilization Test                                                                                               18

3.3.2.4 Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) Production Test                                                                18

3.3.2.5 Starch Hydrolysis                                                                                                       18

3.3.2.6 Motility, Indole, Urease (MIU)                                                                                  19

3.3.2.7 Coagulase Test                                                                                                           19

3.3.2.8 Oxidase Test                                                                                                               20

3.4       Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing                                                                                20

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0       Results

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0       Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1       Discussion

5.2       Conclusion

5.3       Recommendation

            References

LIST OF TABLES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

Hands play a major role in infection transfer both in health care institutions and other settings (Aiella et al., 2002). Hand hygiene is the most effective measure for interrupting microorganisms which cause infections within and outside the health care setting. In 2002, Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC) reviewed the recommendation for hand hygiene to include the use of alcohol-based products for standard hand hygiene (Boyce and Pittet 2002). Several studies have compared the bacterial flora on the hands of patient care and non-patient care personnel and patients versus health individuals. As lower level of hand hygiene are practiced outside the clinical setting, it was hypothesized that the hands of individuals in the non-health care systems would have higher overall bacterial count’s and fewer antibiotic resistance organisms than in health care workers. Despite the increased attention directed to hand hygiene the threat of infectious disease in developing countries remains very high. Studies have shown that there are about 2-3 million deaths worldwide each year from diarrheal diseases, (Aiello and Larson, 2002) many of which could have been prevented. Hand washing with soap has been estimated to save a million lives a year (Wendt, 2001). Limited or non-existence of basic sanitary infrastructures presents an extra hurdle in developing countries. This has differentiated the approach to hand hygiene in developing and developed countries. However, a new public health campaign amongst others led by the World bank and the water sanitation programme in collaboration with many other partners, has been set up to address increased hand hygiene in some developing countries. Another retraining factor of inadequate compliance to hand hygiene recommendation in developing countries is the lack of scientific evidence to basic question such as: How should hand be washed, when should they be washed, which product should be used and for how long (Della-Latta et al., 2003). Most hand hygiene data concerning microorganism are for bacteria, viruses are also extremely important and as far more difficult to investigate. The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the bacterial colonization of human hands and to provide evidence that adherence to hand hygiene practices result in a decrease in microbial load and infection.

As a result of the extent to which the human hands are being colonized by bacteria and also to determine hand hygiene practices among students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State. The findings of this study will help to eliminate sources of hand contamination by promoting the practice of keeping hands clean among MOUAU students.

The significance of any human endeavor is measured by its relevance to solving human problems. However, the study is significant by helping in recommending more reliable ways in reducing the rate of bacterial contamination on human hands and to provide evidence that adherence to hand hygiene practices result in a decrease in microbial load and infection.

1.1       AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to evaluate the bacterial flora of human Hands, while the specific objectives are;

·       To isolate and identify the bacteria found on human hands.

·       To determine the percentage occurrence of isolates.

·       To carry out the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates

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