MICROBIOLOGY OF STUDENTS’ TOILET DOOR HANDLES IN MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSIY OF AGRICULTURE, UMUDIKE.

ABSTRACT

A total of 50 door handles of student toilets in Michael Okpara university of Agriculture Umudike. Toilet was randomly and analyzed using a sterile swab stick soaked with normal saline. The samples were examined for the presence of bacteria and fungi using nutrient agar, macconkey agar and sabouraud dextrose agar. Bacteria isolates recorded and identified include, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Proteus spp, Shigella spp, Klebsiella spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa while the fungal isolates include Candida spp, Pencillium spp, and Mucor spp. Staphylococcus aeureus was relatively abundant on the door handles than any other isolate. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was carried out and it was discovered they were more susceptible to Oflaxacin and more resistant to Septrin. Factors responsible for high level of contamination of door handles include sanitary conditions of the toilet, good handling practices and hygiene of toilet users.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTIFICATION                                                                                                               i

DEDICATION                                                                                                                      ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT                                                                                                   iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                                     vii

LIST OF TABLES                                                                                                                viii

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION                                                                                                    1

1.1       AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY                                                                 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       LITERATURE REVIEW                                                                                        5

2.1       PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS                                                                               6

2.2       ORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH TOILET DOOR HANDLES                 7

2.2.1    Staphylococcus aureus                                                                                              7

2.2.2    Escherichia coli                                                                                                         8

2.2.3    Pseudomonas aeruginosa                                                                                          8

2.2.4    Candida                                                                                                                      9

2.2.5    Penicillium                                                                                                                 10

2.2.6    Salmonella                                                                                                                 10

2.2.7    Shigella                                                                                                                      11

2.2.8    Klebsiella                                                                                                                    11

2.2.9    Proteus                                                                                                                       11

2.2.10  Mucor                                                                                                                         12

2.3       THE NEED FOR IMPROVED SANITATION AND HYGIENE                 12

2.4       EFFECTS OF POOR SANITATION                                                                     12       

2.4.1    Health Effects                                                                                                            12

2.4.1.1 Diarrhea                                                                                                                    13

2.4.1.2 Cholera                                                                                                                      13

2.4.1.3 Typhoid                                                                                                                      13

2.4.2    Environmental Effects                                                                                             14

2.5       INTERVENTION TO IMPROVED SANITATION AND HYGIENE PRACTICES

2.5.1    Hygiene Promotion                                                                                                   15

2.5.2    Cleaning Of Sanitation Facilities                                                                            15

2.5.3    Hand Washing                                                                                                           15

CHAPTER THREE

3.0       MATERIALS AND METHODS                                                                             16

3.1       FIELD STUDY                                                                                                          16

3.2       SAMPLE COLLECTION                                                                                       16

3.3       MEDIA PREPARATION

3.4       SPECIMEN INOCULATION AND ISOLATION                                                16

3.5       CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ISOLATES                17

3.6       GRAM STAIN                                                                                                          17

3.7       BIOCHEMICAL TESTS                                                                                         17

3.7.1    Catalase Test                                                                                                             17

3.7.2    Coagulase Test                                                                                                          18

3.7.3    Citrate Test                                                                                                                18

3.7.4    Motility, Indole and Urease Test                                                                             18

3.7.5    Oxidase Test                                                                                                              19

3.7.6    Triple Sugar Iron Test                                                                                             19

3.8       IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGAL ISOLATES                                                     19

3.9       ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY                                                                          19

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0       RESULTS                                                                                                                  20

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0       DISCUSSION                                                                                                            28

5.1       CONCLUSION                                                                                                         29

5.2       RECOMMENDATION                                                                                            29

REFERENCES

LIST OF TABLES.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

Microorganisms are living things ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification, in terms of distribution microbes are the dominant organisms on earth (Kathleen and Arthur 2002).

Prescott et al, 1999 emphasized that we live in the age of bacteria. They were the first living organism and probably constitute the largest of the earth’s biomass. Microbes can be found nearly everywhere. Being mostly invisible the actions of microorganisms are usually not obvious as those of larger plants and animals (Kathleen and Arthur 2002).

The human body harbors several species of bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. These microorganisms colonizes part of the body without causing infection these ones are said to be the normal flora but can cause infection when found in another site.

The flora of gastro-intestinal tract which are members of the family Enterobacteriaceae which are passed through excreta is a serious source and reservoirs of infection from which they are transferred to susceptible host who then becomes a possible source of infection (Francesco, 2010).

Faecal matter remains a major reservoir of human pathogens which in adverse situation may bring about outbreaks of infection. (Francesco, 2010).

Besides the day to day interaction of people which constitute in one way of spreading diseases, the major source of and spread of community acquired infections are fomites. Fomites when in constant contact with humans or natural habitats of pathogenic organisms constitute a major source of spread of infectious diseases. Such fomites include; door handles of conveniences, showers, toilet seats etc. especially those found in public places like hospitals, schools, offices, restaurants etc.

However, the risk of disease transmission through fomites is determined by the frequency of site contamination and exposure level of pathogen excreted by the host (Reynolds, 2005).The occurrence of this may be attributed to the unhygienic use of the toilet facilities which result to the gross contamination of the place including door handles which individuals are less likely to see as contaminated (Francesco, 2010).

These articles once contaminated become vehicle for transmission of infection such that the user may succeed in picking this pathogen in his was in or out even after the individual washes his hands.

Sanitary conditions in public places have always been a major problem especially in toilets.

Toilets are contaminated with microbes from human secretion such as saliva, skin, urine and physical manipulation of the environment.

As a paired of organ the hand is controlled by the opposing brain hemisphere (Maria and Eliane, 2004) and enables one to do all manner of things.

The hand serves as a medium for the propagation of microorganisms from place to place and from person to person.

The hand usually harbor microorganisms both as part of the normal flora as well as transient microbes contacted from the environment (Lindberg et al., 2004).

One common way by which microorganisms which are not resident in the hand are picked up is by contact with surfaces such as table tops, tap, toilet door knobs or handles in toilets etc.

Since human hands usually harbor microorganisms both as residents and transients (Lindberg et al., 2004). It is conceivable that transfer of pathogens could occur between people who access the same surfaces or area.

The chance that other persons will acquire these organisms is dependent on how long the organism can survive in the environment e.g. Listeria spp can survive for a while in the hands and the environment (Snelling et al., 1991)

Bacteria from public toilet are of public health importance when they enter the body through hand to mouth or hand to food contact.

The most implicated probable source of infection are door handles of toilet (Reynolds, 2005).

Bacteria seeded into toilet remain in the toilet for a long time after multiply flushing and cleaning with antimicrobial fluids (Barker and Jones 2005).

Public toilets such as students toilets have large traffic of users who throng in with this own microbial floral and other organisms they have picked elsewhere and deposit them on door handles when going into the convenience and on their way out (Goldhammer et al., 2006).

In developing countries like Nigeria many have neglected the need to wash their hands after using the toilets.

Majority of public toilets such as students toilets lack water system and where they have such systems, water are never available.

Consequently users can hardly wash their hands after usage carrying contaminants from such toilets (Grannini et al., 2009).

Some of these organisms also get the public students toilet when healthy or acute carriers of diseases use the toilets and infect the toilet and door handles with the pathogen and a health individual with an impaired immunity or an immune compromised person comes in contact with the pathogen when using the toilet (Barker and Jones 2005).

1.1       Aims and Objectives of Study.

Door handles or knobs of students’ toilets are to be a major source of contamination and transmission of pathogen microorganisms.

Ø  Evaluate the microorganisms found on the door handles.

Ø  To isolate and characterize the microorganisms associated with the door handles.

Ø  To identify possible means of contamination

Ø  To state health implications associated with these contaminations

Ø  To advice students using the conveniences on the dangers of not washing the hands after using the toilets.

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