THE ISOLATION OF BACTERIA FROM COMPUTER KEYBOARD USED BY STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the presence of bacterial contamination on computer keyboards frequently used by students at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. The aim was to isolate and identify bacteria colonizing the user interface of the keyboards, determine the prevalence of bacterial diversity, and evaluate the antibiotic sensitivity of the isolates. A total of 100 samples were collected from various high-traffic locations, including the university library, computer village, Afri Hub, and research cybercafé, using sterile cotton swabs. The samples were cultured on blood agar, MacConkey agar, and Mannitol salt agar, followed by bacterial identification through gram staining and biochemical tests.

The results revealed significant contamination with both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli (34.6%), Bacillus spp. (25%), Klebsiella spp. (5.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (2.5%), and Proteus spp. (2.8%). Gram-positive bacteria (49.9%) were slightly more prevalent than gram-negative bacteria (49.8%). These findings align with previous research, indicating that computer keyboards can harbor a variety of pathogens, largely due to poor hand hygiene and environmental exposure.

The study concluded that the sterilization methods employed for computer keyboards at the university are insufficient in reducing bacterial contamination. The high prevalence of E. coli contamination highlights the potential health risks posed by shared computer use in academic settings. Recommendations include regular cleaning with disinfectants, promoting good hand hygiene, and discouraging eating at computer stations. These measures are crucial for reducing the risk of infection transmission in such environments

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

1.0 Introduction

1.1  Aim

1.2  Objective

Chapter Two

2.0       LITERATURE REVIEW   

2.1       Bacterial contaminations associated with computer keyboard

2.1.1    Escherichia coli

2.1.2    Klebsiella Spp

2.1.3    Streptococcus Spp

2.1.4    Staphylococcus aureus

2.1.5    Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2.1.6    Bacillus subtilis

2.1.7    Proteus  Spp

2.2       The Effectiveness of Hygiene in Reducing Infection

Chapter Three

3.0      MATERIALS AND METHOD

3.1       Study Area

3.2       Sample Collection

3.3       Preparation of Culture

3.4       Bacterial Innoculation

3.5       Characterization and Identifications of Organisms

3.5.1    Colonial Morphology

3.5.2    Gram Stain

3.5.3    Biochemical Tests:

Coagulase Test:

Catalase Test

Citrate Test:

Indole Test:

Motility Test:

Oxidase Test:

Triple Sugar Iron Test:

Antibiotic Susceptibility Test:

Chapter Four

4.0  Results

Chapter 5

Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1       Discussion

 5.2      Conclusion

5.3      Recommendation

References

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1:        Incidences of Positive Specimens from Various Computer Keyboards in MOUAU

Table 2:        Differentiations of Isolates from Study by Gram Staining Reactions

Table 3:        Bacteria Isolated From Various Computer Keyboards        

Table 5         Morphological Features of Bacterial Isolates

Table 6         Biochemical Identification of Isolates

Chapter One

1.0       Introduction

Contamination occurs everywhere including environment and all its objects. The presence of viable pathogenic bacteria on inanimate objects has been reported by earlier investigators. Several studies of the human environment have demonstrated colonization and contamination of objects such as door handles, farcuts, phones, money, fabrics and plastics (Oluduro et al., 2011).

Computer has been described as the latest technological media which is capable of receiving and accepting data and performing operation according to instruction (program) and producing result of the operation with great speed and accuracy (Brightman and Dunsdalc, 1986).

The speed of operation of computer has made its appreciation in different fields such as health, education, research and finance institutions inevitable (Onasanya, 2002). The inevitability of the computer in most of the identified fields has been a major factor for the continuous proliferation of computer usuage in all of these fields. computers continue to have an increased presence in almost every aspect of our occupational, recreational and residential environments (Anderson and Palombs, 2009).

 In various university environments, students have indicated 100% access to computers, 92.19 regularly use internet and 73.3% regularly use e.mail (Palmer and Bray, 2001). Keyboards are one of the most open parts of the computer which are used on daily basis in accomplishing various computer tasks in almost every aspect of our society and therefore they show 100% contamination. Their use have greatly expanded can be found in schools, banks, cybercafés, offices and hospitals. Also, contamination of keyboard by bacteria with the potential to initiate an infection has been documented by some investigators (Elfablawy and Ejhifnawi, 2009; Hartman et al.,2004; Neely and Sittig 2002).

The increased availability of multiple-user computers in the organization setting means that these items are handled by numerous users on a daily basis. Given that computers are not routinely disinfected, the opportunity for the transmission of contaminating micro-organisms is potentially great. This is not in the best interest of campus students especially that computer keyboards could spread significant number of pathogens (Enamuor et al, 2012).

Bacterial contamination of keyboards pose as a threat to public health as bacteria can be transferred from person to person by direct contact or indirect contact through an inanimate object  and back again.

There are many communities that come in contact with the keyboard. In general, the bacteria that lives on our skin, fingernails, hands and anywhere the hands have been are likely to transfer new bacteria over to the keyboard. In a place where there is a lot of people moving in and out especially in a cybercafé there is likely to be a good number of people that are sick and through them comes the new bacteria that will eventually settle on the keyboard through the air or form physical contact. Studies show that microbial contamination occur on computer surfaces located in a university setting and may reflect the multiple-user environment where the possibility of contamination by individuals who are carriers of bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus is greater and the isolation of usable micro-organisms suggest that the species present are able to persist for a period of time on these surfaces. (Anastisiades et al., 2009).

1.1       AIM

The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of bacteria on computer keyboard that are frequently used by students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Abia State.

1.2       OBJECTIVE

 i. To isolate and identify the different bacteria colonizing the user interphase of computer

       keyboards

ii. To determine the prevalence of bacteria diversity encountered in this study.

iii. To determine the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the various isolates.

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