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