ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine rate of bacterial contamination of bags of students of MOUAU. The study was carried out in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike among male and female students. A total of one hundred (100) samples were collected from male and female students of MOUAU. The samples were screened for bacteria by Standard Microbiological methods.. From the result of the analysis Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated bacteria in both male and female bags at 18 (52.0%) male, 22 (41.5%) female followed by Bacillus 10 (29.4%) male and 13 (24.5%) female. It was therefore recommended that students should use good sanitizers to wash their bags to avoid easy transfer of the contamination of bacteria and the school should build more halls to reduce overcrowding of student and thereby reducing the rate of bacterial contamination.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Declaration ii

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

List of Tables vi

Table of Contents vii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem 2

1.3 Objective of the Study 3

1.4 Research Questions 3

1.5 Scope of Study 4

1.6 Significance of Study 4

1.7 Limitations of the Study 4

1.8 Key Definition of Terms 5

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 Literature Review 6

2.1.1 Structure 6

2.1.2 Classification 7

2.1.3 Reproduction 9

2.2 Bacteria in Human Health and Disease 10

2.2.1 Antibiotic resistance 11

2.3 Effects of Bacteria on Their Human Host 11

2.3.1 Bacteria affect host-cell pathways 12

2.3.2 Bacteria Affect Human Genes and Gene Expression 13

2.4 Types of Contamination 15

2.4.1 The Effects of Contamination 16

2.5 Contamination Control 16

2.5.1 Function 16

2.5.2 Usage 17

2.5.3 Types of contamination control 18

2.6 Testing of Bacteria 21

2.6.1 Streak Plate Procedure: Isolation of Bacterial Colonies Using the Quadrant Method 21

2.6.2. Pour Plate Procedure: Enumeration of Bacterial Cells in a Mixed Sample 25

2.6.3. Spread Plate Procedure: Formation of Discrete Bacterial Colonies for Plate Counts, Enrichment, Selection, or Screening 26

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Collection of Samples 31

3.2 Media Preparation 31

3.3 Isolation, Characterization and Identification of Bacterial Isolates 31

3.4 Gram Reaction 32

3.5 Endospore Formation Stain 33

3.6 Biochemical Test 33

3.7 Indole Test 33

3.8 Citrate Utilization Test 34

3.9 Coagulase Test 35

3.10 Catalase Test 36

3.11 Urease Test 36

3.12 Triple Sugar Ion Test (TSI) 37

3.13 Antibiotics Susceptibility 38

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS 

4.1 Results 39

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusion 45

5.2 Recommendations 45

REFERENCES