Characterization Of Bacteria Associated With Wristwatches Worn By Health Care Workers In A Secondary Health Clinic, Umuahia

ABSTRACT

The introduction of the work is the  characterization of bacteria associated with wristwatches worn by healthcare workers. Bacterial contamination is a situation which occurs when bacteria ends up in a location where they are not suppose to be. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 samples, in which 18 were male, 32 were female. They were also samples based on the type of wristwatches in which 30 were chain watch, 19 were lather watch and 1 was rubber watch. The wristwatches were sampled using pour plate method and direct streak plate method.  The media used were macConkey agar, nutrient agar and blood agar. Isolation and identification of bacteria was done by standard microbiological techniques. The (5) different bacteria isolated were S. aureus (14%), E. coli (2%), Strept. Spp. (38%), K. pneumoniae (4%), P. aeruginosa (6%). S.aureus and Strept spp.,were mostly isolated from female chain wristwatches, K. pneumoniae from male leather wristwatches, E. colifrom male lather wristwatch, P. aeruginosafrom female chain watch. Wearing a wristwatch results in an increase of bacterial contamination on the wrist. Although it is higher among female nurses, it still serves as a potential source of infection among healthcare workers thus, it is recommended to disinfect wristwatches before starting any clinical procedures and proper hand washing after clinical procedures.