Microbial Evaluation Of Contamination Of Shared Hand Towels In Restaurant Located In Umuahia

ABSTRACT

This study was to evaluate the microbial contamination of shared hand towels in restaurant located in Umuahia. A total of 10 sampls were collected from five different restaurants and were analyzed in laboratory. Out of the 10 samples four different bacteria genera were isolated which include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonellas species, the only fungi isolated from the sample was Aspergilus niger.. Escherichia coli had highest percentage occurrence of 35.7% while the least percentage occurrence of 11.9% was recorded by Streptococcus species. The antibiotic susceptibility test carried out shows that Salmonella spp was the most sensitive organisms while staphylococcus aureus was seen to be the most resistant organisms. The Percentage sensitivity and resistance of the isolates to different antibiotics shows that Salmonella spp, E. coli and Klebsiella spp recorded the highest sensitivity of 37.5% each to the antibiotics used while the least percentage sensitivity of 25.0% was recorded by staphylococcus aureus.