Hands play a major role in infection transfer both in health care institutions and other settings (Aiella et al., 2002). Hand hygiene is the most effective measure for interrupting microorganisms which cause infections within and outside the health care setting. In 2002, Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC) reviewed the recommendation for hand hygiene to include the use of alcohol-based products for standard hand hygiene (Boyce and Pittet 2002). Several studies have compared the bacterial flora on the hands of patient care and non-patient care personnel and patients versus health individuals. As lower level of hand hygiene are practiced outside the clinical setting, it was hypothesized that the hands of individuals in the non-health care systems would have higher overall bacterial count’s and fewer antibiotic resistance organisms than in health care workers. Despite the increased attention directed to hand hygiene the threat of infectious disease in developing countries remains very high. Studies have shown that there are about 2-3 million deaths worldwide each year from diarrheal diseases, (Aiello and Larson, 2002) many of which could have been prevented. Hand washing with soap has been estimated to save a million lives a year (Wendt, 2001). Limited or non-existence of basic sanitary infrastructures presents an extra hurdle in developing countries. This has differentiated the approach to hand hygiene in developing and developed countries. However, a new public health campaign amongst others led by the World bank and the water sanitation programme in collaboration with many other partners, has been set up to address increased hand hygiene in some developing countries. Another retraining factor of inadequate compliance to hand hygiene recommendation in developing countries is the lack of scientific evidence to basic question such as: How should hand be washed, when should they be washed, which product should be used and for how long (Della-Latta et al., 2003). Most hand hygiene data concerning microorganism are for bacteria, viruses are also extremely important and as far more difficult to investigate. The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the bacterial colonization of human hands and to provide evidence that adherence to hand hygiene practices result in a decrease in microbial load and infection.

As a result of the extent to which the human hands are being colonized by bacteria and also to determine hand hygiene practices among students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State. The findings of this study will help to eliminate sources of hand contamination by promoting the practice of keeping hands clean among MOUAU students.

The significance of any human endeavor is measured by its relevance to solving human problems. However, the study is significant by helping in recommending more reliable ways in reducing the rate of bacterial contamination on human hands and to provide evidence that adherence to hand hygiene practices result in a decrease in microbial load and infection.