ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the bacterial contamination of hair brushes in barbing salons. The study was conducted in various barbing salons in Umuahia metropolis. A total number of fifty(50) samples were collected from fifty(50) different barbing salons in Umuahia and seven(7) different organisms were isolated which include; Staphylococcus aureus (27.5%), Bacillus spp (7.8%), Klebsiella spp (13.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.8%), Streptococcus spp (19.6%), Coagulase negative staphylococcus (15.7%) and Escherichia coli (3.7%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism as it has the highest percentage of occurrence. Sensitivity test was carried out and most of the isolates were sensitive to Tarivid (82.4%), Ceftriaxon (64.7%), Augmentin (56.9%), Gentamicin (52.9%), and resistant to Ampicillin (23.5%), Septrin (29.4%), Streptomycin (29.4%), Ceporex (33.3%) and Pefflacine (41.2%). Tarivid is the drug of choice as a greater percentage of the isolates were sensitive to it, followed by Ceftriaxon. The spread of the microorganisms and prevention of infection from hair brushes can be minimized by the use of hand sanitizers by the barbers, increased sanitary measures, strict adherence to cleaning of hair brushes with antimicrobial agent suitable for it and proper bathing and showering with soap and antiseptics.