ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the bacterial contamination of multiple used hair brushes within Umudike, Ahia State. Ten (10) 1-lair dressing and Beauty salons were randomly selected within Umudike and its environs, from which five (5) samples were collected from each salon. From the study a total of seven (7) bacteria species were isolated using streak plate techniques and they were identified using morphological characteristics, pigmentation on media, microscopy, biochemical and sugar fermentation methods and reveals the major bacterial isolates to be Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp, Bacillus spp, Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus, Kiebsiella spp, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study also revealed that Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently occurring isolates with a percentage occurrence of 14(27.5%), followed by Streptococcus spp 10(19.6%), Coagulase Negalive Staphylococcus 8(15.7%), Kiebsiella spp 7(13.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 6(11.8%), Bacillus spp 4(7.8%), and Escherichia coli 2(3.9%). However, Gram positive bacteria were found to occur more than Gram negative bacteria. Most skin flora bacteria are Gram positive which would account for their predominance on the hair brushes. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from the multiple used hair brush samples cultures showed that Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa had high percentage of susceptibility to the antibiotic drug Ceporex mcg), Ceftriaxone (10mcg) and Tarivid (10meg). The isolation of pathogenic bacteria from hair brushes in this study indicate that hair brushes in Hair Dressing and Beauty Salons could be colonized by pathogenic bacteria and can serve as vehicle of transmission of infectious diseases. Therefore, I recommend good hygiene practice such as cleaning and disinfecting the hair brushes and contaminated environmental surfaces to be adhered to by the barbers.