ABSTRACT

A total of sixty kitchen sponges were collected from the households in three major communities in Ikwuano L.G.A, Umuariaga, Amawom and Amaoba. The microorganisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coil, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergilius niger. The Total Heterotrophic Plate Count (THPC) ranged from 4.00-1.73 x 108 1.93 x i09cfu/ml with a mean of 8.02 x 108cfu!ml, 3.65 x 108 -1.86 x 109cfu/ml with a mean of 9.13 x 108 cfu/ml and4.65 x 108 1.93 x 109 cfu1m1 with a mean of 8.47 xl08 cfulml and Total Coliform Plate Count (TCPC) ranged from 3.60 x107-9.70 x108 cfu/ml with a mean of 6.11 x107 cfu/ml, 3.59 x107 — 1.06 x108 cfu/ml with a mean 6.70 xl07 cfulml and 3.55 x107 -1.01 x108cfu/rnl with a mean of 6.28 x107cfulrnl in the three locations respectively. Antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the isolates showed that Staphylococcus aureus was most sensitive to Ofloxacin (27.4mm) and Nitrofurantoin (21.0mm) while Escherichia coil was most sensitive to Ofloxacin (35.0mm) and Cotrirnoxazole (28.0mm). Pseudonionas aeruginosa showed the highest sensitivity to Ofloxacin (35.6mm) and most sensitive to Nalidixic acid (22.5mm). Based on the results, it was evident that kitchen sponges can be contaminated but there are some simple hygiene procedures which can significantly reduce the microbial contamination.