ABSTRACT

 This work was conducted to determine the microbial species associated with human palms and their antibiotics sensitivity. The hand swabs were collected from Ten (10) students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike and were processed to isolate bacterial and fungi species using standard techniques. Their sensitivity to antibiotics was also determined. The Bacteria and fungi isolated from the samples were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Shigella species, Proteus mirabilis, klebsiella species, Aspergillus niger, Asper gillus flavus, and Candida albicans. They were identified based on their colonial morphologies, Gram staining, motility and biochemical tests. The total bacterial counts of samples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 were 1.34 x 10, 1.03 x 10°,0.71 x 10°, 1.16 x 10°,2.23 x 0, 1.10 x 10, 1.52 x 10, 2.04 x 10, 1.12 x 10°, and 1.01 x 10°, cfu/g respectively. The total fungal counts of 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10 were 0.42 x 10°,0.92 x 10°,0.18 x 10°, 0.84 x 10°, 0.30 x 10°, 1.02 x 10°, and 1.21 x 10P, cfu/g respectively. The antibiotics used for the susceptibility testing were Septrin (SXT), Ciprofloxaxin (CPX), Ampiclox (APX), Gentamycin (CN), Amoxicillin (AMX), Streptomycin (s), Erythromycin (E), Chloramphenicol (CH), Augumentin {AU), and Ofloxacin (OFX). Their Zone of inhibitions (in milimetre). Staphylococcus spp and Salmonella spp were resistance to Erythromycin (E), Chloramphenicol (CH), Klesiella species and Escherichia coli were resistance to Amoxicillin. streptococcus spp were resistance to erythromycin (E), chloramphenicol (CH), Augumentin (AU), and Ofloxacin (OFX) while Shigella species and Proteus mirabilis were resistance to Ampiclox (APX), Amoxicillin (AMX) and Chloramphenicol (CH). Various kinds of microorganisms are easily contacted from the environment and the hands can be the most important means of which pathogenic microorganisms are transmitted. Appropriate hygiene and public enlightenment of the hands in the spread of diseases should be advocated.