ABSTRACT

A total of 50 door handles of student toilets in Michael Okpara university of Agriculture Umudike. Toilet was randomly and analyzed using a sterile swab stick soaked with normal saline. The samples were examined for the presence of bacteria and fungi using nutrient agar, macconkey agar and sabouraud dextrose agar. Bacteria isolates recorded and identified include, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Proteus spp, Shigella spp, Klebsiella spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa while the fungal isolates include Candida spp, Pencillium spp, and Mucor spp. Staphylococcus aeureus was relatively abundant on the door handles than any other isolate. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was carried out and it was discovered they were more susceptible to Oflaxacin and more resistant to Septrin. Factors responsible for high level of contamination of door handles include sanitary conditions of the toilet, good handling practices and hygiene of toilet users.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTIFICATION i

DEDICATION ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

LIST OF TABLES viii

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.1 PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS 6

2.2 ORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH TOILET DOOR HANDLES 7

2.2.1 Staphylococcus aureus 7

2.2.2 Escherichia coli 8

2.2.3 Pseudomonas aeruginosa 8

2.2.4 Candida 9

2.2.5 Penicillium 10

2.2.6 Salmonella 10

2.2.7 Shigella 11

2.2.8 Klebsiella 11

2.2.9 Proteus 11

2.2.10 Mucor 12

2.3 THE NEED FOR IMPROVED SANITATION AND HYGIENE 12

2.4 EFFECTS OF POOR SANITATION 12

2.4.1 Health Effects 12

2.4.1.1 Diarrhea 13

2.4.1.2 Cholera 13

2.4.1.3 Typhoid 13

2.4.2 Environmental Effects 14

2.5 INTERVENTION TO IMPROVED SANITATION AND HYGIENE PRACTICES 

2.5.1 Hygiene Promotion 15

2.5.2 Cleaning Of Sanitation Facilities 15

2.5.3 Hand Washing 15

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 16

3.1 FIELD STUDY 16

3.2 SAMPLE COLLECTION 16

3.3 MEDIA PREPARATION

3.4 SPECIMEN INOCULATION AND ISOLATION 16

3.5 CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF ISOLATES 17

3.6 GRAM STAIN 17

3.7 BIOCHEMICAL TESTS 17

3.7.1 Catalase Test 17

3.7.2 Coagulase Test 18

3.7.3 Citrate Test 18

3.7.4 Motility, Indole and Urease Test 18

3.7.5 Oxidase Test 19

3.7.6 Triple Sugar Iron Test 19

3.8 IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGAL ISOLATES 19

3.9 ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY 19

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULTS 20

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 DISCUSSION 28

5.1 CONCLUSION 29

5.2 RECOMMENDATION 29

REFERENCES