ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS FROM BARBER’S HAIR CLIPPERS IN UMUDIKE AND ITS ENVIRONS

ABSTRACT

This project work was conducted to isolate and identify the microbial contaminants on barbering clipper blades in Umudike and its environs. Twenty Samples were collected from 10 different barbering salons. The samples were collected using a moistened swab sticks and were analysed using standard microbiological procedures. The total bacterial count before and after decontamination of the clipper blades ranged from 6.8x106 to 1.43x107, while the fungal count ranged from 4.5x106-1.2x107. A two-tailed test of the sample means was carried out using the t-distribution to determine the efficacy of the commonly used sterilization technique, which was not significant at P<0.01. Four bacterial and six fungal species were isolated and identified. The four bacteria isolated include; Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus spp, while Microsporum audouinii, Microsporum canis, Rhizopus spp, Trichophyton spp, Mucor spp and Penicillium spp were the fungal isolates identified. The presence of these pathogens is an indication that barbering practice could be contributing to the spread of infection within Umudike and its environs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certification ﾿ i

Dedication ﾿ ii

Acknowledgements ﾿ iii

Table of Contents ﾿ iv

List of Tables ﾿ vii

Abstract ﾿ viii

Chapter One

1.1 ﾿ Introduction ﾿ 1

1.2 ﾿ Aim and Objection ﾿ 3

Chapter Two

2.1 ﾿ Literature Review ﾿ 4

2.2 ﾿ Scalp Infection ﾿ 5

2.2.1 ﾿ Tinea capitis (ringworm) ﾿ 5

2.2.2 ﾿ Dandruff and Seborrheic dermatitis ﾿ 6

2.3 ﾿ Folliculitis ﾿ 6

2.4 ﾿ Sycosis ﾿ 7

2.5 ﾿ Human Immunodefficiency Syndrome/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease

Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) ﾿ 7

2.6 ﾿ Impetigo ﾿            8

Chapter Three

3.0 ﾿ Materials and Methods ﾿     ﾿             9

3.1 ﾿ Collection of Samples ﾿             9

3.2 ﾿ Sterilization of Materials ﾿             9

3.3 ﾿ Media preparation ﾿             9

3.4 ﾿ Microbiological Analysis ﾿             9

3.4.1 ﾿ Preparation of Samples ﾿                                     9

3.4.2 ﾿ Identification of Bacterial Isolates ﾿             10

3.5 ﾿ Gram Staining ﾿     ﾿                       10

3.6 ﾿ Motility Test ﾿                                                 11

3.7 ﾿ Spore Staining ﾿                         11

3.8 ﾿ Biochemical tests ﾿             11

3. 8.1 ﾿ Catalase test ﾿             11

3. 8.2 ﾿ Coagulase test ﾿                         12

3. 8.3 ﾿ Oxidase test ﾿             12

 3. 8.4 ﾿ Citrate Utilization Test ﾿                         12

3. 8.5 Indole Test ﾿                         13

3. 8.6 Urease Test ﾿                         13

3. 8.7 Voges-Proskauer Test ﾿             13

3. 8.8 Methyl Red Test ﾿             14

3.9 ﾿ Identification of Fungal Isolates ﾿ 14

3.10 Statistical Analysis ﾿       ﾿            15

Chapter Four

4.0 ﾿ Result ﾿             16

Chapter Five

5.0 ﾿ Conclusion, Discussion and Recommendation ﾿             22

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿             23

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿             23

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿             24

Reference

LIST OF TABLES

Table ﾿ Title ﾿ Page ﾿

1 ﾿ The total Bacterial counts of various Barbers’ hair clippers

2 ﾿ The total fungal counts of various Barbers’ hair clippers ﾿ 18

3 ﾿ Characteristics of Bacteria isolates from Barber hair clippers in Umudike and its environs.

4 ﾿ Characteristics of fungi on media Sabouraud Dextrose Agar

5 ﾿ Percentage occurrence of bacterial and fungal isolates from the different barbering shops