Research Articles

2017  |  Vol: 2(2)  |  Issue: 2 (March-April)

Bacterial Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Isolates from Nails of Students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike

Kelechi M. Ukaegbu-Obi^*, Emmanuel  Enya,  Chisom C. Dimeke

Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, PMB 7267 Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.

 

*Corresponding author

Kelechi M. Ukaegbu-Obi

Department of Microbiology,

College of Natural Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, PMB 7267 Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. 

 

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Abstract

Objective: This study was carried out to isolate and identify the pathogenic bacteria associated with the finger nails (natural and artificial nails) of students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike as well as to ascertain the antimicrobial profile these isolates. Materials and methods: A total of hundred nail swabs were collected from artificial and natural finger nails of both male and female students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State. The finger nails were swabbed in two batches in the morning before lectures and later in the evening after lectures of the same participants respectively and analyzed for bacterial contamination. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out on all isolates. Results and conclusion: Proteus spp (5.06%), Klebsiella spp (11.4%) and Staphylococcus aureus (10.1%) were the most common bacteria isolated from artificial nails while Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.5%), Shigella spp (2.5%) was common bacterial isolated from natural nails. Analysis of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the bacterial isolates revealed that those from artificial fingernails were resistant to a good number of the antibiotics used. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were mostly resistant to all the antibiotics except Ofloxacin. This result indicated that finger nails are a possible reservoir of several bacteria and could be implicated in the spread of multiple drug resistant organisms.

Keywords: Antimicrobial susceptibility, Artificial nails, Bacterial profile, Antibiotics

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Introduction

Hand washing has long been recognized as an important procedure in preventing the transmission of disease (Larson, 2001). Investigations of food borne outbreaks have revealed that poor personal hygienic practices of food handlers have been a factor in transmitting causes for several outbreaks. Based on a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), poor personal hygiene of food handlers was responsible for about 36% of outbreaks from 1988 to 1992 (Medderwick et al., 2007). Even when hands are washed, microbes can still exist beneath fingernails. Higher populations of microorganisms (2 to 3 log¹⁰CFU/fingernail) frequently occur beneath nails and are often more difficult to remove than on other locations of hands (CDC, 2002). Fingernail length and texture also affect the efficiency of microbial removal from beneath nails. Long and polished nails generally harbor more microbes after hand washing than short and unpolished nails (Gupta et al., 2007). Hence, wearing artificial fingernails may be a factor influencing the efficacy of hand washing because artificial nails normally polished are usually longer than natural nails. Several studies have revealed that higher microbial populations are recovered from artificial nails than natural nails (Hedderwick et al., 2007). Effective hand washing methods to remove microbes from artificial or natural fingernails are essential in preventing disease transmission via finger nails.

The hands are the parts of the human body that are in most contact with the outside world. People use their hands for a variety of activities every day. It is extremely easy to come in contact with different microbes and to transfer them to other objects and maybe even people. Surprisingly, fingernails harbor the most bacteria found on the human hands (Brannon, 2004). Fingernails are increasingly being viewed as a major concern in many health related issues because of the capability to harbor many varieties of microorganisms. Hence finger nails play important roles in the transmission of different diseases either mechanically or biologically.

Cases of nail infections among University undergraduates especially female students have been on the increase in recent times.

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify the pathogenic bacteria associated with the finger nails (natural and artificial nails) of students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike as well as to ascertain the antimicrobial profile these isolates.

Materials and methods

Streak plate method was employed in this study. The swab stick used to swab the finger nails were streaked on the surface of the prepared media Nutrient agar, Mannitol salt agar (MSA) and MacConkey Agar (MA). They were incubated at 37°C for 24hours. After the 24 hours, the colonies formed were enumerated. Distinct colonies were sub-cultured and stored in slants at 4°C for biochemical tests and antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing

The antibiotic susceptibility test was done for the isolated bacteria. It was done to know the ability of the antibiotics to inhibit the isolated microorganism and to know its ability to resist Antibiotics. The gram negative disc and gram positive disc were used against the bacterial isolates according to their gram reaction. Commercial antibiotics discs used in the study

included Tetracycline (30µg), Gentamicin (l0µg), Cefoxime (30µg) Ceftazidine (l0µg), Ofloxacin(10µg), Ceftriazone (l0µg). Septrin (30µg) and Augmentin (30µg). They were incubated at 37°C for 24hours. The sensitivity was interpreted according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.

Results

A total of hundred finger nails were swabbed, cultured and analysed. The nails analysed comprises of 68 natural finger nails and 32 artificial finger nails, collected from both male (48) and female (52) students of Michel Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike during the morning hours before lectures and later in the evening after lectures. Out of the 100 finger nails analysed, 100% gave positive result for bacterial growth when cultured on growth media. The bacterial isolates were identified on the basis of their colonial morphology, Gram and biochemical characteristics. The organisms isolated include; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp, Proteus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp, Bacillus spp, Shigella spp and Salmonella spp. The relative abundance of the bacterial isolates was significantly higher in those got from artificial finger nails of students and showed greater bacterial diversity.

Cultures of finger nail swab done showed Staphylococcus aureus to be resistant in varying degrees to all the antibiotics except Ofloxacin which inhibited 54.55% of the total Staphylococcus aureus isolates.

Table 1. Antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial isolates from the finger nails of MOUAU

 

 

Discussion

The study showed that a human finger nail harbors a broad diversity of pathogenic microorganism. However, this was more pronounced in cases of artificial fingernails (majority of which were long nail). The high prevalence of the pathogenic bacteria in the fingernails of student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike shows public health concern and risk not only to students community as these organisms can be transmitted from one person to another through diverse means. The bacteria isolated from finger nails were public health important organisms.

The bacteria isolated from these finger nails included Bacillus spp, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus spp, Shigella spp, Salmonella spp, Klebsiella spp. The bacteria genera isolated from artificial nails were more than that of natural nails.

Sixty percent (60%) of the organisms isolated were found to be Gram negative and forty percent (40%) were Gram positive organisms. The presence of Gram negative bacteria in finger nail may explain contamination of feacal matter. This agrees with the findings of Dagnewt et al., (2013).

The frequency of bacterial genera isolated was more in artificial nail than natural nail. Escherichia coli had the highest frequency (12.7%) in both artificial and natural nail followed by Klebsiella (11.4%) the least occurring organism in artificial nails were Salmonella. Streptococcus spp were not isolated from natural nails.

The detection of Staphylococcus aureus from fingernails of students may pose significant health risk as these organisms produces enterotoxins that cause food poisoning. The presence of Salmonella spp can also lead to food poisoning as many of the students have the habit buying and sharing food and food materials on campus without washing their hands.

The result of antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates showed that Staphylococcus aureus isolates were mostly resistant to all the antibiotics except Ofloxacin. Gentamicin showed highest inhibitory activity on Salmonella spp (100%) followed by Pseudomonas (15%) Bacillus spp (63.6%), Escherichia coli (62.5%), Proteus (50%) and Klebsiella spp (50%) while Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus spp were resistant to it (Table 1). Augmentin had a high inhibitory activity on Shigella (80%) Salmonella (50%) while Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus spp were resistant (0.0%). Ceftriazone showed high inhibitory activity on Escherichia coli (75%) Proteus spp (75%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus spp (54.5%) Salmonella (50%) while Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp, Shigella spp, Klebsiella spp, (0.0%) were resistant to it.

Ofloxacin had high inhibitory activity on Proteus spp (75%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (75%), Staphylococcus aureus (15%) Staphylococcus epidermidis (100%). While Klebsiella spp, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Streptococcus spp were resistant to Oflatoxin. Septrine, Cefixime, and Ceftazidine had low inhibitory activity on the test organisms. Tetracycline had little or no inhibitory activity on all the bacterial isolates.

Conclusion

The study has so far established that unkept finger nails posses a severe health risk as finger nails can serve as medium for transmitting of many pathogenic organisms, it is therefore pertinent to educate all and sandy in the danger inherent in keeping artificial nails and/or poor hand washing practices.

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