BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF HANDKERCHIEFS USED BY MEDICAL STUDENTS IN ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

ABSTRACT Handkerchief can serve as an incubator for pathogens and also serve as a vehicle for the transmission of infectious diseases if not handled properly. Despite the dangers associated with improper use of handkerchief,very few studies exist on the topic.Bacterial contamination of handkerchiefs used by medical students in Abia State University Teaching Hospital,Aba was investigated.Used Handkerchief samples of 50 medical students in ABSUTH comprising twenty-five male and twenty-five female within the age range 21-28 years were analysed using standard microbiological methods.Three bacterial species were isolated and identified they were Staphylococcus aureus. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species.Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated(75.6%)followed by Escherichia coli(14.6%)and Klebsiella species(9.8%).Of the variables examined,handkerchiefs from age group 24-26years were more contaminated (53.6%)followed by that from age group 21-23years(24.4%)and age group >26years(22.0%).The difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05)the handkerchiefs from females were more contaminated(53.7%)than that from males(46.3%).The difference was also not statistically significant (p>0.05).The antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out using 10 different antibiotics.The bacterial isolates were more sensitive to Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin.High resistance was noted for Augmentin,Ampicillin,Nalidixic acid and Ceporex.This study reveals that the handkerchiefs of medical students were moderately contaminated with pathogens of public health importance.The presence of these microbes on the used handkerchief has been traced to poor hygiene practices by students. Therefore,handkerchief should not be used more than a day and students with flu should have separate handkerchief for controlling the flow of the flu and another for wiping sweat off their faces.