ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA FROM USED TOOTHBRUSH OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE STUDENTS IN ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (ABSUTH)

Toothbrushing is most common method of maintaining oral hygiene. In removing plaque and another soft debris from the teeth, toothbrushes become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva and oral debris. Used toothbrushes serve as reservoir for microorganisms and may play a major role in disease transmission. Isolation and characterization of bacteria from used toothbrushes of Medical Laboratory Science Students in ABSUTH was carried out. Fifty used toothbrushes obtained from Medical Students in ABSUTH comprising 25 males and 25 females were analyzed using standard microbiological techniques. The result shows that all the toothbrushes were contaminated with bacteria. The bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus was predominately isolated (28.8%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (26.9%), Streptococcus mutans (17.3%) and the least were Escherichia coli and Enterobactar aerogenes (13.5% respectively). Toothbrushes used for 5-6months had highest contamination (48.1%), followed by those used for 3-4months (34.6%) and the least contaminated were those used for 1-2months (17.3%). The difference was statistically significant (p