Microbial Analysis and Antibiogram of Workers Clothes from Building Construction Sites in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A

Abstract

The microbial assessment and antibiogram of workers clothes at building construction sites was carried out. Swabbed samples of clothes worn by workers were collected at building construction site in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A. The samples were analyzed following standard microbiological procedures. Antibiogram of the bacterial isolates was carried out using standard antibiotics for Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The results obtained revealed the isolation of five bacterial and four fungal species from the samples. The bacterial count was high in sample D (262 Cfu/cm²) followed by sample E (202 Cfu/cm²), sample A (96 Cfu/cm²), sample B (88 Cfu/cm²) and sample C (63 Cfu/cm²). The bacterial species isolated were; Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp. and Streptococcus sp. The percentage occurrence of the bacterial isolates were; Klebsiella sp. (18.7%), Pseudomonas sp. (20.0%), Staphylococcus sp. (22.2%), Bacillus sp. (22.5%) and Streptococcus sp. (16.6%).  Total fungal counts was high in sample A (17 Cfu/cm²), followed by sample C and D (14 Cfu/cm²), sample B (11 Cfu/cm²) and then sample A (10 Cfu/cm²). Fungal isolates were; Aspergillus sp., Candida sp., Penicillium sp. and  Trichophyton sp. Among the fungal isolates, Aspergillus sp. was the most occurring isolate with percentage occurrence of 31.8%, followed by Candida sp. (25.8%), Penicillium sp. (24.2%) and then Trichophyton sp. (18.2%). Antibiotics susceptibility profile of bacteria showed that 85 % of the bacterial isolates were sensitive to the commonly used antibiotics. The presence of bacterial and fungal isolates on the workers clothe samples is an indication of potential risk of bacterial and fungal infections pose to the workers. However, the antibiogram points to the efficacy of the antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections that may arise due to the repeated wearing of the work clothe at building construction sites.  Workers at building construction sites should practice good personal hygiene and ensures that their work clothes are washed on daily basis and disinfected before being use again. However, in case of bacterial infection, the effective antibiotic should be used for treatment.