Abstract

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Objects such as door handles, mobile phones, pens, often touched with hands can act as vectors of microbial pathogens. The aim of this study was to isolate, identify and evaluate the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacterial contaminants from door handles in Michael Okpara University of agriculture, Umudike.A total of one hundred door handles randomly scattered within the university campus of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) were swabbed and analyzed for bacterial contamination. Samples collected were cultured and incubated at 37°C for 24 hrs. Isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens was done by standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was done by disc diffusion technique.A total of one hundred and thirty (130) bacteria were isolated in this study, they E. are; Enterococcus feacalis 6(4.8%), Coagulase negative Staphylococcus(CoaNS)28(21.2%), Streptococcus spp 22(16.6%), Klebsiella spp 3(2.2%), Bacillus spp 22(16.6%), coli 4(3.0%), Proteus mirabilis 4(3.0%), Proteus vulgaris 6(4.6%), Pseudomonasaeruginosa 2(1.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus 33(25.0%). Ofloxacin, Peflacine, and Ceftriaxone were effective against the bacteria and exhibited encouraging results while Cotrimoxazole was resistant to most isolates. The spread of microorganism and prevention of infection from door handles can be minimized by thorough hand washing and use of hand sanitizer as well as daily washing and cleaning of restrooms and canteens with disinfectants.

Keywords: Door handles, Bacterial isolates, antibiotic susceptibility.