*Osungunna, M. O., Rotimi-Owolabi, O. S., Akinwumi, F. O., and Onifade, D. I.
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: mowole@oauife.edu.ng; Phone: 2348051542596
Abstract:
Background: Infections associated with the use of contaminated public toilets and the control of such infections are a major challenge especially with the high prevalence of substandard toilet cleaning agents in the Nigerian market. The study aimed to determine bacterial isolates contaminating public toilet seats and their susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics, and to assess in vitro antimicrobial activity of selected toilet cleaning agents commercially available in the Nigerian market.
Methodology: Swab samples were collected from 50 randomly selected toilet seats from three designated areas in Obafemi Awolowo University campus, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Bacteria were isolated and identified using conventional culture and biochemical identification test scheme. Susceptibility of the isolates to conventional antibiotics was determined by the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method and interpreted as resistant, intermediate or susceptible using the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guidelines. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of selected toilet cleaning agents was evaluated using the agar well diffusion technique, with 1% cetrimide as the standard positive control.
Results: A total of 90 bacteria were isolated from the 50 toilet seats with a frequency of Bacillus spp (33.3%, n=30), Escherichia coli (23.3%, n=21), Staphylococcus aureus (15. 6%, n=14), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8. 9%, n=8), Micrococcus luteus (3.3%, n=3), Enterococcus faecalis (3.3%, n=3), Salmonella typhi (2.2%, n=2), Proteus vulgaris (2.2%, n=2), Staphylococcus epidermidis (2.2%, n=2), Shigella sonnei (1.1%, n=1), Enterobacter aerogenes (1.1%, n=1), Staphylococcus intermedius (1.1%, n=1), Proteus mirabilis (1.1%, n=1), and Serratia marcescens (1.1%, n=1). Majority of the isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Susceptibility to ciprofloxacin antibiotic was the highest, while all the isolates were susceptible to all the toilet cleaning agents evaluated when compared to 1% cetrimide used as the standard positive control.
Conclusion: The study showed that toilet seats harbor pathogenic bacteria with varying susceptibilities to antibiotics and toilet cleaning agents.
Keywords: Toilet seats; Toilet cleaning agents; Bacteria; Antimicrobial activity; Susceptibility
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