Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles and Bacteriological Risks Associated With Used Toothbrushes: A Case Study of Some Apparently Healthy University Students in Southwestern Nigeria
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Date
2013-07-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Research Institute for Policy Development
Abstract
Toothbrushes play a significant role in disease
transmission and increase the risk of infection
since they serve as reservoirs for
microorganisms in healthy, oral-diseased and
medically ill adults. Investigation was carried
out on the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of
bacteria isolated from used toothbrushes. Thirty
toothbrushes used for at least 5 weeks by thirty
University students were collected. Heads of the
brushes were soaked in 10 ml of sterile tryptone
soya broth (TSB) and agitated by vortex mixing.
The bacterial suspension was serially diluted.
Plate count agar, MacConkey agar and
Mannitol salt agar media were used for the
isolation of non-fastidious bacteria, coliforms
and staphylococci, respectively, employing the
spread plate technique. Biochemical
characterization of isolates was carried out
using standard methods. Survival ability of
bacterial contaminants on the used toothbrushes
was also investigated at the 24th hr, 72nd hr and
144th. The disk diffusion method was employed
for the determination of the antimicrobial
susceptibility profiles of the bacterial isolates.
Seven genera of microorganisms were
encountered and these include Staphylococcus,
Escherichia, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc and Proteus.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa was most prevalent as
shown by mean total plate count of 5.0 x 102
CFU ml-1 while E. coli had the lowest prevalence
(1.2 x 102 CFU ml-1). It was discovered that S.
aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli and Proteus sp all
survived at 144th hr indicating high survival
ability, while Lactobacillus sp only survived at
24th hr. There were variations in the
susceptibility patterns of the isolates to the
various antibiotics. It was determined that 62.5%
of the isolates showed susceptibility; twenty
percent (20%) of isolates were intermediately
susceptible and the remaining 17.5% were
resistant. It was concluded that most bacterial
isolates from toothbrushes were susceptible to
antibiotics but the percentage resistant should be
of great concern as it poses high health risk and
may generate the spread of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria within the family and beyond.
Organisms such as some members of the
enterobacteriaceae which are not normally
associated with oral flora isolated from used
toothbrushes investigated in this study should
also be of interest.
Description
Staff Publication
Keywords
Bacteria,, toothbrush,, risk,, antibiotic,, susceptibility,, health.
Citation
Bello, O., Osho, A., & Bello, T. (2013). Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles and Bacteriological Risks Associated With Used Toothbrushes: A Case Study of Some Apparently Healthy University Students in Southwestern Nigeria. American International Journal of Biology 1(1); 01-12