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Abstract
Bath towels are woven pieces of fabric either cotton or cotton-polyester that are used to absorb moisture on the body after bathing. Towels are a prime location for germs, and they can be picked up by contact with wet skin. The aim of this research work is to isolate, identify, and evaluate the pathogenicity and antibiotics sensitivity pattern of bacterial contaminations from individual bath towels of students from the University of Benin, Ugbowo Benin city and their harmful consequence to public health. Bath towels have the ability to retain microbes, moist and warm environment offers microbes a favorable place to grow and survive. These microbes can be transmitted through direct contact with our hands and other inanimate objects within the environment. This study aimed at examining bacterial contamination of used towels. Used towels from female hostels Hall 3 in the University of Benin Ugbowo campus, were assessed to determine their bacterial concentration. A total of sixteen (45) used towels were sampled. Identification and characterization of bacterial isolates was carried out using standard cultural, morphological and biochemical methods. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella boydii, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Bacillus sp., Staphyloccus aureus and Micrococcus luteus. were identified as contaminants in the towel samples analyzed. The number of colony counts across all samples ranged from 45.5±0.71 to 5±1.41. Staphyloccus aureus showed the highest resistance to antibiotics, resisting all the antibiotics it was tested against. Also, Escherichia coli was resistant to Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin and Erythromycin. Other isolates showed varying resistances patterns to the test antibiotics. Staphyloccus aureus showed the highest Multi Resistance Antibiotics Index (MARI) at 0.88. Micrococcus luteus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa both had a MARI of 0.77. The lowest MARI was recorded by Salmonella sp at 0.44. The high prevalence of diverse bacterial species is worrisome considering the epidemiology and clinical importance of the isolates, compounded by antimicrobial resistance and high mortality rate. Hence, there is need to enforce and improve hygiene practice among students. Frequent washing of towels and use of medicated soaps and disinfectants in bathing and washing water is hereby canvassed.
