ABSTRACT
The microorganisms associated with commercial passengers door handles in Benin City, Edo State was investigated. A total of 50 car door handles in Benson Idahosa University Legacy Campus, Forestry bus Park, Third bus park, Ikpoba hill bus park and Ekenwan bus park were sampled using sterile moist swab stick. The bacteria count range were BIU (2cfu/cm2 to 200 cfu/cm2), Forestry (1 cfu/cm2 to 190 cfu/cm2), Third (9 cfu/cm2 to 189 cfu/cm2), Ikpoba hill (27 cfu/cm2 to 220 cfu/cm2) and Ekenwan (23 cfu/cm2 to 200 cfu/cm2). The coliform counts range were BIU (1 cfu/cm2 to 30 cfu/cm2), Forestry (52 cfu/cm2 to 200 cfu/cm2), Third (1 cfu/cm2 to 152 cfu/cm2) and Ikpoba hill (16 cfu/cm2 to 81 cfu/cm2). The Salmonella counts range were BIU (1 cfu/cm2 to 2 cfu/cm2), Forestry (25 cfu/cm2 to 200 cfu/cm2), Third (0 cfu/cm2 to 14 cfu/cm2), Ikpoba hill (15 cfu/cm2 to 200 cfu/cm2) and Ekenwan (9 cfu/cm2 to 200 cfu/cm2). The Staphylococcus counts range were BIU (1 cfu/cm2 to 14 cfu/cm2), Forestry (1 cfu/cm2 to 51 cfu/cm2), Third (1 cfu/cm2 to 192 cfu/cm2), Ikpoba hill (4 cfu/cm2 to 54 cfu/cm2) and Ekenwan (4cfu/cm2 to 220cfu/cm2). Identification of the bacteria isolates based on morphological, cultural and biochemical test revealed that the bacteria belong to the genus and species of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp , Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus sp , Proteus sp and Micrococcus species. Frequency distribution of the bacterial isolates showed that 37.3% was Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp (21.3%), Escherichia coli (24%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4%), Bacillus sp (2.7%), Proteus sp (4%) and Micrococcus sp (6.7%). Antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the isolates determined by disc diffusion methods revealed that all the bacterial isolates were sensitive to Augmentin. Staphylococcus aureus was resistant to Ceftazime and Nitrofurantum (21.43%), Cefuroxime (14.29%), Gentamycin (25%), Cefixime (17.86%), Ofloxacin (3.57%), Nitrofurantum (21.43%), Ciprofloxacin (28.57%). Salmonella sp was resistant to Ceftazidme, Cefuroxime, Cefixime and Nitrofurantum (18.75%), Gentamycin (31.25%), Ofloxacin (12.5%). Escherichia coli was resistant to Ceftazime, Gentamycin and Nitrofurantum (22.22%), Cefuroxime and Ciprofloxacin (33.33%), Cefixime (11.11%), Ofloxacin (16.67). Pseudomonas aureginosa was resistant to Ceftazime, Cefixime and Ciprofloxacin (33.33%), Nitrofurantum (22.22%). Bacillus sp was only resistant to Ceftazime (50%). Proteus sp was resistant to Ceftazime, Cefuroxime and Nitrofurantum (33.33%). Micrococcus sp was resistant to Ceftazime, Cefuroxime and Gentamycin (40%), Cefixime (20%). The results of this study revealed the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria on the door handles of public transportation vehicles.
