Bacterial Contamination of Hands of Auxiliary Nursing Staff of Health Centre, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Hand swabs were obtained from eight auxiliary nurses in the Health Centre of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, on arrival and at close of work to compare the dynamics of bacterial hand contamination during routine care for students. A total of 111 isolates of four genera were isolated from the hand swabs on arrival and identified as Staphylococcus sp. (52.38%). Micrococcus sp. (23.81%). Citrobacter sp. (9.52%) and Pseudomonas sp. (14.28% while a total of 344 isolates of 10 genera were isolated from the hand swabs at close of work and identified as Proteus sp. (5.52%). Pseudomonas sp. (12.21%), Streptococcus sp. (3.48%), Citrobacter sp. (4.65%), Enterobacter sp (6.69%), Salmonella sp. (8.14%), Escherichia coli (9.59%), Klebsiella sp. (8.14%), Staphylococcus sp. (28.77%), and Micrococcus sp. (11.34%). There were additional 233 isolates and six genera as a result of contact with patients and inanimate objects in the health center which could result in nosocomial infection. Effective hand washing will remove much of the bacterial population, thereby preventing such infection as a result of cross contamination.

Keywords: Hand, swabs, nursing, contamination, infection, health center

Cite this Article

Ibrahim TA, Osaloni AR, Akenroye OM. Bacterial contamination of hands of auxiliary nursing staff of Health Centre, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Life Sciences. 2015; 5(3): 24-28p.