Microbiological Assessment Of Female Second-Hand Undergarments Sold In Abraka, Nigeria

Abstract

Second-hand female undergarments sold in Abraka, Nigeria, were analyzed for bacteria and fungi using standard methods. Bacteria isolated were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests and analyzed for Multi-Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Microbial load of samples revealed lower counts in control (new undergarments (Pants and bras)) – 2 x 102, 5.5 x 103 and 0.5 x 102cfu//ml; counts for fairly used pants were 4.6 x 104, 3.7 x 104 and 3.2 x 102 cfu/ml while fairly used bras were 2.7 x 103, 4.8 x 104 and 1.5 x 102 cfu/ml for total aerobic counts(TAC), coliform counts (CC) and fungal counts (FC) respectively. Among the bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus spp, Bacillus spp, Escherichia spp, Klebsiella spp and Pseudomonas spp. Fungi isolated were Trichoderma spp, Geotrichum spp, Rhizopus spp, Trichophyton spp, Fusarium spp, Penicillium spp and Aspergillus spp. The highest frequencies of occurrence were recorded for Klebsiella spp and Pseudomonas spp with each accounting for 20.7% of the bacteria isolated. Rhizopus spp, on the other hand, had the highest prevalence (30.8%) among isolated fungi. In respect to sample types, second hand pants were found to be most colonized by microorganisms as they accounted for 43% and 53% of the isolated bacteria and fungi respectively. Bacillus spp isolated from fairly used bras generally presented resistance to antibiotics with MAR index values of 0.4-0.7. All gram positive bacteria isolated were resistant to amoxicillin. Escherichia spp isolates from second pants were resistant to septrin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, streptomycin, cotrimoxazole and sparfloxacin. However, fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin) were most effective against isolated bacteria with 100% susceptibility recorded. The isolation of fungi and MAR bacteria are of public health concern and suggest the need for proper laundry of second hand clothes prior to use.