– Isolation of Fungi From The Hands Of Primary School Pupils –
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ABSTRACT
Children are predisposed to fungal skin infection and ill health from dirty hands which they use for their feeding and daily activities.
This study focuses on isolating and identifying fungal organisms from the hands of primary school pupils and to determine the microbial load of the sample. The samples were collected under aseptic conditions and analyzed microbiologically.
The streaking process was carried out on Sabouraud dextrose agar to isolate the fungal organisms present in the swab samples. The result of the direct plate count showed that the total number of isolates recorded was 33.
Macroscopic and microscopic observation of the fungal organisms were done to identify morphological and structural appearance of the fungal growth and spores.
Test such as germ tube test was done for further identification of yeasts. A total of 30 isolates of 4 genera were identified as follows; Candida, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichophyton.
Aspergillius spp had the highest percentage occurrence of 40% while Candida spp had the lowest percentage occurrence of 15%.
Washing of hands reduces the load of the fungal organisms, hence, I strongly recommend that hand washing facilities which include soap, disinfectant and clean water be provided for school children to maintain good hand washing practices as to reduce disease occurrence.
Also the school management should ensure that children are taught how to wash their hands properly.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Approval Page iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Abstract vi
Table of Content vii
List of Tables x
Introduction 1
Literature Review 4
Materials and Methods 14
Result 18
Discussion 20
Conclusion and recommendation 21
References 22
Appendix 23
INTRODUCTION
The hand is the multi-fingered extremity at the end of the arm, it is a grasping organ at the end of the forelimb of certain vertebrates that exhibits great mobility and flexibility in the digits and in the whole organ.
It is one means by which humans have changed the world by creating gigantic buildings and machines, tiny electronics and are capable of a wide variety of functions, including gross and fine motor and it is important for intrapersonal and interpersonal transfer of microorganisms.
School children are predisposed to fungal infections due to exposure to soil, the school building, the external environment such as the playground and through inconsistent hand washing.
Hence, fungal organisms come in contact with the hands of these children and if not properly taken care of through washing could lead to other primary infections.
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with membrane bound nucleus, well differentiated apparatus and a cell wall, hence not typical eukaryotic organisms.
They are much larger than bacteria, the vegetative cells being 2-10 µm in diameter (Prescott et al., 1999). All fungi are heterotrophic and most of them are saprobes.
Some can also be parasites on living animals or plants although very few fungi absolutely require a living host (Kathleen 2005). They replicate sexually by fusion of gametes and asexually by spore formation, and exist in macroscopic or microscopic forms (Prescott et al., 1999).
REFERENCES
Chaga A. K and Sushil, P. (2007) Methods of specimen collection for diagnoses of superficial and subcutaneous infections. Indian Journal of Dermatology, 73: pp.202-205.
Chepchirchir A. Bii C. and Ndinya J.O (2009) fungi infection infections in primary school children in Kibera slums of Nairobi East African Medical Journal, 86 no. 2 pp. 67- 70 .
Cohen, J. and Powdery, W. G. I (2004) Infectious diseases. Mosby Edinburgh London NewYork vol.1 pp.173—179, vol. 2 pp 2341-2353.
Dubey, R. C. and Maheshwari, D. K. (2006) A text book of microbiology. Revised edition , S. Chand and company ltd pp. 49- 53.
Forbes, B.A., Sahm, F.D. and Weissfeld, S.A. (2002). Diagnostic microbiology. 11th edition. Mosby international pp. 711-788.
Mandell, G. L., Bennet, J. E. and Dolin, R. (2000). Principles and practice of infectious diseases. 5th edition vol.2 Churchill living stone pp. 2656-2781.
Murray, P.R., Rosentahal, K.S. and Pfaller, M.A. (2005). Medical microbiology.5th edition Elsevier mosby pp. 709- 8
Oranusi, S., Dahunsi, S.O., Owoso, O. O. and Olatile, T. (2013).Microbial profile of Hands, foods, easy contact surfaces and food contact surfaces: A case study of a University Campus in Ota, Ogun state Nigeria. International Journal of Research in Biological Sciences, 2(1): 30-34.17.
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