ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA AND FUNGI FROM BARBING CLIPPERS IN BARBING SALONS
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to evaluate bacterial and fungal contamination in barbing clippers in barbing salons. Nine samples were collected from clippers and processed according to standard procedures. The isolates obtained were examined and identified using microscopic examination, colonal morphology and biochemical characteristics. Five bacterial and five fungal species were isolated and identified. The bacterial isolate includes Staphylococcus aureus specie, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter, Micrococcus, and Streptococcus species. The fungal isolates were Aspergillus species, Penicillium species, Mucor species, Rhizopus specie and Candida species. The presence of these potential pathogens is an indication that barbing clipers or equipment could be contributing to the spread of infections in the study area.
Barbers are important professionals in the community. Barbers shop are owned and managed by individuals in the community. The establishments of barbing salons in our locality have been on the increase. Majority are owned and controlled by people with little or no training and knowledge on infection controlled practices. Researchers have shown the possibility of customers returning home with one infection or the other despite the aesthetics in barbing industry (Kondo M, Nakano N, Shiraki Y). Barbing shops are personal service establishments and such service may pose potential health concerns to their clients including the risk of infections and sometimes injury (Adeleye and Osidipo, 2004; Barn and Chen, 2011). These health risk vary depending on the nature of the service, the tools and equipment that are used (knives, blades, clippers, brushes and combs), the health status of the clients and service providers as well as the infection control procedures implemented. Infection can occur during hair barbing procedures since items such as razor, scissors, combs, and clippers can accidentally penetrate the skin. Injuries gotten from these tools are clearly associated with bacteria, viral and fungal infection risks (stout et al; 2011). These infections can be transmitted to and between clients if proper infection control procedures are not implemented because blood and body fluids do not have to be visible on instruments, equipment or working surfaces for injection to be transmitted. Infections that can be spread in the barbing salons include skin infection on the scalp, face and neck such as fungal infections; Tineacapitis and ringworm (Brown, 2006: Amodio et al., 2010;Barn and Chen, 2011). Microorganisms are continually introduced into the environment and could therefore, be easily spread between clients and operators by contact with unwashed hands soiled equipment or contact with blood and other body substance (De souza and Shibu, 2004). The human hair is one part of our body that is always exposed to environmental pollutants. Barbers use equipment which are always contaminated after some customer usage. Their sterilization method includes disinfecting and flaming. Some of the materials used are never sterilized, while some are sterilized, but the sterilization efficacy is questionable since customers still get infected after salon visits. Factors affecting disease transmission are personal hygiene, overcrowding, and low socioeconomic status. Shed hairs may harbor infectious fungal agents up to a year. Eradication is difficult due to common asymptomatic carriers (Pai VV, Hanumanthayyak, Tophakhane RS, Nandihal NN, kikkeri NS). Barbering operations are still under little or no scrutiny despite the possible risk of spreading infectious diseases (Ayanbimpe GM, Taghir H, Diya A). Fungal disorders are emerging significant infections in the world (WHO, 2005). In recent years, they have become an important clinical condition that deserves public health attention because of the fact that some of them are potentially harmful to human health (Anbu, 2004; Ganaie 2010) Deshmukh, 20110; Lee et al., 2011). Keratinophilic fungi are usually isolated from the soil and from the keratinous tissues such as the skin, hair and nails (Shukia et al, 2003). Bacteria on the other hand were known to reside in the hair follicles, in which 85% of the bacteria population if found in the superficial layer of the skin and hair follicles (Lange-Asschenyeldt et al., 2011). The human hair is also a reservoir of bacteria including Staphylococcus intermedius and coagulase negative Staphylococci (Mase et al., 2000), and Staphylococcus aureus (Jappe, 2003).
1.2 AIM
Due to recurrent cases of infections as to result of barbing clippers or equipment, this research work is aimed at investigating fungi and bacteria associated with barber’s equipment.
1.3 Objectives
- To determine the fungal and bacterial contamination of barbing clippers
- To evaluate which of the equipment serves as vehicle for transmitting infections.
1.4 Statement of Problem
The scalp, like skin anywhere on the body, is prone to infections from many different types of infectious agents. Fungal and bacterial infections are by far the most common. The scalp is in fact more at risk of an infection at times. A combination of factors like unwashed hair, over reactive oil glands, harsh hair treatments, perspiration and so on may increase the risk of infections of fungal organisms such as dermatophytes(ringworm) and yeasts, bacterial organisms such as scalp folliculitis (associated with scalp acne), e.t.c.
1.5 Justification of the Study
The justification of this study is to ensure that barbing tools / equipment are well sterilized and disinfected before use to avoid transmission of diseases.
1.6 Limitation of the Study
This research work is limited to the isolation and identification of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) present in barbing equipment.