BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF USED BATHROOM TOWELS OF STUDENTS LIVING IN EKOSODIN HOSTELS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF UNIBEN.

ABSTRACT

Bath towels have the ability to retain microbes, moist and warm environment offers microbes a favorable place to grow and survive. These microbes can be transmitted through direct contact with our hands and other inanimate objects within the environment. This study aimed at examining bacterial contamination of used towels. Used towels from male and female hostels at Ekosodin hostels, were assessed to determine their bacterial concentration. A total of twenty five (25) used towels were sampled, eight towels each from female and male hostels were sampled between  January and February 2022. The range of bacterial count was between 16.5 to 45.5 cfu/ml. Identification and characterization of bacterial isolates was carried out using standard cultural, morphological and biochemical methods. Pseudomonas spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Micrococcus spp, Serratia sp and Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus were identified as contaminants in the towel samples analyzed. Male and female towels sampled were all contaminated, but with no significant difference in the contamination rates.