Abstract

PUBLIC CONTACT SURFACES: POSSIBLE MEANS OF DISEASE RE-EMERGENCE (A CASE STUDY OF COMMERCIAL TRICYCLES (KEKE) PLYING FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NEKEDE AXIS)

Anyanwu C. N.*, Ihejieto H. A., Kalu M. U. and ODU D. A.

Abstract

Public contact surfaces frequently touched with hands act as vehicles of disease transmission. This study aimed at isolation, identification and evaluation of frequency in occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms present on the railings of tricycles plying Federal polytechnic Nekede axis. Fifteen (15) swab samples of the internal railings were analyzed using standard microbiological procedures. A total number of Nine (9) different organisms were isolated and identified based on cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. The total viable counts ranged from 1.0×106 to 10.4×107. Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida albicans were the most frequent of all the isolates. Sensitivity tests of the isolates showed different levels of susceptibility and resistance to selected antibiotics. The study revealed that commercial tricycle railings which usually provide support for passengers on board were contaminated with known pathogenic bacteria and fungi some of which were highly resistant to some commonly used antibiotics. Based on these findings, this study therefore, suggests that commercial tricycle railings are potential means of possible transmission of some medically important pathogens which may lead to the emergence or re-emergence of deadly infectious disease outbreaks.

Keywords: Tricycle, keke, railings, disease re-emergence.