Title: A Study on Prevalence of Hand Flora of School Going Children from Eastern Part of India
Authors: Binay Kumar Singh, Siyavar Sharan, Haribansh Kumar Singh, Rohit Kumar, Nitesh Kumar Jaiswal
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i7.33
Abstract
Contaminated hands play a major role in transmission of diarrheal and acute respiratory illness. However, both the illness is self-limiting, but can be fatal in some of the cases if not treated properly on time. Normally human skin support the growth of commensal microbial flora, which helps to prevent the growth of pathogenic organism directly and indirectly mechanism. Many studies have suggested that hand washing before meal will reduce the risk of transmission of disease through fecal-oral route. Present study was laboratory based observational study, which were conducted in department of microbiology, PMCH, Dhanbad. Hand swab of school going children were collected just before the lunch. Swabs were inoculated in nutrient broth and subculture were done on blood agar and MacConkey agar. A total of 200 hands wabs were collected, which includes 100 male and 100 female children. It was observed that 41.5% of samples were positive for pathogenic organism. Most common pathogen, which were isolated was Staphylococcus aureus seen in 36% of children followed by Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, and Klebsiella species, which were seen in 17%, 14%, 13% and 8% respectively. Whereas among the commensal organism gram positive bacilli were isolated in 29% of samples followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (24%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (17%), Micrococcus species (12%), Enterococcus species (7%). Hand of male children were more contaminated compare to female children. It was found the hand of the most of the school going children was contaminated. Importance of hand washing and proper sanitation must be taught to school going children as well as community. School must ensure the availability of soap and water in school.
Keywords: Hand swabs, Children, Pathogen and Commensal.
