Evaluation of Some cleaning Products in Local Market in Reducing microbial Contamination of Hands

Abstract

A study was carried on samplS including 20 students from Department of Biology ,College of Science for Women , University of Babylon for the year 2008-2009 to detec microorganisms on hands of students during the academic performance of their duties and efficiency of hand washing with cleaning products plain soap , antiseptic soap ,Dettol and alcohol available in the local markets on the numbers of colony forming units (CFUs) of identified microorganisms and frequency it on 20 students . Results showed that several microorganisms were isolated from the hands before hand washing , Streptococcus pyogenes most frequency among the individuals of sample following Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus sp. and S. epidermis respectively , also observed some but not all individuals were carried Bacillus sp. and yeasts on skin of their hands , therefore the frequency of it are little. After handwashing with alcohol treatment caused reduction of percentage of frequency for all identified microorganisms more than other treatments. The results of hand washing by used plain soap, antiseptic soap , dettol and alcohol on numbers of colony forming units (CFUs) of identified microorganisms showed that all treatments of hand washing were reduced all isolates of microorganisms with different percentage of reduction depending on type of treatments and isolate , also observed S . pyogenes less effected compared with other isolates when treated with cleaning products .