An Assessment of skin bacteria flora of some occupational groups in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the bacteria species associated with the skin of different occupational groups in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. A total of one hundred (100) swab samples were collected from four different occupational groups in Ekpoma, and cultured on Nutrient and Blood agar, and incubated at 37^oC.Bacteria isolates were identified based on macroscopic and microscopic examinations, as well as the catalase, oxidase and coagulase tests. The results showed that the rate of bacterial isolates from the skin of various occupational groups for the population under study was 64%. Out of the 25 samples collected from each occupation, 11(44%) were positive for students, 21(84%) were for bike riders, 12(48%) for office workers, and 20 (80%) for bricklayers. Bike riders appeared to be the occupation with the highest skin-bacterial isolates, followed by bricklayers, office workers and students. Staphylococcus spp. was the bacteria isolated the most with a total number of 64 for all the occupational groups. The distribution of isolates per occupational group were 3.67±2.36 for students, 21.0±9.50 for bike riders, 4.0 ±3.61 for office workers and 6.67±5.35 for bricklayers. Therefore, there is the need to develop newer methods of identifying, monitoring and assessing skin infections because of the distribution of isolates in different occupational groups.

Keywords: Bacteria, Colonization, Ekpoma, Occupational, Skin