Used Female Underwear as Potential Carriers of Multi-drug Resistant and Beta-Lactamase Producing Bacteria causing Urinary Tract Infections: Efficacy of Hot Water Treatment

Abstract

This study examined used female underwear for the presence of multidrugresistant and beta-lactamase-producing bacteria causing urinary tract infection and the efficacy of hot water treatment. Atotal of 60 samples (30 each of baby and adult female underwear) were  bought from different selling points in the international market, Abakaliki. The samples were analysed using standard microbiological  methods. The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolates were determined using the Disc Diffusion method, and the isolates obtained  were screened for beta-lactamase production using nitrocefin sticks. The results showed that a total of 60 isolates (10 Escherichia coli, 24  Klebsiella species, and 26 Staphylococcus species) were obtained before treatment with hot water, whereas only 12 isolates (8 Klebsiella  species, 4 S. aureus, and no Escherichia coli) were obtained after treatment. Hot water reduced bacterial load by 80%. The antibiotic  susceptibility test showed that the E. coliisolates were 100% susceptible to imipenem, whereas Klebsiella species and S. aureus were  87.33% and 73.07% usceptible to imipenem, respectively. The isolates were 100% resistant to all  other antibiotics except meropenem and  treonam (for E. coli and Klebsiella species), and trimetoprime and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (for S. aureus). Of the 60 isolates  screened for beta-lactamase production (10 E. coli, 24 Klebsiella spp., and 26 S. aureus), 28 (46.7%), including (3 E. coli, 11 Klebsiella spp.,  and 14 S. aureus) were positive. In conclusion, this study reports that used underwear are potential carriers of beta-lactamase-producing  urinary tract infection-causing bacteria and that treatment with hot water alone before use may not eliminate the pathogens. Therefore,  we recommend that used clothes, especially underwear, be washed with hot water in combination with disinfectants to eliminate  pathogens and avoid exotic infections that may be difficult to treat with commonly used antibiotics.