Bath Towel Bacterial contamination and Hygiene practices among Tertiary Students

Abstract

Bath towels have the ability to support bacterial growth under inappropriate washing and drying conditions and pose health risk to humans. This study investigated bacterial contamination of bath towels used by tertiary students and the washing and drying practices relative to their use. Coliforms (23, 46%) including Escherichia coli (18, 36%) were isolated by culture methods using swab samples from standardized area (0.96cm²) of 50 bath towels owned by tertiary students. Male students had a higher rate of coliform contamination on towels (15, 60%) than female students (8, 32%) [χ²(1) = 3.87, p = 0.049]. E. coli contamination was also more common in males (13, 52%) than females (5, 20%) [χ²(1) = 5.44, p = 0.019]. Mean rank colony counts differed for coliforms in male (29.68) vs. female (21.32) towels (U = 417, p = 0.027) and for E. coli in male (30.16) vs. female (20.84) towels (U = 429, p = 0.008). Biochemical tests identified bacteria in seven genera, four coliform species: Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter species and three non-coliform species: Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, and Alcaligenes species. Seven male students (28%) and 16 female students (72%) reported washing their towels within two weeks of use. More males (16, 64%) than females (8, 32%) washed towels one to two months after use. Bacterial contamination of students’ towels raises concern about the risk of exposure to potentially harmful bacteria and calls for appropriate towel hygiene practices by students.