Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Fingernails of Children in Shendi Locality
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Date
2022-03-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
جامعة الشيخ عبدالله البدري
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Recently a lot of studies focused on the global occurrence of resistant bacteria carriages. Fingernails are a perfect area
for harboring bacteria. Children are the most age categories who harbor pathogenic bacteria in their fingernails.
Objective: This was a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to identify the pathogenic bacteria isolated from the fin gernails of children in the Shendi locality; it also studied their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns.
Methodology: The study included (70) participants, 37 (53%) males, and 33 (47%) females, within the age group (1- 10) years. Nails
were collected and firstly cultured on nutrient broth then on blood agar and MacConkey incubated aerobically at 37c° for 24 hours.
Isolated organisms were identified according to their colonial morphology, indirect gram staining reaction, biochemical tests, and
antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done by the disc diffusion method.
Result: The study revealed that 61 (87%) of children showed bacterial growth from fingernails. The isolated bacteria were Staphy lococcus aureus18 (29.1%), Bacillus spp 11 (17.7%), Escherichia coli 2 (3.2%), Klebsiella spp12 (19.3%), Enterobacter spp8 (13%),
Citrobacter spp6 (9.6%), Proteus vulgaris4(6.5%) and Salmonella spp1 (1.6%). Ciprofloxacin 58 (93.5%) and Gentamicin40 (64.5 %)
were the most effective antibiotics against the isolated bacteria in contrast they were mostly resistant to Nitrofurantoin 53 (85.5%),
Amoxiclav 45(72.6%) and Doxycycline 39 (63%).
Conclusion: Long nails and playing behaviors of children were the main factors for harboring bacteria in fingernails. Staphylococcus
aureus was the most isolated bacteria while Ciprofloxacin was the most effective antimicrobial agent used.