CHAPTER ONE
1.1. INTRODUCTION
Fomite is a non living object that infectious microorganisms can be deported on. Fomites when in constant contact with humans or natural habitats of pathogenic organism constitute a major source of spread of infectious diseases (Osterholm et al., 1995). The fomites include door handle of conveniences, showers, toilet, hand lockers especially those found in public offices, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and restrooms (Bright et al., 2010). Beside the day to day interaction of people, which constitute one way of spreading disease, the major source of spread of community acquired infections are fomites (Presscott et al., 1993). Microorganisms are found everywhere, bacteria and fungi contaminate out body, our houses, work places, and whole environment .Fortunately among many billion of bacteria, only 1500 can be dangerous for our health, causing different disease such as pneumonia, otitis media, sore throat, gastroenteritis and skin infections (Eltablawy and Elhinfnawi, 2009). Microorganisms constitute a major part of every ecosystem. In these environments, they live either freely or as parasites (Sleigh and Timbury, 1998). The hand serves as a medium for the propagation of microorganisms from place to place and from person to person. Although it is nearly impossible for the hand to be free from microorganisms, the presence of pathogenic bacteria may lead to chronic or acute illness (Oranusi et al., 2013). Human hands usually harbor microorganisms both as part of body normal flora as well as transient microbes contacted from the environment (Lindberg et al., 2004). In the university environment, students have access to service offices regularly for different purposes. Given that the door handles are not routinely disinfected, the opportunity for the transmission of contaminating microorganisms is great. Although it is accepted that the infection risk in general community is less than that associated with patients in hospital (Scott et al., 1982). The increasing incidence of epidemic outbreaks of certain diseases and its rate of spread from one community to the other has become a major public health concern (Nworie et al., 2012).
People believe that microbes are only present in research laboratories or in hospitals and clinics and thus they have a misleading feeling of security in other places. This is due to the lack of knowledge about where bacteria cause the health problem. Researchers considered that 80% of infections are spread through hands contact with hands or other objects (Al-Ghamdi et al., 2011). The main reasons are difficulties to prevent the transfer of microbes that are already present in human bodies (Lues and Tonder, 2007). Hand washing is fundamental cautionary measure to protect against the spread of diseases and is one of the primary practices to reduce the transfer of bacteria from person to person, or from person to food contact surfaces (Chinakwe et al., 2012). It is established that unwashed hands can transmit pathogens, especially fecal pathogens, to food product after visit to the toilet. Investigation of food borne illness showed that poor personal hygiene, primarily ineffective hand washing is an important contributor to food borne illness (Lambrechts et al., 2014). Door handles of offices in Abuja metropolis were investigated for bacterial contamination. The researchers found that 86.7 % were positive (Nworie et al., 2012).
1.2. AIM
This study was designed to determine the level of bacterial contamination of public restrooms in Godfrey Okoye University.
1.3. OBJECTIVES
1. To isolate bacterial from the formites using routine culture media.
2. To identify the isolate as much as possible, to compare the male, female and staff restrooms.