IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

ISITUA; CHINWE CHRISTY; OTASOWIE; JOHN IMHARIABE

Volume : V, Issue : VI, June - 2016

EFFECTS OF SURFACTANTS ON MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM HUMAN GOLD JEWELLERY.

Isitua, Chinwe Christy, Otasowie, John Imhariabe

Abstract :

 Jewellery serve as formites and easily get colonized by pathogenic and non–pathogenic microorganisms through intimate contact with the skin or clothing of the wearer thus causing skin infections and diseases which may be of public health significance. The effects of different surfactants [Ariel, Omo, Klin, Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate neutralized with sodium carbonate (LAS washing soda) and Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate neutralized with ammonium salt (LAS ammonia)] on microorganisms isolated from human gold jewellery was investigated to ascertain the best surfactant that could be employed in sanitizing the human jewellery. In this study, sixteen (16) bacterial isolates Staphylococcus albus, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus varians, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus vulgaris, Serratia marcescens, Aeromonas soia, Escherichia coli, Shigella sp., Corynebacterium sp., Bacillus firmus, Bacillus circulans, Rothia sp., Pseudomonas sp. recovered from a total of fifty (50) pieces of different human gold jewellery were examined using the agar well diffusion method. At the highest concentration (200mg / ml), all bacterial isolates showed clear zones of inhibition to all test solution used. S. albus was the most sensitive to LAS washing soda with a diameter of 40mm at 200mg / ml. All the isolates had minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 25 mg / ml for LAS washing soda which was also the most potent showing greater antimicrobial activity than the other surfactants at all concentrations used. This study therefore shows that LAS washing soda has the best sanitizing potential than the other surfactants and would be most expedient when used as a constituent in the preparation of most detergents / surfactants used as cleaning agents especially for jewellery.