Abstract

Sylvanus Akpak Upula*, Emmanuel E. Bassey and Uchenna Eze Ije

ABSTRACT

Studies have shown that plain and antiseptic soaps are effective in keeping the skin from microbial contaminants. However, prolong use of antimicrobial soaps has been implicated with potential health challenges. This present research was carried out to determine the effects of some selected antiseptic soaps and cleansing agents on the bacterial flora of the skin based on its potential influence on the total aerobic bacterial flora on five skin sites. Based on treatment exposure, the result showed that subjects exposed to antiseptic soaps alone had mean aerobic bacterial count ranging from 137±40.0Cfu/cm2 to 461±75.51Cfu/cm2. Furthermore, it was observed that individuals who were exposed to antiseptic soaps + cleansing agents had mean aerobic counts ranging from 90±50.83Cfu/cm2 to 307±83.93Cfu/cm2, while the mean aerobic bacterial count from the control subjects ranged from 282±83.93Cfu/cm2 to 834±118.82Cfu/cm2. ANOVA result revealed that there was significant differences (p<0.05) in the mean aerobic bacterial count across the treatment groups. Altogether 120 bacterial isolates were characterized from 180 subjects. Among them, 80 isolates (66.7%) were Gram positive while 40 isolates (33.3%) were Gram negative bacteria. Coagulase negative Staphylococci (35%) was the most dominant skin bacterial flora, followed by Coagulase positive Staphylococci (20%), Escherichia coli (16.7%), Bacillus spp (11.7%), Proteus spp (6.7%), Klebsiella (5.8%) and Pseudomonas spp (4.2%). This study reveals that antiseptic products should be carefully used because its over- utilization may reduce the resident skin flora, thereby creating a void for opportunistic organisms which could lead to several attendant skin and detrimental health effects.