CHARACTERIZATION OF staphylococcus aureus ISOLATED FROM DOOR HANDLES IN THE COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, MOUNTAIN TOP UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive organism that causes diseases and infections in humans, in order to ascertain the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus on door handles and the organism sensitivity to commonly used antibiotics in the College of Humanities Management and Social Sciences, Mountain Top University, A study was conducted. A total of 30 swab samples were collected from door handles, 10 each from restrooms, office doors, and lecture halls of the College of Humanities Management and Social Sciences at Mountain Top University. Using a combination of morphological characteristics on agar and biochemical tests, the samples were cultivated and S. aureus identified. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from a total of 16 (53%) of the 30 samples collected. Results from the susceptibility testing showed that Tetracycline was the most effective against the S. aureus isolates (14 isolates were seen to be susceptible). Findings from this study demonstrate that Staphylococcus aureus, which is capable of infecting people, is present on the door handles. Serious health issues may result from these microbes. Therefore, maintaining excellent personal hygiene practices like washing your hands frequently will help to lower the risk of microbial transmission.