Bacterial Flora in The Hands of School Going Children

摘要

Hand washing with soap and water is a universally accepted practice for reducing the transmission of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. The occurrence of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterococci, Staphylo-coccus aureus and yeast on the hands is a common finding. This study was to determine bacterial flora in the hands of school children in suburban area of Lucknow.A prospective study was done on 113 school children. Samples were taken by a sterile swab stick moistened with sterile saline from the dominant hands. They were cultured on blood agar and Mac Conkey Agar. Microorganisms were identified using gram stain, colony counts, morphology, catalase and oxidase reaction, biochemicals. Antibiotic sensitivity test was done.