Detection of Bacterial Contaminants on Gate Passes Issued to Motorists in Federal University Dutse, Northwest Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to isolate and identify possible bacterial contaminants on the gate passes issued to motorists in the three (3) major gates leading to Federal University Dutse. Swab stick method was employed to sample possible bacterial contaminants from seventy (70) gate passes. Sampling was done at the end of the daily activities to maximize the chances of isolating bacteria that might be present thereon. The swab sticks labelled S1 to S70, were instantaneously taken to the Microbiology laboratory with a view to conducting bacteriological analysis by means of customary microbiological methods. Plate colony count method was adopted to compute the number of bacteria present on the sampled gate passes. 'Results generated on the total viable count show that S31 sampled from gate two had the highest load (1.68 × 10-2 CFU/mL) while S43 sampled from the same gate recorded the lowest load (0.34 × 10-3 CFU/mL). Four (4) bacteria; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella sp. and Salmonella sp. were detected on the sampled gate passes. All the gate passes issued to motorists coming in and out of the Federal University Dutse were contaminated with different bacteria most of which are known to be pathogenic. Due to the results derived from this study, it is therefore suggested that the University authority should make available hand antiseptics for motorists and security staff handling the gate passes in order to minimize and prevent the spread of pathogenic bacteria.