A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES OF MEDICATED SOAPS ON SOME SELECTED BACTERIA FROM THE SKIN

Four medicated soaps (Ghana soap, Tetmosol, Beneks’, and Crusader) were investigated for their

antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermis. A total number

of thirty (30) students of Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta state, 15 males and 15 females

were skin swabbed with sterile swab sticks. Identification of the bacterial species was by standard

microbiological techniques. Crusader soap had the mean highest antibacterial activity (15.3 mm)

against Staphylococcus aureus from males, 17.5mm against Staphylococcus aureus from females,

10.7mm against Staphylococcus epidermidis from females and 13.0mm against Staphylococcus

epidermidis from males) while Beneks’ exhibited the least zone of inhibition 9.5mm against

Staphylococcus aureus from females, 3.3mm against Staphylococcus epidermidis from males and

1.2mm against Staphylococcus epidermidis from females except for one occasion where Tetmosol

exhibited the lowest antibacterial activity with the mean zone of inhibition measuring 7.3mm. Nonsignificant

differences (P>0.05) were observed, except on one occasion were a P value of 0.0093 was

observed. Majority of the medicated soaps analysed showed satisfactory antibacterial activity. The

use of medicated soaps is thus recommended in homes, schools, offices and hospitals as a way of

minimizing or stopping infections that are hitherto spread through contact.

Title page - - - - - - - - - - i

Certification - - - - - - - - - - ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - - iii

Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - - iv

Table of Content - - - - - - - - - v

List of Figures - - - - - - - - - - vii

List of Tables - - - - - - - - - - viii

List of Plates - - - - - - - - - - ix

Abstract - - - - - - - - - - x

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 1

1.1 Aims and Objectives - - - - - - - - 3

1.2 Hypothesis - - - - - - - - - - 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature review - - - - - - - - - 5

2.1 Emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance and the Rationale for performing

Susceptibility testing - - - - - - - - 5

2.2 Importance of Medicated Soaps - - - - - - - 5

2.3 The bacteria flora of humans - - - - - - - 6

2.4 The benefits of normal flora - - - - - - - 6

2.5 Effect of Skin Cleansers and Cosmetics on Skin pH and Flora - - - 7

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Study area - - - - - - - - - - 8

3.1 Soap sample collection - - - - - - - - 8

3.1.1 Active ingredients of soap samples as per label disclosure - - - 8

3.2 Sterilization - - - - - - - - - 9

3.3 Preparation of Disks and Soap Samples - - - - - - 9

3.4 Isolation of Microorganisms - - - - - - - 10

3.5 Cultural Morphology and Gram Morphology - - - - - 10

3.6 Biochemical Test for Identification of Isolates - - - - - 11

3.6.1 Coagulase test - - - - - - - - - 11

3.6.2 Catalase test - - - - - - - - - 11

3.6.3 Citrate test - - - - - - - - - 12

3.7 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing - - - - - - - 12

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Result - - - - - - - - - - 13

4.1 Results from isolation of microorganism - - - - - - 13

4.2 Results of Colonial morphology, Gram Reaction and Biochemical tests carried out - 15

4.3 Results from the statistical analysis - - - - - - - 15

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion - - - - - - - - - - 20

5.1 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - - 22

REFERENCES - - - - - - - - - - 23

Appendix I - - - - - - - - - - 27

Appendix II - - - - - - - - - - 32