ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM HAND PALMS WITHIN MAKURDI

ABSTRACT The human hand is a vital organ that plays a crucial role in our daily activities, ranging from personal hygiene to professional engagements. This study investigated the bacterial contamination of human palms in Makurdi, Nigeria. A total of 50 hand swab samples were collected from individuals in two different locations (Benue State University and Coca-cola gate) within Makurdi and analyzed using the streak plate method. The isolated bacteria were identified and their antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that 100 % of the samples were contaminated with bacteria, with Pseudomonas fluorescens being the most predominant species (30 %). The antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that most of the bacteria were susceptible to Ofloxacin, Peflacine, Gentamycin, Ciprofloxacin, Ceporex, and Streptomycin, while E. coli and Enterobacter spp. showed resistance to Augmentin, Ceftazidime, and Cefuroxime. This study demonstrated a high level of bacterial contamination on human palms in Makurdi, Nigeria, with Pseudomonas fluorescens being the most predominant bacteria. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that while most of the bacteria were susceptible to certain antibiotics, some resistance patterns were observed, highlighting the need for judicious use of antibiotics. Furthermore, the study revealed gaps in hand hygiene practices among participants, underscoring the importance of education and awareness campaigns to promote proper hand hygiene practices.