Abstract:
Background: Inadequate disinfection of contaminated hair cutting implements could be potential source for transmission of scalp and blood borne infections. There is paucity of information regarding the extent of microbial contamination of tools used in barbershops as well as antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the responsible contaminants in Tanzania.
Objective: This study aimed at determining the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, and factors associated with bacterial and fungal contamination of hair dressing tools used by barbers in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam. Combs, scissors, brushes and electric trimmers were examined for bacterila and fungal contamination. Multistage sampling technique was used to select barbershops and purposive sampling to select barbers to be interviewed. Samples were collected using sterile cotton swabs, and tested for contamination at the Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. In the laboratory, swabs were inoculated into blood agar, MacConkey agar, chocolate agar and Sabouraud’s dextrose agar for bacterial and fungal isolation, respectively. Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Practices, knowledge and hygiene were assessed using pre-designed questionnaire and checklists. Binary logistic regression was performed to examine the association between related findings. P-value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results: A total of 400 hair dressing tools were collected and examined. The prevalence of microbial contamination of hair dressing tools was 20.25%, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the most isolated pathogen (30.9%), followed by C. albicans (22.2%), Staphylococcus aureus (16%), Escherichia coli (16%), Morganella morganii (6.6%), Proteus mirabilis (4.9%), Salmonella paratyphi A (2.5%) and Salmonella paratyphi B (1.2%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were highly resistant to all first line antibiotics whereas Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to Ciprofloxacin only.
