Potential for local and systemic bacterial infection in some occupational groups in Benin City, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Many Third World countries may not have adequate facilities for rapid sensitivity testing of antibiotics as an aid to diagnosis and chemotherapy. It may therefore be valuable to relate bacterial carriage on the skin to type of work a person does.


METHODS
Given areas of skin in workers from 10 occupational groups were sampled. The bacteria obtained were analyzed after growth on appropriate media. The sensitivity profiles of potential pathogens isolated from these groups, as well as of those (Staphylococcus aureus only) isolated from patients with certified infections, were carried out and the results were analyzed.


RESULTS
Staphylococcus aureus constituted the most widely and frequently isolated potential pathogen. Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella species were also frequent colonizers of skin. There was a statistical relationship between work type and overall prevalence of bacteria on skin (p less than 0.01). Most isolates of the work groups were highly sensitive to gentamicin and cefuroxine but not to penicillin G, ampicillin, and trimethoprim plus sulfamethoxazole; isolates from infected persons were generally more resistant than were the community-acquired ones.


CONCLUSIONS
A relationship may exist between the types of bacteria carried on the skin and the type of work in which a person is engaged.
Hugbo
P G
PG
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Nigeria.
Okonkwo
J O
JO
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009549:Nigeria; D009790:Occupations; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification