title: Microbial Content of "Bowl Water" Used for Communal Handwashing in Preschools within Accra Metropolis, Ghana.
abstract: Objective. This study aimed at determining the microbial content of "bowl water" used for communal handwashing in preschools within the Accra Metropolis. Method. Six (6) preschools in the Accra Metropolis were involved in the study. Water samples and swabs from the hands of the preschool children were collected. The samples were analysed and tested for bacteria, fungi, parasites, and rotavirus. Results. Eight different bacteria, two different parasites, and a fungus were isolated while no rotavirus was detected. Unlike the rest of the microbes, bacterial isolates were found among samples from all the schools, with Staphylococcus species being the most prevalent (40.9%). Out of the three schools that had parasites in their water, two of them had Cryptosporidium parvum. The fungus isolated from two out of the six schools was Aspergillus niger. All bacteria isolated were found to be resistant to cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and ampicillin and susceptible to amikacin and levofloxacin. Conclusion. Although handwashing has the ability to get rid of microbes, communal handwashing practices using water in bowls could be considered a possible transmission route and may be of public concern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Patience B
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3344-4869
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Tetteh-Quarcoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anim-Baidoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Simon Kwaku
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Attah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Bawa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Abdul-Latif Baako
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Japheth A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Opintan
authors.affiliation: Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Accra Polytechnic, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Minamor
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Mubarak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdul-Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Patrick F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Ayeh-Kumi