Susceptibility pattern of cold room bacterial pathogens to locally sold disinfectants in Owerri, Eastern Nigeria

Chinedu E. Ihejirika^1*, Rose F. Njoku-Tony¹, Michael I. Nwachukwu⁴, Onyenonachi C. Ihejirika² and Chidinma A. Ikpeama³

¹Department of Environmental Technology,Federal University of Technology, Owerri

²Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri

³Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo

⁴Department of Microbiology, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria

*Corresponding author: E-mail: ceihejirika@yahoo.com  

Accepted 27 June, 2014

Abstract

Efficacy of some locally sold disinfectants on bacterial pathogens isolated from cold rooms was determined. Five milliliters of different dilutions of chloroxylenol (Dettol), 5-chloro-2-hydroxy-diphenyl methane (Septol), and chlorohexidine gluconate (Purit) respectively were used. Organisms were isolated from swab and effluent samples collected in triplicates from 10 major cold rooms under standard microbiological techniques. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Citrobacter freundii were isolated. A 0.1ml of each dilution was delivered into a culture plate of individual isolate respectively, and zones of inhibition measured. Zones diameter of inhibition produced by disinfectants on isolates revealed increasing inhibition as concentrations increased with significant difference in inhibition of individual isolates by the different disinfectants used (F_(117.54)>F_crit(4.19)) at P<0.05. The trend of the zones of inhibition showed that Dettol>Septol>Purit. Bacterial pathogens present in cold rooms can cause food contamination and poisoning, and infection of exposed individuals. Proper sanitary application of Dettol, Septol and Purit will help prevent public health consequences of food contamination.

Keywords: Disinfectants, cold room, effluent, pathogens, susceptibility, and public health