Hand Carriage Of Pathogenic Bacteria Among Preschool Children

Hands act as reservoirs and as potential routes for the transmission of disease-causing agents. A research geared towards children was carried out with the aim of determining the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria carried on their hands and antimicrobial susceptibilities of these isolates. The skin provides protection by serving as an impenetrable barrier between bacteria-free tissues of the body and an environment that is contaminated with all types of microorganisms. These organisms were exemplified by Patty (2010); as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Coryneforms (those related to acne lesions), which are the possible pathogens that could be found on children’s hands. Although S. epidermidis is not usually pathogenic, patients with compromised immune systems are often at risk for developing an infection. These infections can be both nosocomial or community acquired, but they pose a greater threat to hospital patients. This phenomenon may be the result of continuous use of antibiotics and disinfectants within hospitals, leading to evolutionary pressure toward more virulent strains of the organism. (Salyers, 2002 and Queck, 2008).