CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1 Introduction

Soaps play an important role in removing and killing bacteria from the human body; although they have fats and oil as their general ingredients, some detergents are added to them to enhance their antibacterial activity (Freidman and Wolf, 1996). Antibacterial soaps can remove 65 to 85% of bacteria from the human skin (Osborne and Grude, 1982). Bacteria are very diverse and present everywhere such as in soils, skin, sewage, water bodies just to name a few. Bacteria that attack the human body are of great importance with reference to health (Johnson et al., 2002). Staphylococcusaureus is an example of bacteria that are deposited on the body from various environmental sources (Higaki et al.,2000).

In health care facilities, the act of washing hands with soap and water after interaction with patients aid in killing or reducing the bacterial load ofthe hands (Richards et al.,1995) .This practice is also important for food handlers, to reduce the rate of contamination of food(Horton and parker,2002).Identification of bacteria was  confirm by doing biochemical tests such as; the catalase, coagulase and hemolysis tests on the test organisms (cheesbrough,2001). Identification of soaps that was more efficient on the bacteria was made. This study was aimed at determining the bactericidal effect or efficacy of the antibacterial soaps, whether it only removes or kills the bacteria.

1.2 Literature Review

According to (Johnson et al.,2002), soaps and other cleansing agents have been around for a relatively long period .The act of washing hands with water and soap have been a form of personal hygiene, which helps in reducing bacterial load on hands either by killing them or by inhibiting their growth.

Hand hygiene and prevention of infection through the use of medicated soaps have been well recognized. Some chemicals found in soaps give it the ability to either kill, or inhibit bacterial growth, as well as metabolism.Some of the active groups of chemicals involved with bacteria inhibition and destruction include; hydrogen, phenols, detergent, ammonia compounds, alcohols, heavy metals and acids.

Disinfection, decontamination, sanitization and sterilization are terms that describe the process of cleaning by either soaps, detergents and other cleaning agents. Numerous cleaning agents are available in the market which is presented in various forms with distinct formulation. Triclosan; Trichlorocarbanilide and P-chloro-in-xylenol (PCMX/chloroxyenol) are the commonly used antibacterial in medicated soaps. Washing hands and body with soap is the first defense mechanism against bacteria and other body pathogens that can cause cold flu, skin infection and even deadly communicable disease (Kimel, 1996). Conceptually, many people consider that an antimicrobial portion of soaps is effective at preventing communicable diseases.

1.3 Rationale

Medicated soaps are very important to humans in either killing or reducing the load of bacteria on the human body. The choice to work with medicated soaps is supported by the fact that medicated soaps are efficient antimicrobials that inhibit and kill body pathogens. This will have great implications in the design of medicated soaps in processing industries, there by serving as an indicator, the efficacy or failure in the case where this organism is found on anybody.

1.4 Hypothesis

Medicated soaps have antimicrobial effects on Staphylococcusaureus found on the human body.

1.5 Objective

Overall Objectives;

to assess the antimicrobial effects of some medicated soaps on Staphylococcusaureus.

Specific Objectives;

To determine the prevalence of Staphylococcusaureus.

To determine antimicrobial effects of different soaps on the Staphylococcusaureus isolated