Microbiological Examination of Household Kitchen Sponges from Three Communities in Ikwuano L. G. A, Umuahia, Abia State Nigeria

Sixty kitchen sponges collected from the households in three major communities in Ikwuano L.G.A, Umuariaga, Amawom and Amaoba were examined microbiologically using standard methods. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus niger were recovered from the sponges. The Total Heterotrophic Plate Count (THPC) for Umuariaga community had a mean value of 8.02 x 108 cfu/ml while Amaoba had 9.13 x 108 cfu/ml as mean value. Amawom had a mean value of 8.47 x 108 cfu/ml. The Total Coliform plate count (TCPC) mean values for the three communities are 6.11 x 107cfu/ml, 6.70 x 107 cfu/ml and 6.28 x 107 cfu/ml respectively. Antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the isolates showed that Staphylococcus aureus was most sensitive to Ofloxacin (21.4 mm) but resistant to Gentamycin and Nalidixic acid while Escherichia coli was most sensitive to Amoxicillin (22.0 mm). Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the highest sensitivity to Ofloxacin (20.6 mm) and incidentally the highest resistance (to five antibiotics). Based on the results, it was evident that kitchen sponges can be contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms which showed varied levels of susceptibility to antibiotics. Regular change of kitchen sponges and the use of washing disinfectants can reduce the level of contamination of the kitchen sponges and the associated infections.