Microbial Contaminants of Wooden Toothpicks in Abakaliki Metropolis, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Evaluation of microbial contaminants of wooden toothpicks was carried out in Abakaliki metropolis, of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A total of one hundred (100) samples comprising of ten (10) toothpicks each from four different sources within six zones were analyzed for microbes, using wet preparation techniques, concentration techniques, culture, and biochemical tests. Out of the 80 (eighty) test samples analyzed, 53 (66%) showed microbial contamination while 27 (34%) were sterile. Of the 53 positive samples, 24 (45%) gave mixed contaminations while 29 (55%) were contaminated by single microbes. Bacteria accounted for the highest contamination (positive for 42 samples out of the 53) while parasites were recovered from 2 samples only. Ogoja Road and Ishieke village showed the highest rates of contamination with 78% and 77% respectively while PRESCO and CAS campuses gave 57% and 54% contaminations respectively. Samples collected from restaurants showed 86% contamination while those collected from eateries gave 54% contamination. Yeast cells and fungal spores contaminated 22 (twenty-two) and 18 (eighteen) of the 53 positive samples respectively while staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeroginosa were the most recorded bacteria with prevalence of 8 (eight) each. Proteus and Salmonella contaminated 2 (two) samples each while Giardia lambia and Ascaris lumbricoides were isolated from one sample.