Isolation and Antibiogram of bacteria and fungi associated with tattoo equipment used in port Harcourt metropolis

Abstract

A tattoo is a form of body modification made by using tools and equipment to insert ink, dyes and or pigments, either indelible or temporary into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. This research was carried out to investigate the microorganisms associated with tattoo equipment used in Port Harcourt and to determine the antibiotics susceptibility of the bacterial isolates. A total of five swab samples from tattoo equipment within Port Harcourt metropolis were aseptically collected and cultured on appropriate Agar medium such as nutrient Agar, Mannitol salt Agar, Sabouraud dextrose Agar, using spread plate technique. The isolates were identified and characterized based on morphological and biochemical characteristics using standard tests. Results showed that the ranges of the total heterotrophic bacterial, Staphylococcal and fungal counts were 1.4×105 to 4.1×105, 1.3×103 to 5.0×103 and 0.0 to 1.6×103, respectively. Despite the disparity in the total heterotrophic bacterial and Staphylococcal counts in the tattoo equipment, no significant difference was recorded (P>0.05), but there was a significant difference (P