Isolation, Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Bacterial Strains from the Surface of Commonly used Soaps of Five Famous Pakistani Brands

Abstract

This study aimed to isolate and assess the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial strains from various used soaps. Sixteen sterile soaps from five well-known Pakistani brands (Lifebuoy, Dettol, Safeguard, Lux, and Saba) were utilized in this study and placed in different locations for handwashing purposes. Bacterial strains were isolated and identified using standard microbiological techniques, and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined using the disc diffusion method. Various bacterial strains were isolated from the selected soaps, with a high rate of contamination observed. Staphylococcus aureus was present in 33.3% of the samples, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (13.3%), Corynebacterium kutscheri (13.3%), Neisseria mucosa (13.3%), Corynebacterium xerosis (6.6%), Lactobacillus casei (6.6%), Shigella sonnei (6.6%), and Enterobacter aerogenes (6.6%). The antibiotic susceptibility pattern revealed that Staphylococcus aureus exhibited high resistance to penicillin and amoxicillin, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium kutscheri, and Corynebacterium xerosis. Conversely, 4 (26.6%) isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and 2 (13.3%) isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis were found to be sensitive to levofloxacin. Additionally, 2 (13.3%) multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Staphylococcus aureus were observed, showing resistance to gentamicin, amikacin, penicillin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin, isolated from beauty soaps. Overall, a high rate of contamination was observed in beauty soaps, with the Saba brand showing the highest contamination rate at 37.5%, followed by Lux (25%), Lifebuoy (12.5%), Safeguard (12.5%), and Dettol (12.5%).

Keywords: Beauty soaps, Antibacterial soaps, Staphylococcus aureus, Antibiotic susceptibility