BACTERIAL ISOLATES, PRESENT ON SURFACE OF TOYS IN CHILD CARE CENTERS, IN AL-RASS CITY, AL-QASSIM REIGON. K.S.A.

Dr. Sarah Ali*, Mashael M. Al-Harbi and Dr. Syed R. Rahman

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Toys have always been an important part of childhood and play an important role in child's physical and mental development. In children care center the toys are available for a large number of children and toys are passed from child to child and become contaminated through handling or by children putting their mouth to them. With increasing numbers of women in the workforce, day care centers have been increasing in number and the children at this age are at a higher risk of gastroenteritis diseases. In order to provide awareness for care centers department, we aimed to test toys sample to detect if they contained bacteria or not. Methods: This was an observational study using the cross-sectional study design, to determine species of pathogenic bacteria on toys samples to provide awareness in children, staff who work in care centers and also for families, whose children were registered with the care centers. The study included 25 samples from 2 kindergarten and 1 child care center. The samples were tested at Qassim University Department Of Applied Medical Sciences Microbiology Laboratory. Sample were taken by, sterile swab from the surface of each toy, and inoculated in different bacteria media e.g. blood agar, macConkey and chocolate agar. and incubated for 24 - 48 hr at 37oc. Bacterial species Differentiation was done by gram stain, biochemical tests, API for Staphylococci and API 20E. Results: Bacteria isolated from 25 samples, included, Staphylococcus. Aureus (40%) from 10samples, Staphylococcus CoN (60%) from 15 samples, Klebsiella pnuemoniea (4%) from 1sample, Bacillus spp (72%) from 18 sample, Alpha hemolytic Streptococcus (4%) from 1sample, and Micrococci (4%) from 1sample. 16 samples had more than one bacterial profile when cultured. Conclusion: The result of this study confirmed, that the toys serve as media for transmission of diseases. kindergarten and child care centermust improve follow, standard hygiene procedures for protecting the children, infants, and workers in the facilities.

Keywords: Kindergarten, Child care center, Toys, Bacteria.