Abstract
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible change in the microbiota on the hands of chiropractic master students at the UJ Chiropractic Clinic during a typical day of patient treatments. It also aimed to determine if the change can be associated with their patients, therefore indicating the likelihood of disease being spread through lack of hand hygiene.
Methods: Participants between the ages of 18 and 60 were included in the study. Group 1 consisted of 20 chiropractic master student participants in the UJ Chiropractic Clinic. Group 2 consisted of 3 patient participants for each chiropractic student (60 patients in total). Subjective data was collected by the researcher through a questionnaire before each participant performed the ‘hand washing’ test. Objective data was collected using bacterial levels determined on the hands. Participants had to ‘wash’ their hands in a sterile bag with sterile phosphate buffered saline solution. The Total coliforms (hygiene) and Escherichia coli (faecal pollution) levels were determined in each of the hand wash samples using a most probable number enrichment method.
Results: Hand Washing Questionnaire – With regard to the questionnaire, the chiropractic master students (Group 1) scored slightly higher than the patients (Group 2) overall. With regard to the different sections of the questionnaire, the chiropractic master students scored slightly higher than the patients for hand washing knowledge and practices however the patients scored slightly higher than the students for hand washing skills. Bacteria – As suspected, bacterial pathogens were picked up from the hand samples. The most frequently identified bacteria were Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp cremoris, Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus epidermidis. There was a noticeable change in the microbiota on the hands of chiropractic master students during their typical day of patient treatments. Multiple factors may have influenced this change. No statistically significant correlations could be seen between the...