1.1 Introduction
Human skin is a large organ containing a large number of ecologically distinct sites. These sites harbor a variety of distinct microbiomes. Human skin is the outermost tissue of the human body. As a result, people are very aware of, and very sensitive to, the appearance of their skin. Consequently, skin appearance has been a subject of great interest in several fields of science and technology. Microorganisms of the normal flora may aid the host. It may harm the host by causing dental caries, abscesses or other infectious diseases or it may exist as commercials by inhabiting the host for long periods without causing detectable harm or benefits. Even though most elements of the normal microbial flora inhabiting the human skin, nails, eyes, genitalia and gastrointestinal tract are harmless in healthy individuals, these organisms frequently cause disease in compromised hosts.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Human skin performs a wide variety of functions resulting from chemical and physical reactions inside these components. The major function of skin is to act as a barrier to the exterior environment. It protects the body from friction and impact wounds with its flexibility and toughness. Harmful chemicals, bacteria, viruses and ultraviolet light are also prevented from entering the body by the skin. It also prevents water loss and regulates body temperature by blood flow and evaporation of sweat (Pugliese, 2001).
The secretion of sweat and skin lipid cause the elimination of a number of harmful substances resulting from metabolic activities in the intestines and the liver. Furthermore, skin has a large amount of nerve fibers and nerve endings that enable it to act as a sensory organ. When skin is exposed to sunlight, it can produce vitamin D, an imperative chemical substance for the body (Pugliese, 2001).
The normal flora in human usually develops in an orderly sequence, after birth leading to the stable populations of bacteria that made up the normal adult flora. The main factor determining the composition of the normal flora in a body region is the nature of the local environment which is determined by pH, temperature, redox potential, oxygen, water and nutrient levels. Other factors such as peristalsis, saliva hysozyme secretion and secretion of immunoglobulin also play roles in flora control.
The local environment is like a concern to in which one principal instrument usually dominates. For example, an infact begins to contact organisms as it moves through the birth canal. A gram positive population predominates in the gastrointestinal tract early in life. This bacterial population is reduced and displaced some by a gram negative flora when the baby is bottle feel. The type of liquid diet provided to the infant is the principal instrument of this flora controls, immunoglobulins and perhaps other element is breast milk may also be important.
Fungi are a major group of living things, originally considered plants lacking chlorophyll, leaves, true stems, roots and reproducing by spores, but now treated as the separate kingdom fungi. They occur in all environments on the planet and include important decomposers and parasites. Parasitic fungi infect animals including human, other animals, birds, and insects with consequences varying from mild itching to death, in general, humans have a high level of inmate immunity to fungi and most of the infections they cause are mild and self limiting (Adeleke, 2006).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Bacterial Colonization on Human Skin.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that bacterial are contacted during our everyday routines, some which are potentially pathogenic to human and other not human could be exposed simply by walking by a construction areas were the oil has been disturbed and scattered into the wind by the machinery, also can be exposed while jogging, hiking, hunting and fishing (Emmons 1979). Humans have a high level of inmate immunity to fungi and most of the infections they cause are mild and self limiting (Adeleke, 2006).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Bacterial on Human Skin. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to identify the bacteria isolates from the:
- Right and left leg of students in the area under study;
- Face of students in the area under study; and
- Right and left hand of students in the area under study.
1.5 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Bacterial Colonization on Human Skin using Undergraduate Students in Imo State University (IMSU) as a Case Study.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
