1.1 Introduction
Antibacterial activity is significant with respect to the human body in preventing sepsis and skin infections (Ike, 2016). Soaps are cleaning agents, which may be liquid, solid, semisolid or powders. Soaps are used to remove dirt, including dust, microorganisms, stains and bad smells in order to maintain health, beauty and remove bad odor from the body or inanimate objects, including clothes (Ikegbunam et al., 2013). Medicated soaps contain additional ingredients, usually for the treatment of skin disorders and have germicidal substances that are added in a specific amount and their percentages are always stated on the soap case or leaflet which contains the information on how to use the soap for various purposes (Ike, 2016). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is known to be both a commensal bacterium and a human pathogen. Approximately 30% of the human population is colonized with Staphylococcus aureus (Tong et al., 2015).
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
Currently, there is an increase in communicable diseases related to food and unhygienic environment despite the widespread use of local black medicated soaps (National Disease Surveillance Centre, 2004). In this regard, there is a need for studies to find a solution to the problem. Understanding the problem will go a long way in preventing the spread of infectious disease. Testing different soaps solutions on different pathogenic strains of bacteria will provide information on their effectiveness in inhibiting or killing pathogenic microbes.
Soaps and detergents help in cleaning, removing and killing microbes attached to cloths, skin and other materials. When the body is scrubbed during washing, bacteria are removed leading to general reduction of the prevalence and incidences of skin infections. It is considered that local black medicated soap reduces the incidence of diseases but some studies have shown that local black medicated soap may assist in the spread of drug resistant microbes (Poole et al., 2008).
Antibacterial soaps otherwise called medicated or antiseptic soaps contain chemical ingredients that purportedly assist in killing bacteria (Aiello et al., 2007). The earliest antibacterial soap was carbolic soap, which used up to 5% phenols (carbolic acid). Fears about the safety of carbolic soaps chemical components on the skin brought about a ban on some of these chemical components (Oboh and Aluyor, 2011).
The majority of antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, though other chemical additives are also common. Triclosan and other antibacterial agents have long been used in commercial cleaning products for hospitals and other healthcare settings, however their use in home products began in the 1990s (Kodjak, 2016).
Antibacterial activity is the ability to either annihilate or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. This can be referred to as either cidal or static effects respectively. This is significant with respects to the human body in preventing sepsis and skin infections (Higaki et al., 2000). Soaps are classified into either non-bacterial or bacterial agents, also known as antiseptic or medicated soaps, based on their formulation and functional chemical constituents. The antiseptic or medicated soaps are made to fight pathogenic microbes and other germs due to special chemical additives in them while the non-antiseptic soaps are made for conventional cleaning purposes (Ogunnowo et al., 2010).
Wound is a breach on the skin and the exposure of subcutaneous tissue following loss of the skin integrity which provides a moist, warm and nutritive environment that is conducive to microbial colonization and proliferation (Brölmann et al., 2013). Wound infections are mainly of two types i.e. open wounds and closed wounds. Open wounds are caused by external damage to intact skin whereas closed wound is infection to tissues below the skin (Smith, 2006). Post-operative wound infection is the commonest wound infection and recognized as having a poly- microbial etiology, involving both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms (Lilani et al., 2005). Post-operative/surgical site infections are acquired in hospitals, a leading cause of nosocomial infection, a common complication of operative procedures, associated with prolong stay in hospital and lack of antisepsis measures (Pahys et al., 2013).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to Comparatively Study the Antibacterial Activity of Two Selected Medicated Soap and One Local Black Soap on Staphylococcus Aureus from Wound Infection.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that antibacterial soaps are often listed on the packaging, quantitatively, those of traditionally manufactured soaps are unknown. Consequently, therapeutic potentials of these black soaps have become inconsequential, probably because of its manufacturing procedures, packaging and misconception about its use by the traditional herbalists and its being indigenous. However, because of its ethno therapeutic applications in the treatment of skin infections, wounds and the daily intake of its lather solution mixed with other plant extracts for detoxification, it becomes essential to investigate its antibacterial activities in comparison with those of some local black medicated soap with antibacterial properties commonly sold. Hence, this study was aimed at comparing the antibacterial activity of black soap samples obtained from south-west Nigeria with three local black medicated soaps used worldwide against five selected bacterial isolates implicated in wound infections.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to Compare the Antibacterial Activity of Two Selected Medicated Soap and One Local Black Soap on Staphylococcus Aureus from Wound Infection. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine antimicrobial activity of local black soaps on staphylococcus Aureus from Wound Infection;
- To determine antimicrobial activity of medicated soaps on staphylococcus Aureus from Wound Infection; and
- To compare the difference between antimicrobial activity of medicated soaps with that of local black soaps on staphylococcus Aureus from Wound Infection.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- How can antimicrobial activities be eradicated using local black soaps on staphylococcus Aureus from Wound Infection?
- How can antimicrobial activities be eradicated using medicated soaps on staphylococcus Aureus from Wound Infection?
- What is the comparison of antimicrobial activity of medicated soaps with that of local black soaps on staphylococcus Aureus from Wound Infection?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant difference in antimicrobial activities of medicated and local black soaps sold in Port Harcourt for eliminating staphylococcus aureus infection on wound.
- H1: There is a significant difference in antimicrobial activities of medicated and local black soaps sold in Port Harcourt for eliminating staphylococcus aureus infection on wound.
1.7 Significance of Study
The study findings will fill the gap on the role played by medicated and foreign soaps in terms of antimicrobial activities against pathogenic microorganisms. The study findings can inform policy and also may aid in the establishment of new policies to guide the use of antiseptic and foreign soaps in Nigeria.
The present study will contribute to this by generating information on comparative antimicrobial activities of medicated and local black soaps available in the Nigerian market. In addition, it will contribute to the existing pool of knowledge regarding the efficacy of soaps in Nigeria.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Comparative Study of Antibacterial Activity of Two Selected Medicated Soap and One Local Black Soap on Staphylococcus Aureus from Wound Infection.
1.9 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).
