Bacteriological Assessment of Tissue Papers Sold in Eke Awka Market in Anambra State, Nigeria

The tissue paper originates from the French word “Tissue”, meaning cloth. This work was carried out to determine the Bacteriological assessment of tissue paper in an unused tissue papers sold in Eke awka market and to deduce their sources of contamination. A total of 15 tissue papers were collected from Eke-Awka market, Anambra State, Nigeria. Serial dilution was carried out on 15 samples of tissue papers. Most of the unused tissue paper posseses high microbial loads and high concentrations of dusts. Different microscopic and biochemical test were employed to identify the bacterial isolates. After the analysis the organisms were identified, some of which were toxigenic. The highest plate count was recorded in sample 9 whose plate count was 298 while the least was recorded by sample 2. Most-Prevalent organisms were Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus and Salmonella species. Prevalence of bacteria of clinical importance in unused contaminated toilet rolls, have harmful domestic and occupational health implications. Discovery of microbial flora in toilet roll is indicative of microbial contamination in toilet roll industries, and this can provide a rationale for development of an effective industrial control measures. Studies to trace and identify contamination routes of bacterial and fungal flora of public health importance, occurring in toilet roll industries are on-going in our laboratories. This is in order to develop an effective microbial control programme in wood processed and recycled paper processing for the production of unused toilet rolls. Good hygiene practices should be maintained starting from choice of raw materials, the manufacturing processes to packaging and the equipment used must be properly cleaned to reduce contamination.