ABSTRACT

Background: Besides being present in the water, air, soil, and food, bacteria may also be found in the organisms of animals, including humans and plants. Bacteria can be found almost everywhere. A female handbag is a multifunctional personal item that can harbor various germs, including bacteria. Investigators had previously documented the existence of live harmful germs on inanimate objects. This study aims to examine the number of bacterial contaminants linked to female purses and their susceptibility to common antibiotics. Methods: This research is a quasi-experimental investigation conducted in April 2023. 100 samples were obtained from the purses (Female Handbags) of female undergraduate students at Tishk International University in April 2023. An interview with students through a structured questionnaire was done. For that reason, a specially designed questionnaire was prepared. The samples were obtained by completely revolving a cotton swab before being sent to the Microbiology laboratory for examination. Results: Following the analysis of 100 samples, 8 colonies were isolated. Seven different types of bacteria were found in these colonies: Schizococcus coli, Pseudogenes aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter spp., and Staphylococcus epidermidisc. Each and every one of the discovered species exhibited susceptibility to either chloramphenicol or colistin. As an example, three species were resistant to ciprofloxacin, but four species were resistant to amoxicillin. Conclusions: Handbags could be a means of transmitting infections through contamination with types of bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterobacter spp., Enterococcus spp., etc. Resistant to a number of antibiotics: Amoxicillin was resistant to four of the bacteria, while ciprofloxacin was resistant to three of the bacteria.