Thumb impression analysis: Isolation and evaluation of antibiotic resistance profiles of the bacterial strains

Millions of people around the globe suffer from various infectious diseases per annum. Extensive part of these infections is hand acquired infections. World health organization suggests hand hygiene as a primitive precaution focus to decrease the infection rates. We evaluated various aspects related to the occupational behavior and prioritization regarding hand hygiene measures among the university students, teachers, laboratory staff and canteen workers. Gram positive cocci were found in abundance followed by Gram positive rods. The antibiotics resistance profile showed that the isolated bacterial strains were mainly sensitive to streptomycin, whereas, majority of the isolates were resistant to cefixime-a third generation cephalosporin. Methicillin resistance was also found common among Staphylococcus spp. The study indicated the resistance spread among the opportunistic normal flora and the role of unhygienic hands in their transmission.