Gram Negative Bacteria (GNB) Isolated From Used Home-made and Surgical Nose/Face Mask by Local Residents of Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, a Threat to Life and False Sense of Protection against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
Authors: Osuntokun Oludare Temitope 
Published: January 2022

Nose/Face masks are physical barriers to respiratory droplets that may enter through the nose and mouth to cause infections in the respiratory tract. The study was determined and assess the presence of Gram-negative bacteria in used home-made and surgical nose mask by residents of Akungba-Akoko Ondo State and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility and resistant profile of the isolated bacteria to eight (8) different antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial analysis were performed using standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Antimicrobial Susceptibility test of all identified isolates to antimicrobial agents were determined using the standard Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The Gram-negative bacteria that were detected from the used home-made and surgical nose mask in this study include: Haemophilus influenza, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia. During this study, all the Gram-negative bacteria isolates were resistant to Ciproflox in both used home-made and surgical nose mask. All isolates were also resistant to Ampicilin, Augmentin, Septrin and Streptomycin. In this study, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated organism from used home-made nose mask, it was observed that Escherichia coli were resistant to Augmentin, Tarivid, Ciproflox, Gentamycin, and Reflaxine, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant to Tarivid, Ciproflox, and Nalidixic acid between 20 mm and 24 mm zones of inhibition respectively. Haemophilus influenza, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis were isolated organism from used surgical nose mask. It was observed that all isolated organisms from the used surgical nose/face mask were resistant to Augmentin and Gentamycin between 20 and 24 mm zones of inhibition respectively. Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from both used home-made and surgical nose/face mask and were found to be resistant to Streptomycin, Septrin, Ampicilin, and Gentamicin between 20 to 22 mm zones of inhibition respectively. Proteus mirabilis were isolated from used surgical nose/face mask,        they were found to be resistant to Ciproflox at 21mm zones of inhibition. Haemophilus influenza were resistant to Ampicilin, Septrin, Streptomycin, and Augmentin at 23 mm zones of inhibition. Isolates from used both home-made and surgical nose/face mask were subjected to modified and synergized antibiotics, it was observed that the isolates from both used home-made and surgical nose mask were resistant to all modified and synergized antibiotics between 20 and 25 mm zones of inhibition respectively. The result of this study validates the potency of  Gram negative bacteria isolated from used both home-made and surgical nose/face mask and the degree of invasion and evasiveness, thereby causing various degrees of infections and a false sense of protection against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Finding from this research recommends a stringent measures were needed to be implemented, to halt and combat this revenging situation especially in the new era of mutating SARS-CoV-2 Virus not only in Nigeria, worldwide at large.