Abstract
This study investigated the susceptibility pattern and efficacy of commercially available disinfectants to Staphylococcus aureus isolated from butchers’ tables in Abakaliki meat market. Butchers’ tables were swabbed using appropriately labelled sterile cotton swab sticks. The labelled swab sticks were immediately transported to the laboratory for microbiological analysis. The susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus was determined using modified Kirby-Bauer susceptibility test method on Dettol, Purit, Isol, and Savlon. Susceptibility tests of disinfectants on Staphylococcus aureus isolates were done at 25 % and 50 % concentration of the stock concentration. The result of this study showed that at 50 % concentration, Staphylococcus aureus exhibited a high percentage of susceptibility as against its susceptibility at 25 % concentration. The susceptibility readings at 50 % concentration of disinfectants are 89.3 %(25) for Dettol, 89.3 %(25) for Purit, 92.9 %(26) for Isol, and 78.6 %(22) for savlon while at 25 % concentration, it was 78.6%(22) for Dettol, 78.6%(22) for purit, 96.4%(27) for Isol, and 82.1%(23) for savlon. Results showed that Isol was the most effective disinfectant against S. aureus isolates. This was closely followed by Dettol, Purit and savlon being the least effective disinfectant. Therefore, effective cleaning and a safe level disinfection of butchers’ environment with Isol disinfectant is strongly recommended as a means of safe guarding consumers’ health.