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AUP Research Journal | ISSN 1655-5619
Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens on Second-Hand Clothing
Rovie Ross Briones, Eden Dangngay, Helen Anagel Desingano,
Mary Cyrin Victoria Defino, Ma. Kristine Mendoza
Abstract
M
any stores offer second hand clothes where safety of buyers is in question.
The purpose of this study was to determine agents that may harm users
of second-hand clothing. The research is based on descriptive small scale
analysis. Specimen from various items on a selected Tagaytay Ukay Ukay (second-hand)
store were collected using sterile swabs pre-dipped in thioglycolate broth then planted
for isolation on Eosin Methylene Blue and Blood Agar incubated at 37˚C and on Sabaraud
Dextrose Agar incubated at room temperature. Bacterial isolates were tested using
biochemical tests for identification of possible pathogens. The results show no growth
on most items and the growth observed on some, which are mostly undergarments,
are non-significant because they are most likely contaminants. Since the absence of
pathogens on second-hand clothing is noted, the researchers conclude that these items
are safe.
Keywords: Secand-Hand Clothes, Ukay-Ukay, Pathogens
For the past few years, second-hand garments
skyrocketed as they made their way into businesses and clothing stalls. Due to their good
quality and cheap prices, a huge percentage of
buyers started patronizing them. These thrift
second-hand shops called “Ukay-Ukay” have
become a trend. Nowadays, you can see them
along many city plazas and flea markets. Being
drawn by the cheap prices, most buyers would
not take into consideration the possible risks
they can acquire from these clothings while
some are apprehensive about their safety.
A previous research conducted in Kenya by Muthiana, Matiru, and Bii (2012) showed
that certain significant, pathogenic microorganVol. 19 No. 2
isms can be present on second-hand garments.
The isolated organisms include Trichophyton
mentagrophytes which is a frequent cause of
chronic infection of the feet, the nails, and the
groin and Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus
aureus which can cause boils accompanied by
fever and rash.
In the study of Bloomfield, Martin, Signorelli, Nath, and Scott (2011), they found
that there is a risk for the spreading of pathogens in faeces, vomit, skin scales, etc. onto
clothing and the infection risk depends on the
pathogens’ ability to survive on fabrics. Their
review of several previous studies show that,
“Gram positive spp. such as S. aureus, C. difficile
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and fungal spp. can survive long periods (several days to months) on fabrics” (p. 33). Thus,
second-hand clothing might have been contaminated with pathogens that survive longer
even if they have been washed. Bloomfield et
al. also found that washing does not eliminate
all the pathogens in clothing as it depends on
how the washing was done such as on the kind
of detergent and bleach used, or even the drying as some pathogens may survive in certain
temperatures.
Since there is a dearth of research in the
Philippines regarding second-hand clothes, the
researchers conducted a similar study focusing
mainly on the identification of agents of skin
diseases of bacterial and fungal origin from second hand clothing in Tagaytay Ukay Ukay shops.
The objective of this study was to identify the specific organism present in second-hand
clothing and note whether it can cause skin irritation and other possible health hazards based
on available scientific information.
This study hopes to foster awareness on
the probable presence of microorganisms that
may be pathogenic in nature among the public and encourage store owners and buyers to
practice proper storage, handling, and disinfection.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A study by Muthiani, Matiru, and Bii
(2012) was conducted in Kenya to examine the
pathogenic microbial levels in second-hand undergarments such as panties, bras, socks, and
towels. It compared the effectiveness of disinfection methods in reducing microbial load in
undergarments using culture and biochemical
tests. Several bacteria such as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus, and fungi including
Trychophyton mentagrophytes, and other more
were isolated from these unwashed clothing.
These pathogenic bacteria and fungi still remain
in these clothes even after disinfecting.
Another study was conducted by Kabadil, Smith, and Gomez (2013) to 67 volunteer
medical students of American University of the
Caribbean School of Medicine who had their
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laboratory coats swabbed during their time in
Anatomy Laboratory class. Their samples were
collected prior to the laboratory activity and
another at the end of it. The researchers then
found out those potential pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and
Escherichia faecalis were present on the laboratory coats of those students, with a significant
difference between the results of the pre-swabbing and post-swabbing. These findings indicate
that laboratory garments worn in the Anatomy
Laboratory setting were not sterile after exposure and thus harbor potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Hence, proper timely laundering
of laboratory clothing is recommended (Kabadil, Smith and Gomez, et. al, 2013).
In 1998 and 1999, Dart, a graduate student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York
and Cornell textiles professor Kay Obendorf, examined how seven types of fabric harbor and
disperse Aspergillus spores (Potera, 2001). They
found that cotton fabric spreads spores better
than other fabrics. Their findings were published in 2000 by the American Society for Testing and Materials in a collection of papers titled
Performance of Protective Clothing: Issues and
Priorities for the 21st Century, Seventh Volume.
The researchers deposited a known number of
spores on swatches of co tton, polyester, rayon,
and lycocell (sold as Tencel) in a specially built
contamination chamber. The fabrics were exposed for two (2) minutes to a mild airflow (2.5
L/min), equivalent to the gentle breeze generated during a slow bike ride. Photomicrographs
taken with a scanning electron microscope revealed that cotton’s surface morphology--the
physical structure of its fibers--favors the retention and slow release of spores. The cotton
fiber twists and cross each other, making “lots
of little concave hiding places of just the right
diameter to catch spores,” reported Dart (as
cited in Potera, 2001, p. 365). In contrast, the
researchers found that rayon, polyester, and lycocell fibers appear smoother, with less contact
area for spores.
In addition, cotton can soak up more
moisture, which reduces static electrical attractions between the spores and the fabric; cotton
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Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens on Second-Hand Clothing
therefore has a greater propensity than other
fabrics for releasing spores, according to Dart
(as cited in Potera, 2001). Extrapolating from
their laboratory tests, the researchers theorize
that simply walking into a patient’s room can
dislodge spores that cling to visitors’ clothing.
“Hugging, kissing, sitting on a patient’s bed, or
pulling up a chair creates air turbulence and
friction within and around fabric, releasing potentially deadly spores,” says Obendorf. The
researchers recommend that visitors and staff
wear protective gowns, caps, and shoe coverings near immune-compromised patients. They
added that laundering effectively removes Aspergillus spores, so hospital-laundered protective garments could significantly reduce the risk
of infection.
It is known that some bacteria are very
resistant in clothes and if no appropriate disinfection is done, greater possibility that the bacteria still thrive on the clothing article. Moreover, an owner of a second hand store that sells
second hand winter clothes admitted that if
washing and disinfection is done, the price of
clothes will be higher which will be less affordable by the mass of buyers (Sharifzada, 2011).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sampling
The researchers employed modified
systematic quota sampling from a single second-hand clothing shop located in Tagaytay.
One sample each came from the new arrival
and old section. It was systematically selected
as every 10th clothing article from each selected rack. Thus, a total of 18 samples were collected. Prior to swabbing, the selected store
was divided using 3x3 grid for specification of
the selected items.
Procedure
Specimens were collected using a sterile cotton swab rubbed against the following
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pre-selected surfaces: cup region for bras,
perianal region for undergarments, pants and
shorts, armpit and neckline area for blouses
and shirts, and the sole region for close and
open shoes.
After collection, each sample was placed
in a thioglycolate broth and transported to Pinoy Doctors Medical Clinic for inoculation. Media used in cultures for bacterial analysis were
blood agar and Eosin Methylene Blue. Fungal
analysis, on the other hand, utilized Sabaraud
Dextrose Agar.
After an overnight incubation for bacterial analysis, prepared slides from isolated
colonies were studied under the microscope
followed by biochemical tests for further identification of the species. Fungal analysis, on the
other hand, underwent seven (7) days of incubation.
RESULTS
All collected samples were 18. Each type
of item subject for analysis was taken from the
old and new arrival section. The store was divided using a 3x3 grid as a representation of the
position of the included items. The researchers employed a systematic sampling method in
which every 10 th article in a rack located on a
specific area of the grid was chosen.
Clothing from Wall 1 included old long
pants; in Wall 2 were new and old close and
open shoes, old and new polo, and old shorts; in
Wall 3 were new blouses. Clothing placed near
the door were old blouse and new long pants.
Those that were at the middle of the store were
new shorts, old and new bras, briefs, and panties.
Table 1 shows that there were 15 items
of which had no growth and only three items
with growth after the incubation process for
bacterial analysis, and all 18 samples had no
growth after 7 days of incubation for fungal
analysis.
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Table 1
Results of Bacterial and Fungal Analysis
Bacterial Culture
(after 72 hours of incubation)
Source
Blouse
Long Pants
Panty
Bra
Brief
Polo
Open Shoes
Short
Panty
Polo
Blouse
Closed Shoes
Open Shoes
Long Pants
Brief
Bra
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
With growth after 72 hours of incubation in liquid and plated media.
With growth after 72 hours of incubation in liquid and plated media.
With growth after 72 hours of incubation in liquid and plated media.
Legends: NG-No growth
Fungal Culture
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
Table 2
Clothing With Growth and the Isolate Found
Source
Long pants
Brief
Bra
Table 2 shows a common isolate found on
particular clothing such as long pants, brief and
bra which was Staphylococcus epidermidis. The
clothing with growth was all from the new arrival
section.
DISCUSSION
This study determined whether clothing from a particular Ukay-Ukay shop in Tagaytay
contains pathogenic agents and to identify them
if there are any. In a study conducted by Muthiani, Matiru, and Bii (2010) in Kenya, several bacteria such as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus
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Isolate
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Aureus and Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus
Aureus, and fungi including Trychophyton mentagrophytes, and other more were isolated from
these unwashed second-hand garments particularly panties, bras, socks, and towels. In this study,
however, Staphylococcus epidermidis was the
only organism isolated from the perianal region
of the long pants and brief, and cup of undergarments. As part of the human epithelial microflora, this skin colonizer has apparently not evolved
to cause disease but maintain the commonly benign relationship with its host. It has been also
proposed to have a probiotic function by preVol. 19 No. 2
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Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens on Second-Hand Clothing
venting colonization of more pathogenic bacteria
such as Staphylococcus Aureus. Most of the time
Staphylococcus epidermidis is nonpathogenic but
sometimes associated to nosocomial infections
from contaminated IV, surgical instruments and
usage of catheter (Advameg, 2007).
One probable reason for the growth of
Staphylococcus epidermidis on those particular
items might be contamination. The new arrival
section is believed to have less exposure to the
environment but more contact to buyers. The
long pants also were placed near the door where
contact and contamination is most likely to occur. Prior to swabbing, a buyer might have been
in contact with the items and thus leaving a species of the skin normal flora. Pathogens identified
from the study of the previous researcher were
not isolated in this study. This might be because
of the condition underwent in the transportation
of the clothing from the place of pick-up until
the place of their display in stores. Furthermore,
the probability of the application of disinfection
methods might as well be considered to have
caused the absence of significant isolates.
According to USFDA (2014), all bacteria
have a particular temperature range at which they
can survive. For a specific type of bacteria, the
range can be very high, very low, or somewhere
in between, although it is always a narrow range.
Much bacteria and fungi rely on the moisture and
constant temperature of 37°C since most bacteria
thrive at temperatures close to that of the human
body. Fungi can normally tolerate the range of
temperature of the environment from which they
are taken. Active growth will usually be associated with a limited range of temperatures (15 and
30°C), according to University of Sydney (2004).
This was alo revealed in the research of Bloomfield et al. (2011) that pathogens survive of several days to months in various conditions including
temperature. They may also survive even with
the use of detergents and bleaches depending
on the strength and number of pathogens in the
clothes.
Other factors that influence the growth
of bacteria include pH and oxygen exposure (Advameg, 2007). Some bacteria require oxygen to
grow (aerobes) while others can grow only in
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the absence of oxygen (anaerobes), Advameg explained; however, many bacteria grow under either condition and they are facultative anaerobes.
CONCLUSION
The study concludes that most types
of clothing from Ukay-Ukay shop contained no
significant pathogens. Therefore, there is less
chance for the users to experience discomfort like
skin irritation.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This study is based on the chosen types of clothing, one item under each type for both female
and male. For further studies, the researchers
recommend the following for better understanding of the possibilities of the second hand clothing
that may harbor pathogenic agents: First is the increasing of the sample size, i.e., having more second-hand shops randomly chosen to give a more
valid and reliable result. Second, the type of fabric of each clothing may be added as an influence
in the growth of possible pathogens. Other contributing factors may be taken into consideration
such as the humidity of the place, the disinfection
methods, and the source of those clothings.
REFERENCES
Advameg. (2007). Bacteria. Retrieved from
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Bloomfield, S. F., Martin, E., Signorelli, C., Nath,
K. J., & Scott, E. A. (2011, April). The
infection risks associated with clothing and household linens in home
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Kabadil C. J., Smith III C. R., & Gomez, F. (2013,
May). Potential pathogen transmission
on medical student anatomy laboratory
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Muthiani, Y. M., Matiru, V. N., & Bii, C. (2012).
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