Effects of Feminine Wash (Soap) on Some Pathogenic Bacteria Causing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIS)

The use of feminine wash (soap) is of wide distribution among women of fertile ages for the relief of the symptoms of vaginal infections which includes: Itching, burning sensation, vaginal discharge, embarrassing odor among others.  Vaginal infection which could either be caused by yeast (Thrush), bacteria (Bacterial vaginosis), and/ or even parasites (Vaginalis), is a frequent and common distressing disease affecting up to 10-75% of women of fertile ages most of which have had recurrent episodes. This study was aimed to determine the effects of feminine washes (soaps) on Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Escherichia coli. Two hundred swab samples were collected using sterile swab sticks and transported to the laboratory for processing. The samples were inoculated each onto potato dextrose agar (PDA), Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) and Chocolate agar. The plates were then incubated at 37oC overnight, following which the isolates were identified by Gram staining and various biochemical tests. The identified isolates were then standardized by comparing with the turbidity of 0.5 McFarland standard, for the susceptibility test using agar well diffusion technique. Four different dilutions each of three different feminine washes labelled A, B and C, were prepared by serial dilution of each stock sample (100%) using half-fold dilution to obtain 50%, 25%, 12% and 6.25% concentrations. The feminine wash labelled A was found to be the most effective at all concentrations against S. aureus and E. coli but C. albicans was only susceptible at 100% and 50% concentrations. All the three isolates were found to be resistant to the feminine wash labelled C. It can therefore be concluded that, the feminine wash A is the best soap for preventing and/or managing vaginal infections.