Examination of Molds in Foods1

Conde, Ryan Carlo P.

BS Biology III

April 12 -18, 2016

A scientific paper submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements in Food Microbiology under Ms. Maria
Louisa A. Enal 2nd sem, 2015-2016

ABSTRACT

Sources

of

microbial

contaminations

are

everywhere

and

microbial

contamination refers to the accidental introduction of infectious material. The

study conducted was used to determine the sources of contamination in
Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) Microlab when apprehending an
experiment in the field of Microbiology. Human body and Environment are both
subjected to microbial contamination, thus, it is both suspected to have high
contamination and to get this data, some of the methods used are: finger
imprinting, arm swabbing, surface swabbing, and air gravity control. Results
showed that sources of microbial contamination can occur everywhere, unless it
was kept sanitized using asepsip method. Also, practicing good aseptic
technique is critical in maintaining the purity of cell cultures as well as a safe lab
environment. The study done was conducted at SLSU Microlab on April 04, 2016.

INTRODUCTION

Microbiological contamination refers to the non-intended or accidental

introduction of infectious material like bacteria, yeast, mould, fungi, virus, prions,
protozoa or their toxins and by-products (Gabriel, J. 2008). Different types of
microbial pathogens can cause contamination and infections, thus, some of
these types are bacteria, viruses, prions, and fungi, yeast, and protozoa. Bacteria
are microorganism with a size of up to 5 m and represent the most important
group of pathogens. Aside from being divided into gram-positive and gram-

negative bacteria, they are further divided into commensal and pathogenic
bacteria.
Microorganisms are with us in our daily lives and in healthy individuals
usually present no threat to life. However aseptic products are prepared for
patients whose health is compromised of and the introduction of microorganism
could kill or seriously harm the patient. Bacteria are everywhere. It lives on our
soil, streams, food, in us, and in virtually all habitable locations on earth.
MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment done is focused in two parts mainly the human body and the
environment itself. All PCA plates used for the experiments performed was been
incubated at 35C and was observed after 48 hours have been passed.
I.

Human Body
A. Finger Imprinting
In a prepared nutrient agar, before doing any hand washing or
sanitizing, using one hand, a five-finger impression was left on the plate
count agar (PCA) plates by rolling each finger and thumb on the agar.
While same procedure was done on the second batch of the experiment
except that the hand were already washed and sanitized before imprinting
was made.
B. Arm Swabing

In the inner part of an arm a 4x4 cm was drawn using a pen and
was rubbed with bare hands. Then in a 10 ml diluent (dH 2O), a sterile
applicator was moistened and was swabbed into the 4x4 cm. After
swabbing, the swabbed applicator was placed back onto the 10 ml dH 2O
to be shaken. Using a pippete set at 1000 m, 1 ml of aliquot was
transferred to a 9 ml dH 2O to make a 10-2 dilution, from this dilution using
pour plate technique 1.0 ml and 0.10 ml of inoculum was made in the
duplicate. Whereas, on the other side of arm, same procedures was done
except for sanitizing the arm first before it was swabbed.
II.

Environment
A. Surfaces
Again, in a tube containing a 10 ml dH 2O, an applicator stick was
moistened and was swabbed into the 4 nx4n area of the chosen area.
Repeated steps of dilution and pour plating was done and was incubated
at 35C.

B. Air
PCA plates prepared were left open for 30 minutes in eight different
areas of SLSU Microlab. Observation was done right after 48 hours of
incubation in an incubator at 35C.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. Number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) present in Different types of

Sources
SOURCES
I. HUMAN BODY:
ARM: UNSANITIZED
G6 ARM UNSD A
G6 ARM UNSD B
G6 ARM UNSD C
G6 ARM UNSD D
ARM: SANITIZED
G6 ARM SD A
G6 ARM SD B
G6 ARM SD C
G6 ARM SD D
FINGER: UNSANITIZED
6 HB UNSD 1
6 HB UNSD 2
FINGER: SANITIZED
6 HB SD 1
6 HB SD 2
II. ENVIRONMENT
SURFACES
G6 FLOOR SMA
G6 FLOOR SMB
G6 FLOOR SMC
G6 FLOOR SMD
AIR
TABLE 1
TABLE 2
TABLE 3
STORING AREA
WEIGHING AREA
WORKING AREA
ISOLATION ROOM
DECONTAMINATION ROOM

# of CFUs
TMC
TMC
6 (TFC)
2 (TFC)
0
0
1 (TFC)
0
42
105
31
25
TMC
TMC
76
85
73
83
68
87
76
70
51
71

Note: TMC = Too many to count; TFC = Too few to count

Table 1 summarizes the results in terms of numbers of CFUs formed in

different sources of contamination using both aseptic and non-aseptic method to
further analyze the number of CFUs that will form in the NA.
Based on the Table (See #Table1) above, in regard to the human body,
finger imprinting on the dominant hand got a higher rate of sources of
contamination than in the adjacent hand with a number of 105 CFUs when left
unsterilized and 42 CFUs in the other hand when left unsterilized. While on the
inner part of the arm, uncountable CFUs are formed in 1.0 ml aliquot and too few
CFUs are formed on the 0.10 ml aliquot. Then, in regard to the environment of
SLSU Microlab, Floor surfaces of the room got too many CFUs formed with a
number of 76 and 85 CFUs in 0.10 ml of aliquot. Different parts of the laboratory
room was observed for air quality and was found to be having an average of 72.4
CFUs.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Modern laboratories are busy environments with personnel sharing

equipment across overlapping workstations that may be near high-traffic areas
and busy instruments, thus, possible contamination may occur on the experiment
being apprehended. Microbial contamination refers to the accidental introduction
of infectious material. And, based on the results provided it can be concluded that
sources of contamination can occur in almost everywhere unless it was kept
sterilized using different techniques of aseptic methods. Also, practicing good

aseptic technique is critical to maintaining the purity of cell cultures as well as a

safe lab environment.

LITERATURE CITED

Gabriel, J. (2008). Infusion Therapy. Part Two: Prevention and Management of

Complications. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Nurs Stand. 2008; 22(32): 418

Konar, J., & Das, S. (2013). International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science

Invention.
Common Contaminants of Bacteriology Laboratory: Microbiological
Paramores, 2(1), 36-37. Retrieved April 17, 2016, from
http://www.ijpsi.org/Papers/Vol2(11)/F0211036037.pdf

Vesley D, Lauer J, Hawley R. Decontamination, sterilization, disinfection, and

antisepsis.
In: Fleming DO, Hunt DL, editors. Laboratory safety: principles and
practices. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: ASM Press; 2001. p. 383-402.