Abstract:
Introduction: People of different religions wear wrist threads believing that it brings
happiness, protection, good health, and spiritual strength. Wrist threads worn by healthcare
personnel can harbour potential pathogens which can serve as vectors of infectious agents.
Objective: To determine the types of bacterial contamination, antibiotic sensitivity
patterns and their influencing factors of wrist threads worn by students of the Faculty of
Allied Health Sciences, University of Jaffna.
Methodology: It was a laboratory-based descriptive cross-sectional study done with 256
participants. A simple random sampling method was used for sample recruitment. Swabs
were collected from the wrist threads using sterile cotton swabs moistened in sterile normal
saline from August to September 2023. Data on influencing factors were collected using
self-administered questionnaires. Isolated bacteria were identified according to the
laboratory manual of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists whereas antibiotic
sensitivity tests were performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards
Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Data were analysed using SPSS 20.
Results: Of the 256 wrist threads tested, 248 (97%) were contaminated with bacteria.
Coagulase-negative Staphylococci were the most abundant isolates found in 202 (78.90%)
wrist threads. Moreover, S.aureus in 6 (2.34%), Micrococci in 172 (67.18%),
environmental Gram-positive bacilli in 94(36.71%) and skin commensal Corynebacterium
spp. in 51(19.92%) were also found as contaminants. All isolated S. aureus were sensitive
to gentamicin, cefoxitin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and clindamycin. There was no
statistically significant association between contamination and associated factors.
Conclusion: The majority of wrist threads are contaminated with potentially pathogenic
bacteria; as a result, wrist threads can act as reservoirs of potentially pathogenic
organisms. Therefore, it is recommended to wear it in a non-exposed location.
