Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part A (2022)

The aim of the present research work is to compare the efficacy of various branded soaps against skin infecting human pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli using agar disc diffusion method. Various microbes are deposited on the surface of skin from the dust present in external environment which causes infection. Identification of bacterial strains was done by standard microbiological techniques. Soap samples were prepared into different concentrations of; 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml, 150mg/ml, 200mg/ml, and 250mg/ml soap concentrations were subjected to the different bacteria strains, using agar disc diffusion method to know how sensitive the organisms are to the soap concentrations. The zones of clearance increase with increase in concentration. Dettol and Safeguard were found to be more effective, amongst the antiseptic soap, while Extract and Zee, was found to more effective amongst the herbal soaps. Determination of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) activity of the microorganisms was performed. Antiseptic soaps showed better MIC in comparison with herbal and beauty soaps. The most resistant bacteria to all the soaps are Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is obvious that antiseptic soaps have the antibacterial agents that can either kill or inhibit the bacterial cells. It might be possible that some bacterial strains become resistant which leads to their survival even at high concentrations of soaps. Dettol and Safeguard soaps are encouraged to be used in Hospitals, and in homes.