Preliminary Study on Bacterial Diversity Causing Human Foot Odor

Abstract

Abstract This preliminary study was aimed at studying on microbial diversity causing odor of the human foot. The objective was to know the main bacteria species causing foot odor. The method used in this study was foot swab by using cotton buds for bacterial isolation, tests for H2S gas formation by using Kligler Iron Agar solid medium, odor test and optical density value. There were 204 bacterial isolates collected from 30 people ranged from 7-40 years old. They were identified based on polyphasic characterization. Based on 50 cultures of 25 isolates, it was indicated that sweat filtrate was better medium for bacterial growth than shocks filtrate. This was indicated that the odor problem was from sweat which was consisted of bacterial growth producing unpleasant odor. These were shown by the H2S producing-bacteria such as Bacillus cereus and Proteus mirabilis were isolated from the foot. Those bacteria were identified based on their partial sequences of 16sDNA. Other bacteria isolated were Acinetobacterpittii, Enterobacterhormaecheisubsp. xiangfangensis, Enterobactermori, Glutamicibactercreatinolyticus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Leclerciaadecarboxylata, and Staphylococcus warnerii.Further study will be carried out to use bacteriophages for eliminating bacterial biofilm in vitro. Bacteriophage uses for prevention application for human foot odor by bacterial growth is much prospective than other application such as sanitizer or disinfectant.