Effective Use of Skin Microbiome Signature on Fingerprints For Individual Identification

Abstract

Introduction: The skin microbiota comprises of millions of bacteria, fungi’s, and viruses that live on a dermal layer of skin. All of these particular microbiota areas were basically known as skin, gut, mouth, breathing passages, and urinary and reproductive areas. It is highlighted that telling apart the microbiota moved from a person's skin to the microbiota sample surfaces on the person's surrounding surfaces might help with criminal identification, like fingerprints. Studies have demonstrated that identification of people is possible by the observed microbiota traits of not change unchanged personal microbiota, traces left over on mouse, mobiles, and areas touched at home. Aim: This aim clearly sets out the objectives of exploring the skin microbiomes as an alternative or complementary method for biometric identification. Methods: All procedures in this study adhered to applicable ethical guidelines and legal regulations. Fifty healthy adult participants, aged 20 to 50 years, were recruited with careful consideration of variables known to influence skin microbiota, including occupational exposure, use of hand antiseptics or topical antibiotics, and frequency of public transportation use for 3 consecutive days, skin swab samples were collected from the middle finger of each participant’s right hand, along with samples from their personal belongings. Participants were instructed to perform a minimum of seven handwashing events per day. Of the ten individuals, five were employed within the same department, and two were healthcare workers. Sample collection was conducted at varying times throughout the day and on non-fixed days to minimize temporal bias. All samples were obtained using sterile cotton-tipped swabs pre-moistened with sterile solution, a validated technique for skin microbiota sampling. Results: The data indicates that hospital/cleaning staff are at a higher risk of potentially pathogenic bacteria, notably Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria; college students, on the other hand, only exhibited colonization with environmental organisms; CoNS was present in both groups indicating that colonization/contamination occurred globally.   There is a need for continuous hygiene training, especially among hospital/cleaning staff and a monitoring system of the microbial flora is vital to prevent potential nosocomial infections. Continual monitoring, or screening, as well as proper infection control measures, should be continuously encouraged to not only protect patients, but hospital/cleaning staff, also. Conclusion: A three-day study provided valuable insights into the types and prevalence of bacteria in hospital environments where staff and students work. The daily presence of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) highlights their commonality as normal skin bacteria. However, CONS can cause infections, particularly when medical devices are used or in individuals with weakened immune systems, especially in hospitals.