Soap
By: Anna Weisser
Description and Rationale
Even though the Philippines is a gorgeous country and is filled with many resources there is also a big streak of poverty throughout the country. Within the poorer areas of the Philippines it is difficult to maintain cleanliness. Kids play with random objects that are strewn on the ground and I have also seen them play with the running water in the sewages beside the sidewalks. Many different types of bacteria and viruses (only to name a few things) are transmitted to the kids’ hands and other parts of their body too. As they rub their eyes, noses and even stick their fingers in their mouths they are putting themselves in potential danger of illness that could possibly be fatal. In some cases the parents make the kids wash their hands with bar soap. But is using bar soap the most effective way in maintaining cleanliness? To better protect and shield the kids in these areas I am going to find out whether there is a better alternative is keeping cleanliness without having to use bar soap.
Might using bar soap be a preference among the squatters? Do they know that it is much safer to use soap from a bottle, when it comes to spreading illnesses? Is buying liquid soaps too costly, especially when used frequently? Does the fact that the liquid soaps come with a bottle and a pump mechanism raise the cost of the soap? Are there ways we could make our own liquid soap? Could we recycle old bottles and fill them, instead of going out and buying new ones?
Are there other ways to use bar soaps, but still keep the household members from transferring their germs onto it and passing them to the next user? Studies have shown that bacteria tend to linger on the moist bar of soap, and that leaving the bar soap on a countertop or a rack leaves residue from the soap which turns into wastage. Which means that they are not using resources wisely! If a way of making homemade liquid soap is found affective, then how could that be communicated back to the squatter areas? If a way of recycling used plastic or glass bottles can be incorporated in this experiment, then how will that get communicated to the squatter community?
The main focus and purpose of this experiment is to find a way where the highest level of the squatter area’s cleanliness can be kept but at the same time spend the least amount of money. At the same time, there might be a way to recycle used bottles! Through research, observations, and data I hope to be able to find the most effective way to help the squatter community to become aware of what uses can come out of resources that surround them and how to effectively recycle used bottles and scraps of bar soaps.
I hope to be a part of helping the improvement of the livelihood and physical health in the squatter communities that surround my neighborhood. In doing this I might even be able to share the gospel and bring more people to know Christ!
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Biology
Common Names and Synonyms
Staphylococcus epidermidis is usually referred to as just Staphylococcus. A synonym of Staphylococcus epidermidis is Staphylococcus albus. To shorten the name, people call it S. Epidermidis, putting the entire first word into one letter. Staphylococcus epidermidis is also known as Albococcus epidermidis or Micrococcus epidermidis. Even through much research, I could not find how to translate ‘Staphylococcus epidermidis’ into Tagalog.
Classification
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Firmicutes
Class: Cocci
Order: Bacillales
Family: Staphylococcaceae
Genus: Staphylococcus
Species: S. epidermidis
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Morphology and Physical Description
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a microorganism that is made up of Gram-positive cocci that don’t move around, they are immobile, and they stay together in groups like clusters of grapes. Looking at them they look like little white raised spheres. Staphylococcus epidermidis is part of the human skin flora, but can also be found in animals. There are thirty-three species that are in the genus called Staphylococcus and Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of those. Staphylococcus epidermidis doesn’t have the gelatinase enzyme; resulting in it not being able to hydrolyze gelatin. The organism acquires iron from a transferrin, “…plasma glycoprotein that transports dietary iron to the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/transferrin), through a transferring binding protein on the cell walls. It has cell walls but no outer membrane. The Staphylococcus epidermidis has no endospores. The capsule of the organism is called the polysaccharide intercellular adhesion (PIA). The PIA is composed of sulfated polysaccharide.
Getting Food
They get energy to grow either by aerobic respiration (taking in or breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide) or by fermentation that ends up producing lactic acid.
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Reproduction
The cell goes through asexual reproduction by binary fission.
“During reproduction the cells go through the following steps:
1. Cell replicates its DNA which is attached to the cytoplasmic membrane
2. The cytoplasmic membrane elongates and separates DNA molecules
3. The cell forms a cross-wall invaginating the cytoplasmic membrane eventually dividing the cross-wall and the daughter cells
4. Snapping division occurs by inner portion of the cell wall is deposited across the dividing cell. The new transverse wall thickens and puts tension on the outer layer of the old cell wall. This binds the two cells together.”
(http://www.freewebs.com/palexander13/reproduction.htm)
Environmental Factors
The Staphylococcus epidermidis is commensal meaning that it lives in clusters rather than being by itself. The Staphylococcus epidermidis lives on the skin of humans, and is sometimes found in animals. It also seems to cling to plastics more than other things. It is mostly found in hospitals, especially if they are unclean and in poorer areas where they do not have the funds or supplies to keep the hospitals fully sanitary. Staphylococcus epidermidis also is attracted to people with poor immune systems. Since it is a pathogen of the skin on humans, it lives and seems to grow most efficiently at 37°C.
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Origin and Distribution
Staphylococcus epidermidis usually originates from hospitals. It clings to plastics which the hospitals posses many plastic catheters. These plastic catheters are implanted into people resulting in the bacteria being implanted as well. Staphylococcus epidermidis can be also transmitted by IVs. that are not properly cleaned and stored. When doctors do not properly cleanse their hands, there is a high risk in the bacteria being transmitted off of their hands and onto a surgical tool or the actually thing being placed into the body. Most infections that come from the hospital are caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Importance to People
The costs associated with Staphylococcus infections create an enormous burden to many hospitals around the world. People need to understand how severe infections from Staphylococcus epidermidis can get, and they need to know how to defend against getting these infections. “Other diseases caused by staphylococci include boils, sinusitis, emesis, diarrhea, endocarditis, scalded skin syndrome, osteomyelitis, urinary tract infection, and toxic shock syndrome.” (http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Staphylococcus)
It is important for us to understand how to best defend ourselves from getting infected by this bacterium. Also to understand how to keep our hospitals a safe and clean place where the people don’t have to worry about whether their implants were properly taken care of and cleansed.
Survivability and Endangered Status
Staphylococcus epidermidis is not endangered at all, it is a thriving and common bacteria. They main reason that this bacterium is so populated and common is because it is resistant to antibiotics. Usually for bacterial infections, the way to get rid of it is by taking antibiotics. But antibiotics don’t have an affect on Staphylococcus epidermidis. Therefore it continues to live and populate.
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Potential Solutions
Are there ways to decrease the spreading of sickness and disease? When it comes down to it I found out that how you wash your hands plays a big role in the transmission of bacteria. Are there ways to use soap and not have to worry about receiving bacteria from the previous user? After creating a survey sheet, I printed off 5 copies and handed them out to the guards at the gates of my subdivision and Ate Dine my helper. I found out that all of them use bar soap. Another question on the survey asked them why they used that type of soap, and their answers were all the same! They stated that using bar soap was cheaper and more effective. Viewing my options on how to show them that using bar soap can be dangerous when it comes to transmitting bacteria, I tried to find ways to transform bar soap trimmings into something usable and cost effective. During the process of showing people my findings, I can also show them that even God knows that proper hygiene is needed to stay healthy, “Anyone the man with a discharge touches without rinsing his hands with water must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. “ Leviticus 15:11
Possibility 1
Recycling Bar Soap Scraps
Instead of throwing away the small pieces of soap that are too difficult to use or the ‘wastage’ that the bar soap leaves behind on the sink or countertop, just gather it all up and save it in a container. Then once you have collected enough (about ½ cup) use a spoon, or other tool, and mash together all the pieces and ‘wastage’ until it forms a single semi-solid. Then put the newly formed bar of soap on a drying rack or cookie rack, then set it out in the sun. Let the sun dehydrate the soap so that it isn’t a mushy mess. Then once it is dried out, you have a new bar of soap! But instead of setting the bar soap back onto the counter, set it onto a soap holder with holes or slits on the bottom of it to drain it out after each use.
Advantages
An advantage to this possibility would be the recycling factor of it. Instead of throwing away usable scraps of soap, they would be recycling it and making it useful again. Recycling the soap also would reduce the cost in buying a daily necessity, which would eventually prove this possibility to be cost effective!
Disadvantages
The disadvantages of this plan is that by mixing together the scraps and ‘wastage’ of bar soap you are also mixing together living bacteria. The bacteria that have been transmitted off of the previous user’s hands still remain alive on and within the soap. So despite the fact that using the scraps of soap is beneficial in the money saving and recycling area, it is still dangerous to reuse the soap when the bacteria is animate.
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Possibility 2
Turning Bar Soap into Liquid Soap
Since we use soap everyday, why not find a way to make the soap last longer? We can use just ½ a cup (or 4 oz) of soap to make a gallon of liquid soap! This is how we would do it; a gallon of water needs to be put into a pot and set on top of a stove. Turn the stove on and let the water come to a boil, then once it is boiling turn down the heat so that the water is just steamy. Then we would take the bar of soap and cut the soap scraps into tiny pieces, although it would be preferable to grate the soap. Add the grated or cut soap to the heated water. Once the soap is in, take the pot off the heat and let it sit for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, use a large spoon or whisk and blend together the mixture. Once it is all blended together let it sit overnight to cool down. If in the morning the mixture is not completely blended together, mix it again. Once there are no lingering pieces of soap left in the pot, pour it into any kind of bottle.
Advantages
Starting off with having ½ cup (or 4 oz) of bar soap, we would end up making a gallon of liquid soap! Proving that making homemade liquid soap is cost effective, even more so than the first option. If a family does not have their own stove, they can still make this liquid soap because water doesn’t require a stove to be heated! They can use a microwave, open fire, a grill, etc. Also, by heating up the water, the bacteria that could potentially be living in the water would be killed, along with bacteria that could be on the soap bar. Old bottles such as; plastic soda bottles, cooking oil glass bottles, even perfume bottles can be recycled and used to hold the homemade liquid soap! Families also have the option on creating their own version of liquid soap and even selling it to the people that live around them so that they too can be safe when it comes to washing hands.
Disadvantages
This option may seem tedious to some people because it is a process that includes using the stove (or heat source) and preparing the soap so that it is ready to add to the water and then waiting. Also, some people may not have a gallon of water to spare, they may need it for more important needs such as; cooking, drinking, showering, cleaning etc.
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Bibliography
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