Bacteriological assessment of the indoor air quality of the lecture rooms in the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To assess the bacteria load of lecture rooms in the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
Methods: Air sampling using settle plate method in lecture rooms was carried out for two months. The temperature and relative humidity of the sampled areas were determined while the bacteriological analyses were carried out using the standard microbiological methods. Virulent factors and antibiotics susceptibility profile of the isolates were analyzed.
Results: The lecture room with the highest bacterial, coliform and Staphylococci count was plant biology and biotechnology lecture room with values 4.84 ± 0.82 × 10³, 4.30 ± 0.51 × 10³ and 3.52 ± 0.89 × 10³ CFU/m³, respectively, in the two months dectected. The identified bacterial isolates were Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Aeromonas (A.) hydrophilia, Enterobacter intermedius, Serratia liquefacias, Pseudomonas spp., Micrococcus luteus, Acineobacter baumanii, Lactobacillus fermenti, Serratia marcescens, A. veronii, Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium spp. The isolate with the highest frequency of occurrence was Staphylococcus aureus. Bacterial isolates with the highest virulence factors of 100 % was A. veronii. The antibiotic susceptibility profile showed that all Gram-negative bacterial isolates were susceptible to Sparfloxacin antibiotic. Isolate with the highest multiple antibiotic resistance index of 0.6 was Acineobacter baumanii.
Conclusions: To maintain air quality, constant monitoring of parameters like temperature and humidity that promote the presence organisms in the air, reducing the number of occupants, ensuring a well-functioning ventilation system, and implementing regular cleaning routines should be practiced.

Keywords

Bacteria load / Lecture rooms / Indoor air quality / Temperature

Conflict of interest statement

The authors claim there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

This study receives no extramural funding.

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Authors’ contributions

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Osaghae MA, Williams OJ and Oshoma CE conceived and designed the experimental plan, also wrote the article. Osaghae MA, Williams OJ and Obasuyi C performed the Lab experiments. Osaghae MA, Williams OJ, Obasuyi C and Ogbe BE carried out data collection and analysis. Obasuyi C and Ogbe BE contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools. The final manuscript was read and approved by all the authors.

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