Microbiological Air Quality of Female Medical and Female Surgical Wards of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria

Authors: Agbonrofo CA, Agbonrofo PI, Vwioko ED, Ekhaise FO

DOI Info: N/A

ABSTRACT

The quality of the hospital environment, if not controlled, can potentially place patients, hospital workers and patients’ relatives at risk. This research was aimed at investigating the air quality of the female medical and female surgical wards of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. Air samples were collected twice daily, in the morning (7am - 8am) and in the evening (4pm - 5pm) from July, 2014 to September, 2014, using the settled plate methods. The airborne bacterial counts in the female medical and female surgical wards ranged from 3.2cfu/min to 13.2cfu/min and 3.0cfu/min to 8.2cfu/min respectively. The airborne fungal counts in the female medical and female surgical wards ranged from 3.0cfu/min to 6.7cfu/min and 3.0cfu/min to 5.7cfu/min respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the microbial counts obtained in both wards. Four (4) airborne fungal isolates (Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Mucor spp.) and four (4) airborne bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp. and Pseudomonas spp.) were characterized and identified. Staphyloccocus aureus was the only airborne bacterial isolate that was sensitive to cefdinir and ciprofloxacin while Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger were the only airborne fungal isolates that were sensitive to fluconazole. Some isolates had similar plasmids and DNA bands with the respective primers. The presence of these airborne microorganisms could pose serious health hazards. Therefore, it is recommended that the practice of good hygiene should be encouraged in public places, especially hospitals.

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