Microbiological Assessment of Indoor Airborne Microflora in Wards/Units of a Tertiary Hospital in Uyo - Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the microbial quality of indoor air in wards/units of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo-Nigeria between February and March, 2015. Methodology: Eight wards in UUTH were examined using sedimentation technique for the enumeration of bacterial and fungal isolates. These include male and female medical wards, male and female surgical wards, neonatal ward, children’s ward, operating theater and accident and emergency unit. Bacterial isolates were characterized and identified by cultural, morphological and microscopic examinations and identified further using different biochemical tests. Fungi colonies were identified using standard procedures based on colonial appearance, microscopic examination of spores and hyphal characteristics of lactophenol cotton blue preparation. Results: Bacterial colony forming count ranged from 87.5 cfu/m3 in Accident and Emergency Unit to 4.6 cfu/m3 in operating theater. Fungal colony count was highest in Accident and Emergency ward (59.7 cfu/m3) and lowest in operating theater (4.6 cfu/m3). The total bacterial population load in UUTH wards/units was higher among evening samples (635) than morning samples (475). Fungi population load was higher in morning (367) than evenings (245). Accident and Emergency was observed to be the most contaminated unit for both mornings and evenings. The result revealed the isolation of 6 bacterial isolates mostly Staphylococcus aureus and 6 fungal isolates mostly Aspergillus sp. Conclusion: The unavoidable inhalation or contact with some of these microbes by patients, visitors and health care workers in these wards/units could pose serious health threat especially among susceptible individuals. Hence, necessary steps should be taken by the hospital management to forestall undesirable consequences.