Microbiological Quality of Indoor and Outdoor Air in Delta State University Libraries (ABRAKA)

The quality of air inhaled by an individual within his environment determines to a great degree the well-being of that individual. The study was aimed at assessing the microbial quality of indoor and outdoor air in Delta State University libraries, Abraka. A total of twenty indoor and outdoor air samples were collected from the various faculty libraries and analysed using standard microbiological procedures. Results obtained showed that the total bacterial counts ranged from 1.4±0.33×103 to 8.0±0.13×103 CFU/cm3 with the main library having the highest bacterial load. Fungal count ranged from 1.0±0.08×103 to 9.0±0.22×103 CFU/cm3. Eight bacterial isolates were identified in the study which included: Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sp., Citrobacter sp., Streptococcus sp., Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium sp. Klebsiella species (17%) had the highest prevalence while Corynebacterium sp. (8.5%) had the lowest prevalence. The fungi isolated were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Penicillium sp. The most dominant fungus was A. niger (33.3%) while Penicillium sp. (16.6%) was the least prevalent fungus isolated in the study. The high microbial loads of pathogenic microorganisms present in indoor air, as shown in this study, is a clear call to take measure such as regular air quality monitoring, sanitation, adequate ventilation of these libraries to mitigate the proliferation of these organisms, and also control of the environmental factors that favour the proliferation of microorganisms.