Microbiological Analysis of Air Microflora of Unilorin Microbiology Department

Abstract

Air is considered one of the least hospitable environments for microbes because it has fewer nutrients and supports relatively fewer organisms. Exposure to bioaerosols containing airborne pathogenic microorganisms and their by-products can cause respiratory disorders and air-borne diseases. The objective of this research was to determine the air microflora present at the Department of Microbiology of University of Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria and with particular emphasis on pathogenic microorganism. In this study microbiological samples were collected through settling plate method using Nutrient Agar and Potato Dextrose Agar from four sampling sites which were in pair at Unilorin Microbiological Department. All numeric data were subjected to T-test at 95% confidence level. Bacteria characterization was made based on colonial morphology, cellular characters through staining techniques and biochemical reaction tests while the fungal isolates were characterized based on their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. The bacterial load ranged from 9.3 ± 1.92 cfum^-3 to 15.5 ± 5.39 cfum^-3 while the fungal load ranged from 4.9 ± 1.24 cfum^-3 to 7.8 ± 2.11 cfum^-3and there were no significant difference within each pair of sampling site. The result shows that the Department falls below suggested recommended limit of microorganisms’ concentration of outdoor air by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and World Health Organization and may therefore constitute no risk to the staff and students of the Department. Regular study of this kind is recommended at various places to forestall dangers to health due to air microorganisms.