Microbial Load And Evaluation Of Indoor Air In Day Care Centres In Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to determine the indoor air bacterial and fungal density in the day care centres of ikwuano Local Government Abia State, Five day care centres were sampled using the settle plate method. Five bacteria and fungi was isolated. The bacterial isolates are Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and klebsiella species. Bacillus specie,while the fungal isolates are Aspergillus niger, Klebsiella and  Mucor Alternaria. The bacterial percentage occurrence are Staphylococcus aureus (18.2%), Bacillus specie (27.2%), Escherichia coli (18.2%), Klebsiella spp. (18.2%), Streptococcus spp. (18.2%). The Bacillus specie has highest percentage of occurrence (27.2 %). From the statistical analysis, there is no significant difference in the microbial sample of the indoor air P< 0.015. The outcome of this study shows that the most prevalent bacteria found indoors were Gram-positive. It can be inferred that all the day care centres examined for indoor air microbiological quality were contaminated with bacteria aerosols than with fungal aerosols. The number of persons, the environmental factors and the ventilation systems are believed to be among the factors that affected the indoor airborne microbial rates. These findings may contribute to the promotion and implementation of preventive measures and the formulation of recommendations aimed at providing healthier school environments

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ iii

Dedication ﾿ iv

Acknowledgements ﾿ v

Table of Contents ﾿ vi

List of Tables ﾿ vii

Abstract ﾿ viii

CHAPTER ONE 

1.0 ﾿ INTRODUCTION ﾿ 1

1.1 ﾿ Aim and Objectives ﾿ 3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 ﾿ LITERATURE OF REVIEW ﾿

2.1 ﾿ Environmental Factors ﾿ 5

2.2.1 ﾿ Ventilation ﾿ 6

2.2.2 ﾿ Ventilation Mode ﾿ 6

2.2.3 ﾿ Moisture and Microbial Growth on Building Materials ﾿ 7

2.2.4 ﾿ Microbes in the Indoor Air of Moisture-Damaged Building ﾿ 9

2.2.5 ﾿ Occupant Density/Ventilation Rate ﾿ 10

2.2.6 ﾿ Water Vapour ﾿ 10

2.3 ﾿ Sources of Microorganism in Indoor Environment ﾿ 11

2.3.1 ﾿ Outdoor Air ﾿ 12

2.3.2 ﾿ Humans as Sources of Indoor Microorganism ﾿ 12

2.3.3 ﾿ Plants ﾿ 13

2.3.4 ﾿ Heating ﾿ 14

2.3.5 ﾿ On-site Inspection ﾿ 14

2.3.6 ﾿ Allergens in Educational Facility ﾿ 15

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 ﾿ MATERIALS AND METHOD 

3.1 ﾿ Sampling Sites ﾿ 16

3.2 ﾿ Collection of Sample ﾿ 16 

3.3 ﾿ Method ﾿ 16

3.4 ﾿ Laboratory Analysis ﾿ 17

3.5 ﾿ Sterilization Practices ﾿ 17

3.6 ﾿ Media Used ﾿ 18

3.7 ﾿ Enumeration of Microorganism ﾿ 18

3.8 ﾿ Characterization and Identification of Isolates ﾿ 18

3.8.1 ﾿ Lactophenol Cotton Blue Stain ﾿ 18

3.8.2 ﾿ Gram Staining ﾿ 18

3.8.3 ﾿ Biochemical Test ﾿ 19

3.8.4 ﾿ Catalase Test ﾿ 19

3.8.5 ﾿ Coagulase Test ﾿ 19

3.8.6 ﾿ Oxidase Test ﾿ 20

3.8.7 ﾿ Citrate Test ﾿ 20

3.8.8 ﾿ Indole Test ﾿ 20

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 ﾿ RESULTS ﾿ 21

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 ﾿ DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ﾿ 30

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 30

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 32

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 32

Appendix I ﾿

Appendix II ﾿