Prevalence and Concentration of Airborne Microorganisms Isolated from Domestic Toilets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Introduction: Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature and transient airborne microorganisms have been shown to constitute major health hazards.

Aim: This study was carried out to assess the microbial air quality in ten (10) domestic toilets located in mile-3, Alakahia, Choba, Ada-George and Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria.

Methodology: Microbial air quality was sampled using sedimentation techniques. Freshly prepared Nutrient Agar, MacConkey and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) plates were placed one meter above the floor of the toilets for 1 hours at different sections of each toilet exposed to an open air. The agar plates were closed and transported to the Laboratory were incubation took place at 37°C for 24 hours and 25°C for 3-5 days for growth of bacteria and fungi respectively. Isolates were characterized and identified by standard microbiological methods.

Results: The bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus species 22(22.45%), Bacillus species 20 (20.41%), Enterococcus species 20(20.41%), Escherichia coli 16(16.32%), Micrococcus species 15 (15.31%), Klebsiella species 3(3.06%), and Proteus species 2(2.04%) while Aspergillus species 14(27.45%), Penicillium species 16(23.53%), Fusarium species 10(19.60%), Mucor species 8(15.69%), and Rhizopus species 7(13.73%) were the fungi identified. The highest bacteria colony count before and after flushing were 52.380×103CFU/m3/hr & 67.261× 103CFU/m3/ hrrespectively while the lowest bacteria counts observed before and after flushing 19.047× 103CFU/m3/hr & 39.286×103CFU/m3/hr while the highest and lowest fungal count before and after flushing were 10.119×103CFU/m3/hr & 13.690×103CFU/m3/hr and 5.952×103CFU/m3/hr & 5.953×103CFU/m3/hr respectively.

Conclusion: This study shows that considerable numbers of both pathogenic bacteria and fungi particles were released into the air in higher quantity after flushing domestic toilets when compared to air quality before flushing. These organisms have been implicated in major and minor infectious diseases. Inhalation or contact may easily lead to infection especially in immunocompromised individuals and the older adults. To maintain the health of users, it is necessary to carefully manage the environmental factors that promote the growth and multiplication of microorganisms in domestic toilet environment.