Assessment of indoor air bacterial load and antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacteria from some hospitals in Dutse, Jigawa State

Indoor air microbial communities play significant roles on the increase in hospitals acquired infections globally. In view of the importance of indoor air bacterial quality in the transmission of nosocomial infections, a study was conducted to assess the air bacterial load and antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacteria from some hospitals in Dutse, Jigawa State. A total of 114 air samples were collected and analyzed using standard procedures from wards and units of Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital Dutse, General Hospital Dutse and Primary Health Care Centre Shuwarin. Settling platetechnique was employed and sampling was done twice daily (Morning and Afternoon). Aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts were conducted. Isolates were identified according to standard methods. The Medical Surgical Ward (MSW) revealed the highest airborne bacterial count (2.770x103 CFU/m3). General Hospital Dutse was found to have a higher indoor bacterial load than Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital and Primary Healthcare Centre Shuwarin. Airborne Gram positive cocci were the most frequently detected (100%) in all the indoor environments. Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli were the bacterial species identified in the study. It was observed that the bacterial isolates were more susceptible to gentimicin. The findings revealed the presence of five (5) methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus isolates (MRSA) 60% in Male Medical Ward (MMW), 20% in Female Medical Ward (FMW), and 20% in Post-natal Ward (PNW). In conclusion, 84.2% of the hospitals’ units were having aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts within the acceptable limits. It is recommended that disinfection of male, female and post-natal wards should be intensified