Occurrence of Pathogenic Bacteria on Public Surfaces within Community Schools in Abeokuta Environs, Ogun State

Bacteria of medical importance abound all around us and are transmitted through different contacts within our community i.e. schools. To determine the possible role of fomites in dissemination of medically important pathogenic microorganisms, a study was carried out in public community schools within Abeokuta environs. The prevalence of bacteria was investigated from 300 fomites (door handles), in fifteen randomly selected secondary schools across Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North and Odeda Local Government Areas. Isolation of different bacteria species was done using standard microbiological methods through the use of Nutrient agar, MacConkey and blood agar after swabbing the fomites using sterile swabs. Bacteriological examinations revealed that almost all the fomites had at least one of the following bacteria in each community school; Bacillus subtilis (17.66 %), Bacillus mycoides (16 %), Bacillus megaterium (12.33 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18 %), Pseudomonas fluorescens (18 %), Enterobacter sp (16 %), Escherichia coli (19.67 %), Citrobacter freudii (10.33 %), Klebsiella oxytoca (16 %), Staphylococcus aureus (14 %), and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (7 %) from each Local Government area. The data from this study emphasize the importance of fomites as potential source of transferring medically important microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria in school environments, which may hamper the learning process of the students due to infections/diseases which may arise from frequent contact with these pathogenic bacteria.

Keywords:

Fomites , Pathogenic Bacteria , Community Schools , Public health