TYPES AND PREVALENCE OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINANTS ON COMPUTER KEYBOARDS AT THE IT COMPLEX, UNIVERSITY OF DELTA, AGBOR

The increased use of computer technologies in educational institutions has unknowingly introduced a new route for microbial contamination through frequently touched surfaces such as keyboards. This study investigated the bacterial contamination of computer keyboards at the Information Technology (IT) complex of University of Delta, Agbor, Nigeria. The primary aim was to isolate and identify bacterial species present on shared keyboards and determine their prevalence in order to evaluate potential public health risks associated with computer usage in communal academic environments. A total of twenty (20) computer keyboards were selected and swabbed using sterile techniques. Samples were cultured on four different media; Nutrient Agar, MacConkey Agar, Blood Agar, and Chocolate Agar, followed by incubation at 37°C for 24 hours. Morphological characteristics, Gram staining, and standard biochemical tests such as catalase, coagulase, oxidase, indole, and sugar fermentation tests were employed to identify bacterial isolates.The study revealed a significant level of bacterial contamination where 19 keyboards (95%) of the 20 was contaminated . A total of 4 bacterial contaminates was recovered from the 19 keyboards (95%), with only one keyboard and the control showing no bacterial growth. The dominant organism was Staphylococcus aureus, which was isolated from 15 (62.5%) samples, indicating widespread skin contact contamination. Escherichia coli was identified in 5 (20.8%) samples, pointing to fecal contamination likely resulting from poor hand hygiene practices. Other isolates included Pseudomonas spp. and Enterococci spp., each accounting for 8.3% of the isolates. The presence of these organisms suggests that both environmental and enteric sources contribute to keyboard contamination. The findings emphasize the urgent need for proper disinfection protocols and user hygiene education in academic settings. Shared computer keyboards, if not regularly cleaned, may serve as reservoirs for both opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant strains. This study provides critical baseline data for policy development and highlights the role of environmental microbiology in public health risk management.