INVESTIGATION OF AIRBORNE MICROBES IN SOME CAFETERIAS IN JOSEPH AYO BABALOLA UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Airborne microorganisms are significant component of environmental contamination, especially in food-handling settings such as university cafeterias. This study investigated and compared the microbial composition of indoor and outdoor air in three student cafeterias at Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU). Air samples were collected using the settled plate method and cultured on nutrient agar and potato dextrose agar to isolate and identify bacteria and fungi. A total of 27, 23, and 30 bacterial colonies were recorded across Cafeteria 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with dining areas consistently exhibiting higher microbial loads than kitchen and control (approx. 5 meters from the entrance) zones. Isolated bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., and Micrococcus spp., while fungal isolates comprised Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Rhizopusstolonifer, and Nigrospora spp. These findings revealed the presence of pathogenic and drug-resistant organisms which may poses serious public health implications, particularly in densely populated environments such as student cafeterias. Additionally, the cost of treatment using effective antibiotics may place a financial burden on infected students and the university health Centre, especially during outbreaks. This study underscores the need for improved ventilation, strict hygiene practices, and routine microbial air monitoring in food-handling environments.
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