MICROBIAL ASSESSMENT OF INDOOR AIR OF DAYCARE CENTERS IN UMUAHIA

ABSTRACT

The microbial indoor quality of five Day-care centers in Umuahia was accessed. The five centers were chosen to cover the different parks of Umuahia, they include We care International School Day – care center in Ehimiri housing estate, St. Patricks School Day – care center in Agbama housing estate, Omini Grace center in World Bank estate, Blessed Day – care center in federal law court housing estate and Divine Vessel of Grace Day – care center in Umudike. Assessment was based on microbial load flora occurrences and changes between morning periods and evening periods (departure time/end of classes). Results obtained shows that the bacterial properties ranged from 114cfu/unit time to 170cfu/units time for morning hours and 177cfu/unit time to 266cfu/unit time, the fungal court was recorded at the range of 3.3cfu/unit time for evening. The bacterial genera include staphylococcus and E.coli, while the fungal genera include Aspergillus, Penicillum and Yeasts. The occurrence of different bacteria and fungi species varied between the schools and between morning and evening periods. Decline was recorded in occurrence of some microbes between morning periods and this was attributed to high level of personal and environmental hygiene in the centers/schools. The maintenance of such high level of hygiene in Day – care centers is therefore recommended.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

                                                                                          PAGES

Title page-       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -        -   -           i

Declaration -   -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -        -   -           ii

Certification-  -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -        -   -           iii

Dedication-     -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -        -   -           iv

Acknowledgement-    -           -           -           -           -           -           -        -   -           v

Table of contents

List of tables

List of figurs

 CHAPTER ONE

1.0  Introductio 1

1.1 aims and objectives-         -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0   Literature of Review-     -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           5

2.1   Atmosphere-       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           5

2.2   Physical Environment Stresses- -           -           -           -           -           -            -           5

2.3   Bacteria- -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           6

2.4    Fungal-   -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           6

2.5   Viral-      -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           6

2.6   Indoor Air Quality-         -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           8

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1   Study Area-         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           10

3.2    Collection of Samples-  -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           10

3.3   Media Used-       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           10

3.4 Sterilization-         -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           11

3.5 Biochemical Identification for Bacterial Isolates-           -           -           -            -           11

3.5.1 Identification of Fungal Isolates-          -           -           -           -           -            -           11

3.6   Gram Staining-   -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           11

3.7 Biochemical Tests-           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           12

3.7.1 Catalase Test-    -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           12

3.7.2 Coagulase Test- -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           12

3.7.3 Oxidase Test-     -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           13

3.7.4 Citrate Test-       -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           13

3.7.5 Indole Test-        -           -           -           -           -           -           -           -            -           13

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0   Results                                                                                                                            14

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion                                                                                                 `                        22

5.1Conclusion                                                 `                                                                       23

5.2 Recommendation                                                                                                             24

5.2.1 Solutions to Poor Indoor Quality in Day Care Centers                                                 25

References

Appendix

 LIST OF TABLES

 TABLES           Title                                                              page

1 Examples of air borne human pathogens                                    7

2 Defining characteristics of the children and rooms in centers from whichair samples were taken                              15

 3 The colony feature and microscopy of bacteria found in day care centers in

    Umuahia         16       

 4 The colony feature and microscopy of fungi found in Day – care centers in Umuahia        17

 5 Mean bacterial count of air samples of five Day-Care centers in Umuahia                        18

 5 Mean fungal count of air samples of five Day-Care centers in Umuahia    19              

 LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURES                  Title of Figures                                                          Page

 1 Percentage occurrence of bacterial isolates during morning and evening hours               20

 2 Percentage occurrences of fungi isolates during morning and evening

 Hours             21

CHAPTER ONE

1.0  INTRODUCTION

Air is a source that supplies us with oxygen which is essential for our bodies to live. Pure air is a mixture of grass that are invisible, colourless  and odourless consisting 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and other gases as well as varying amounts of water vapour (Murray et al., 2005). This pure air can be contaminated in various ways affecting, humans, plants and animals. Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemical, particulate matter or biological materials that causes discomfort, disease or death of humans, damage to other living organisms including food crops. Both indoor air and outdoor air become polluted and pesticides. These pesticides contain active and inert substances such as cyclodiene which is associated with symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, weakness, muscle twisting and nausea (Hays et al., 2007).

Indoor air quality is a term which refers to the air quality within and around building and structures especially as it relates to the health and comfort of its occupants. Indoor air can be polluted by various compound such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and microbial contaminants (moulds, bacteria, viruses) and any action that introduce harmful contaminants into the air within the building. The concern for quality indoor air is necessary especially in institutionalized settings that accommodate a large number of people such as hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, schools, family houses, offices, dispensaries, hotels and classes because contaminated air cause both mild and severely irritating health conditions.(Tambeker et al., 2007).

Indoor environment, in which modern adults spend around 80-90% of their time and babies and infants nearly all of their lives, are fundamental environment factors capable of impacting health. One of the main factors capable of affecting the health, well being and productivity of people in indoor environment is air availability. The effects on health are known rise as exposure to and density of air pollution increase (Li et al., 2007).

The investigation of indoor environment air is quality generally concentrates on physical and chemical parameters. In addition, the microbiological characteristics of indoor environment air can provide divert informative about environmental air and can serve as a guide in the determination of the origin of acute microbiological disease (Hoskins 2007).

Particles determined in indoor air, particularly bacteria and viruses are able to act as carrier of micro organisms. Insufficiently cleared indoor environments, humidity and the presence of sick individuals cause a significant increase to the levels of biological pollutants. Smoking indoors and overcrowded or poor living conditions also interfere with the outcome of infectious diseases. These and similar factor may contribute to the impairment of micro biological air quality in indoor environments (Farger, 2006).

Physical characteristics of the indoor environment such as temperature, humidity and air flow, as well as the design and operation of building and filtration systems are of critical importance in affection the spread of infection indoors (Morawska, 2006).

Ventilation is known to make a positive contribution of indoor environment air quality. Indoor air quality improves with longer duration of ventilation and health problems decrease with the people who live in the environment (Riberon et al., 2007). Ventilation by keeping the doors and windows of rooms open, taking into account the meteorological conditions, can also reduce the risk of air- borne contagion (Kiskin et al., 2005).

Molds are another indoor environment air pollution agent.  Molds settle inside buildings depending on unsuitable physical conditions.

They are able to multiply in dirty, dark, airless and humid buildings. As a result of inhaling these agents in such buildings, some symptoms of disease appear. Studies have reported greater levels of mold and yeast in place with inadequate ventilation compared to others (Tsai et al., 2007).

One study, which was intended as a mycological analysis of the living areas of patients with chronic respiratory difficulty and headache and who were diagnosed with exogamic allergic aveolitis, determined various species of mood in patient homes and the presence of igG antibodies specific these in patients’ blood.

It reported that while investigating the underlying factors in order to achieve a successful treatment in the face of this situation, which is complex and rather difficult to diagnose. Living areas need to be examined in details and analysis of the indoor environment physical and microbiological air quality need to be performed (Ozyaral et al., 2006). Children are more affected by air pollution and toxic substances than in adults, this is because the formation of alveolies develops 80% after birth, pulmonary development continues until the age of 6-8, respiration count is higher than in adults, more physical activity than adults and shorter lengths. In addition, living in regions with dense air pollution, in house with impaired indoor environment air quality in crowded homes with smoking all increase risk of respiratory tract disease, particularly in children. The fact that children, particularly small children spend most of their time indoors further raises the importance of air pollution in school and homes (Riberon et al., 2002; Toftam, 2004).

Other aspects of children getting sick are the disruption of the structure of the family, the financial, social, and emotional impact on family members and illness in other family members in casa of infectious disease (Ogur et al., 2005). There is a wide body of knowledge related to ventilated and indoor air quality improvement and reduction in the emergence and spread of disease. In addition, no controlled intervention studies were found revealing the contribution of ventilation to microbiological air quality.

1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

i.         To investigate the total number of organisms in specimen of air taken by children’s day care.

ii.         To isolate, identify and characterize micro organisms present in the air taken from children’s day care.

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