Assessment of the Microbial Occupational Work Environment in One Faculty of King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah

Abstract

The presence of microorganisms in indoor air can pose serious health problems so; the purpose of the present work was to monitor the different groups of microorganisms including total viable bacteria, Staphylococci, total coliforms, Salmonella and fungi in different sites of the occupational environment (laboratories, offices, corridors and toilets) inside the Faculty of Metrology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The results showed that, the average of total viable bacterial counts in different work laboratories was ranged from 9500 to 23000, Staphylococci counts were ranged from 584 to 11000 and fungi counts were ranged from 383 to 2500 cfu/m. On the other hand the total viable bacterial counts in work offices varied from 12700 to 26500 cfu/m, meanwhile Staphylococci counts ranged from 5000 to 9500 cfu/m and fungi counts ranged from 1500 to 4833 cfu/m. Also, the total viable bacterial counts in corridors ranged from 14340 to 23700 cfu/m, Staphylococci counts ranged from 3167 to 10340 cfu/m and fungi counts ranged from 2830 to 5165 cfu/m. Finally, the average of the total viable bacterial counts in toilets reached 22833 cfu/m. Meanwhile, Staphylococci counts were 4920 cfu/m and fungi counts were 3010 cfu/m. The highest average of total viable bacterial counts were found in toilets (22833 cfu/m), the highest average of Staphylococci counts recorded (7811 cfu/m) in corridors and the highest average of fungi counts were observed in laboratories (4516 cfu/m). It is clear that the toilets had the highest average of total viable bacterial counts, the corridors had the highest average of Staphylococci counts and laboratories had the highest average of fungi. The microbial groups of coliforms, yeasts and Salmonella were not detected in all sampling sites (laboratories, offices, corridors and toilets). Finally, an attention must be given in the place to protect and enhance the occupational environment and keep health of students and workers well.