Ayevbosa AJAYI-EBOHON

Indoor air quality in healthcare environments is an important determinant of patient safety and occupational health. Airborne fungi are among the major biological contaminants in hospitals and primary health centers, where they can cause allergic reactions, opportunistic infections, and surface deterioration. This study was designed to evaluate the airborne fungal load and diversity in selected Primary Health Centers (PHCs) within Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. Air samples were collected weekly for three weeks from Uselu, Evbotubu, and Evhuogida PHCs using the settle plate technique. Fungal colonies were enumerated as colonyforming units per cubic meter (CFU/m³), and isolates were identified based on cultural and morphological characteristics. Antifungal susceptibility testing was conducted using standard disc diffusion methods. Results revealed that fungal load ranged from 2.4 ×10² to 3.5 ×10² CFU/m³, with Uselu PHC recording the highest mean load (3.33 ×10² CFU/m³) and Evbotubu PHC the lowest (2.45 ×10² CFU/m³). Four fungal genera Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp. and Fusarium sp. were identified, with Aspergillus sp (38%) being the most predominant. Alternaria sp. was the least frequent. Antifungal screening showed that Aspergillus sp. was most sensitive to ketoconazole and amphotericin B, while Penicillium sp. showed resistance to fluconazole and ketoconazole. The findings highlight that primary health centers in Egor LGA harbor airborne fungal contaminants, with variations linked to environmental and infrastructural factors. Regular environmental monitoring, adequate ventilation, and periodic sanitation are recommended to reduce potential exposure to pathogenic fungi within healthcare environments.