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Abstract
Airborne bacteria from refuse dumpsites represent a significant environmental and public health concern, as these microorganisms can disperse widely, contaminate the surrounding air, and serve as potential reservoirs of pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant species. This study investigated the isolation and identification of airborne bacterial isolates from selected refuse dumpsites within the University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, Benin City, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design was employed, and air samples were collected from three major dumpsites—Hall 3, Hall 4, and the Faculty of Life Sciences, using the settle plate method. Results showed that the highest bacterial load recorded at the Hall 3 dumpsite in Week 2 (7.6 ± 0.42 × 10³ cfu/m³) and the lowest at the Faculty of Life Sciences in Week 1 (3.9 ± 0.22 × 10³ cfu/m³). Six bacterial species were identified: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. Pseudomonas spp. and Proteus sp. Among these, Staphylococcus aureus had the highest frequency of occurrence (26.5%), while Pseudomonas spp. and Proteus sp. were the least frequent (10.3% each). The antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that S. aureus and Proteus sp. exhibited the highest susceptibility (77.8%) and the lowest resistance (22.2%), whereas E. coli displayed the lowest susceptibility (33.3%) to tested antibiotics. Ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin were the most effective antibiotics, while ampicillin and ampiclox showed the least efficacy.The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) indices ranged from 0.44 to 0.89, with Klebsiella spp. exhibiting the highest MAR index (0.89), suggesting exposure to environments with high antibiotic selective pressure. The study underscores the need for improved waste management practices, regular sanitation, and environmental monitoring to minimize microbial air pollution and prevent the spread of resistant bacteria.
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