SAMUEL EFOSA LAWANI

Fomites are generally considered as any inanimate object that can serve as a means of transferring pathogens to a new host. Table surfaces which are fomites can be a major source of spread of infectious diseases. The main aim of the study is to enumerate, isolate and identify bacteria from Environmental Management and Toxicology (EMT) students lecture tables at University of Benin as well as to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility test of the bacterial isolates. Samples were collected twice on a weekly basis using a sterile swab. Methods involved in the isolation and identification of the bacteria were serial dilution, Gram staining, biochemical test which include oxidase, catalase, indole, urease, sugar fermentation and potassium hydroxide test, as well as antimicrobial sensitivity test. The probable isolates identified were Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacter aerogenes, with the second week having a higher number of bacterial population and isolates. Unhygienic practices by the students accounts for these isolates.