BACTERIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS

Curtains give seclusion, lessen the quantity of light that enters a room, and enhance the
interior design of a space. The aim of this research project is to conduct bacteriological
assessments of curtains in school hostels. Before sample collection, students` consent was
sought. Fifty samples (50) of curtains were collected from students in the study. Questionnaires were administered to students whose curtains were sampled for
bacteriological analysis. The data obtained from this research were analyzed using statistical
analysis. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out as well as pathogenicity testing. Heterotrophic bacterial counts (log10 Cfu/cm2) of curtains ranged from 2.59 to 2.74 Cfu/cm2
. Four bacteria isolates were identified in this study; Staphylococcus aureus (29.41%), Serratia
marcescens (17.65%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.53%) and Bacillus subtilis (29.41%). Multiple antibiotic resistance index of bacterial isolates ranged from 0.25 to 0.50, indicating
their potential public health implications as these values were above the permitted limit of 0.2. This study shows that curtains can be contaminated with bacteria. The microbiological
burden on curtains can be greatly reduced by taking easy steps like routine cleaning, good
ventilation, and the use of antimicrobial treatments, which will result in a better atmosphere
for all inhabitants.