MUNICIPAL BUSES

Airborne microbial contamination poses a significant public health challenge, particularlyinconfined spaces such as public transport systems where ventilation may be inadequateandpassenger density is high. This study investigates the microbial air quality of municipal busesin Benin City, Nigeria, focusing on bacterial contamination levels and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of isolated organisms. Using the settle plate method for microbial isolation, bacterial samples were collected from four major bus routes in Benin City: NewBenin, Ring Road, Mission Road, and Uselu. Identification of the isolates was basedoncultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics. The findings revealed varyinglevelsof bacterial contamination across the bus routes, with the highest mean viable bacterial count (2.34 x 10³ ± 0.34 CFU/m³) recorded on the Ring Road bus and the lowest (1.25 x 10³ ±0.08cfu/m³) on the Mission Road bus. Bacterial species identified included Escherichiacoli, Bacillus sp., Proteus sp., Micrococcus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus sp., andEnterococcus faecalis, with Staphylococcus sp. exhibiting the highest frequencyofoccurrence (60%) across all routes. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed alarmingmultidrug resistance (MDR) patterns, particularly in Staphylococcus sp., emphasizingthegrowing threat of AMR in public spaces. The bacterial counts observed in this studysurpassed WHO-recommended indoor air quality limits, underscoring the necessityforimproved sanitation and disinfection protocols within municipal abuses. The study providescritical data to inform public hygiene policies and supports initiatives aimed at enhancingmicrobial safety in public transport systems, particularly in resource-limited settings likeBenin City.