R. ADAMS

The research was carried out to evaluate the risk assessment and antibiotic resistant of E.coli and Salmonella spp in abattoir waste water in Benin city. Standard bacteriological methods were used to enumerate the total bacterial count (E.coli and Salmonella spp) of abattoir waste water using pour plate methods after serial dilution. The bacterial isolates were characterized and identified using morphological and biochemical methods and sugar fermentation test. The percentage distribution and frequency of the isolates were evaluated using statistical method. From the result the total Escherichia coli colony count in cfu/ml ranges from 0.7 x 103 – 0.8 x 103 (cfu/ml) while that of Salmonella spp ranges from 0.7 x 103 – 0.8 x 103 (cfu/ml). Following the cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics of bacteria from abattoir waste water samples, the result revealed that Salmonella enterica, 2 Escherichia coli strains, Salmonella spp, and Salmonella typhi. The antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that all isolates found in this study were multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria. The multiple antibiotic resistant index of these isolates ranges from 0.5 to 0.525 as against the recommended 0.2 by WHO.

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.