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Bed linen is clearly recognized as a potential reservoir for microorganisms and could be a vector of disease transmission. The present study was aimed at isolating and characterizing bacteria and fungi from different kinds of bed linen of student in Ekiti State University hostels. Pour plate method was used for the enumeration of total bacteria count from the posterior and anterior end of the bed linen. The average bacteria count for the anterior and posterior end was 7.46 and 7.16 Log10 CFU/ml respectively. The most dominant microbial species were bacteria and these were mostly found in the environment and on human skin. The bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella aerogenes. Bacillus cereus had the highest frequency of occurrence (25%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (15%), Escherichia coli (15%), Klebsiella aerogenes (15%), Staphylococcus epidermis (15%), Enterobacter aerogenes (10%) and Proteus mirabilis (5%). The fungi isolates were Aspergillus sulphureus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium spp. Antibiotics susceptibility test was carried out on the bacteria isolates with gram negative bacteria showing resistance to Cotrimoxazole and gram positive bacteria showing resistance to Amplicillin. Most of the bacteria isolates have multiple antibiotics resistance. The bacterial isolates were susceptible to Ciprofloxacin. Plasmid profiling was also done with Escherichia coli having three high molecular weight plasmids, Bacillus cereus and Enterobacter aerogenes do not possess plasmid. The identified species are suspected to be opportunistic pathogens for human, representing a risk for people with weakened immune system, especially in cases of super-infection.

Banking activities which involve the use of counting machines, Automated teller machines, and exchange of naira notes play potential roles in the spread of infectious microorganisms. This study aimed at determining the microbial status of banks within Ekiti State University campus. A total of 96 samples were collected from six different banks’ in–door air, ATM, counting tables and Money counting machines in Ekiti State University campus. The samples were collected both in the morning and afternoon. Bacteria and fungi were isolated from the samples using serial dilution and pour plating methods. The isolates were identified based on morphological and biochemical characterization. Susceptibility pattern of the isolates to different classes of antibiotics (Penicillins, Quinolones, Macrolides, Aminoglycosides, Fluoroquinolones and Sulfonamides) were determined using agar disc diffusion method. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in bacteria counts on all the equipment analyzed in all the banks except Heritage bank. Analysis of variance also revealed significant difference in the bacteria counts from the banks in the morning and in the afternoon (p<0.05). Bacteria and fungi isolated from the samples belonged to the genera Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Escherichia Serratia, Pseudomonas, Proteus Bacilllus, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Mucor and Fusarium where bacteria group dominated with 65% while their fungal counterparts were 35% of the total isolates. Escherichia coli had the highest percentage occurrence of 18.6%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (15.2%) while Proteus sp. had the lowest occurrence (1%). The isolates exhibited resistance to Augmentin (100%), Erythromycin (100%), Amoxycillin (96%), Cotrimoxazole (96%), Chloramphenicol (86%), Streptomycin (72%) and Gentamycin (58%) while their growths were inhibited by Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, Prefloxacin and Septrin. Plasmid analysis of the resistant strains showed that the isolates lack plasmids. The presence of potential pathogens in the banks and multiple antibiotic resistance displayed by the isolates constitutes risk to the public health. Hence, measures such as thorough hand washing with soap and hand sanitization after using the bank and its facilities should be emphasized.

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