Indoor airborne microbial burden and risk of acute respiratory infections among children under five in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Acute respiratory infection is the fourth major cause of morbidity and mortality among under-five children globally. However, the profile of microbial burden that could contribute to these infections among under-five children in the indoor environments has not been extensively studied particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. This study was designed to determine the burden of airborne microbes in indoor environment that predispose under-five children to acute respiratory infections. A prospective case-control design was employed for this study. Two hundred and twenty under-five children each with acute respiratory infection (cases) and without acute respiratory infection (controls) were selected from children visiting Oni-memorial Children Hospital and University College Hospital, Ibadan. A follow-up of 66 consented cases and controls each was carried out to assess the burden of indoor airborne microbes using a non-volumetric method, and the total counts per cubic metre were compared with the American Industrial Hygiene Association guideline. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test and Spearman's rank correlation. Mean indoor total bacterial count for cases (9.6 Â 10 2 cfu/m 3 ) was significantly higher than the permissible limit recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association ( 500 cfu/m 3 ) as compared to controls (3.5 Â 10 2 cfu/m 3 ) (p < 0.05). Educating mothers of under-five children on improved ventilation, good housing and indoor sanitary practices to reduce indoor microbial load is therefore advocated.

Indoor Airborne Microbial Load of Selected Offices in a Tertiary Institution in South-Western Nigeria

“…It could also be due to poor design or inadequate ventilation, although, the load recorded was within the acceptable limit proposed by the American Industrial Hygiene Association [16]. A similarly study carried out by Ana et al [17] recorded the highest bacterial burden in an overcrowded environment due to the facts that airborne bacterial were dispersed into the air from crowded groups of people. Therefore, the airborne microorganisms could be said to be of human origin.…”

“…and Aspergillus spp., are recognized opportunistic pathogens for humans and are often associated with clinical manifestations such as allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic conjunctivitis [20]. Aspergillus spp, Fusarium spp, and Penicillium spp which were isolated from this study can cause type 1 hypersensitivity according to Malgorzak et al [17].…”

Indoor Air Quality and Risk Factors Associated with Respiratory Conditions in Nigeria

“…In the same study carried out by [6] they showed that genera of fungi isolated in indoor environment of day care centres included Aspergillus, Penicillum, Geotricum, Fusarium and Candida spp., and in the dry season Aspergillus, Penicillum, Geotricum and Fusarium spp.,…”

“…PM 10 is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in many cities worldwide and the risk is greatly pronounced among susceptible populations, including the elderly, children and people with pre-existing health conditions [55]. Current Air Quality Issues [6] in their study of inhalable particulate matter burden in selected day care centres in Ibadan, Nigeria, observed that the mean indoor PM 10 readings for wet season (73.4 ± 54.4μg/m³) and dry season (296.3 ± 61.6μg/m³) significantly exceeded the WHO guideline limit of 50μg/m³ ( Table 2). The indoor/outdoor PM 10 ratio was 1.38 ± 0.97 and being greater than 1 indicated a possible indoor source of pollution.…”

Real-time separation of aerosolized Staphylococcus epidermidis and polystyrene latex particles with similar size distributions

“…Exposure to airborne biological agents such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses, which have very long residence times due to their low inertia and size ranges, can result in many respiratory and other adverse health effects, such as infection, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, toxic reactions, and acute respiratory infection (Demers et al 2000;Ana et al 2013;Hoyert and Xu 2012). Therefore, demands for rapid, specific, accurate, and real-time detection of infectious agents have increased with the aim of preventing and controlling the presence of such dangerous biological particles in public places and dwellings.…”