Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococci in Indoor Air of Classrooms of Selected Secondary Schools in Iree, Osun State.

Antibiotic resistance in Staphylococci, especially Staphylococcus aureus, particularly as it relates to indoor air, is an increasingly pressing public health issue. The classrooms, coupled with the high density of individuals, create ideal conditions for the spread of bacteria, which may contribute to the development and transmission of antibiotic resistance. The research was to determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococci in classrooms of selected secondary schools in Iree, Osun state. Isolation was done using settled plate method and the isolates were characterized using standard microbiological methods. The Antibiotic Susceptibility Test (AST) was also conducted using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and the resistance pattern was determined. The panel of antibiotics used are; Penicillin (10µg), Oxacilin (1µg), Erythromycin (15µg), Tetracycline (30µg), Gentamicin (10µg), Ciprofloxacin (5µg), Vancomycin (30µg). All the 12 classrooms samples yielded Staphylococcus species. The highest concentrations of airborne heterotrophic bacteria were recorded in NUD High School: 25974.4 (Class A) and 22847.8 CFU m−3 (Class B). The lowest concentration of airborne heterotrophic bacteria in the studied schools was noted in the KIDVARC High School: 2916.1 CFU m−3 (Class A) and First Baptist Church High School: 4539.5 CFU m−3 (Class A). The 53 isolates obtained were Staphylococcus aureus 39(73.6%), Staphylococcus epidermidis 5(9.4%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus 4(7.5%), Staphylococcus heamolyticus 4(7.5%), and Staphylococcus capitis 1(1.9%). The isolates showed highest resistance to Penicillin (54.7%) and Oxacillin (52.8%) and lowest resistance Tetracycline (20.5%). The findings of this study revealed that airborne Staphylococci showed great resistance to the antibiotics used. Particularly, their resistance to Oxacillin may indicate resistance to Methicillin which is a threat to public health. The results of this study will provide valuable insights into the potential risks posed by airborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria in educational environments and will inform future strategies for improving air quality and hygiene in schools.