Prevalence and Antibiogram of Biofilm Forming Bacteria Associated with Toilet Seats in Dormitories within a University Campus in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Public toilet facilities pose serious health threats to those accessing it, as they may be sources of infection to the users. Understanding the bacterial types and their virulence features such as biofilm production and resistance to antibiotics will aid in advancing control measures. This study was therefore conducted to determine the prevalence and antibiogram of biofilm forming bacterial species associated with toilet seats in University dormitories. A total of 24 samples were obtained from six (6) hostels aseptically. The samples were subjected to standard microbiological procedures for the isolation and identification of the bacterial species. Standard plate count was used for the enumeration of the bacterial populations. Antibiotics susceptibility and biofilm production was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and the Congo red agar method, respectively. The data obtained from the study identified Staphylococcus spp. as the predominant isolate, having a prevalence of 58.3%, followed by Bacillus spp. (54.2%), while Serratia mercensis (4.2%) was the least encountered isolate. Data obtained showed the total heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 1±0.02 x 105 cfu/ml to 2.5±0.03 x 105 cfu/ml. The antibiogram obtained showed that the isolates were highly resistant to most of the antibiotics tested, as all the Gram positive isolates (100 %) were resistant to five (i.e 62.5 %) of the antibiotics (Cefuroxime, Ceftaziidime, Augmentin, Cloxacillin and Ceftriaxone). The Gram negative isolates showed similar pattern where 100 % of the isolates were resistant to four (i.e 50%) of the antibiotics, (Augmentin, Ceftaziidime, Ciprofloxacin and Cefuroxime). The results showed 57.1 % of the isolates produced biofilm. The study indicated a high rate of recovery of bacteria from the toilet seats in dormitories within the University. Proper sanitary measures should therefore be adopted to facilitate good hygiene and reduce the transmission of bacterial infections.