Abstract:
The concentration and quality of microbes in urban atmosphere may affect human health and
environment. The study therefore was an attempt to evaluate the microbiological quantity and
quality as well as their susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents of air in some selected area
of Gondar, Ethiopia. Five locations namely ‘Piazza’ downtown, ‘Biliko’, ‘Chechela’, ‘Arada’
and the open space of Gondar University were selected by random sampling method. Settle plate
method was undertaken in NA and PDA media. The results obtained revealed that the
concentration of bacteria in the study area ranged from 2.3 to 2.6 log10 Cfu/m3 while total amount
of fungi in the outdoor air in the town ranged from 1.6-1.95 log10 Cfu/m3. The result revealed the
characterization of three (3) bacterial and eight (8) fungal isolates. Preliminary cultural,
morphological, biochemical characteristics of the isolates revealed the following bacterial
isolates, Staphylococcus (39.1%), Bacillus (29.9%) and Micrococcus (31%) were shown to be
the most predominant airborne bacteria while the most common fungi identified were Rhizopus,
Aspergillus., Penicillium., and Mucor. At least 65% of airborne microorganisms were
filamentous fungi isolates Rhizopus (29.1%) and Aspergillus (19.6%) were showed to be the
most frequently isolated airborne fungal organisms. There was a significant difference in level
among almost all studied zones. The highest bacterial level was detected in Biliko (Zone 2) with
2.6 log10 Cfu/m3 and the highest fungal population was detected in Chechela (Zone 3) with 1.94
log10 Cfu/m3. There was significant difference between the microbial populations obtained
during 15 and 30 minute of Exposure. The susceptibility of the bacterial isolates against
commonly used antibiotics tested showed varying degree of susceptibility. Staphylococcus, the
most predominant airborne bacteria was found resistance to all antimicrobial agents and
antibiotic-resistant bacteria in air may cause serious health hazard to the people living in this
area
