Study Finds Drug Resistant Bacteria In University Indoor Air
A new indoor air quality study conducted at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) reveals that while campus lecture halls and laboratories remain safe for daily use, they harbour airborne bacteria that exhibit resistance to commonly used antibiotics.
The findings raise public health awareness about how shared indoor environments where large groups gather for extended periods can act as potential reservoirs for drug-resistant germs.
Air sampling across multiple lecture spaces and teaching laboratories on the university’s main campus identified 28 distinct bacterial species suspended in the air, including strains of Staphylococcus species, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens.
Rather than crowd size alone, the study found that room activity and ventilation played the biggest roles in air contamination levels.
Enclosed practical laboratories recorded the highest bacterial concentrations, led by specialized COVID and Parasitology labs, where frequent movement, equipment usage, and sample handling continuously recirculate microscopic particles into the breathing zone.
By contrast, standard lecture halls and lower-activity research spaces maintained significantly lower bacterial levels.
Laboratory testing revealed that several recovered bacteria were multidrug-resistant (MDR), meaning they can withstand treatment from multiple standard antibiotic medications.
Laboratory tests revealed that while the bacteria could still be treated with clinical antibiotics like gentamicin and meropenem, they showed widespread resistance to common, everyday medications like trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole.
Even more concerning, every single major bacterial strain tested showed resistance to oxacillin—a key indicator of bacterial infections that typically affect the skin and breathing pathways.
Health experts emphasize that the presence of these airborne microbes does not mean an active disease outbreak is occurring, but it underscores how everyday public spaces can passively collect and spread resistant bacteria.
To protect students, staff, and visitors, the report calls for immediate, practical changes to indoor hygiene practices.
Key recommendations include shifting campus cleaning from weekly to daily schedules, disinfecting surfaces like desks and door handles, servicing air conditioners and fans to prevent dust buildup, and practicing regular hand hygiene.