Air Borne Microbial Contaminants in a Production Laboratory

A study was carried out to determine major bacterial and fungal contaminants in vaccine production laboratory of the Bacterial Vaccine Production, Department of the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom. A total of 75 samples were collected between January 2006 and January 2007 from the environment of the 6 production sections of the laboratory. The isolates obtained were examined and identified using Colonial morphology, Gram stain and also by Physical and Chemical characteristics. The following 8 different organisms were isolated and identified: Micrococcus roseurs, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtlest, Norcadia mudarea, Bacillus alvei, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus. The study, therefore incriminated these organisms as common agents of airborne contamination in the bacterial vaccine production department. The knowledge of common contaminants in a production laboratory should go a long way in devising measures that will minimize sources of contamination and therefore, save cost of production and improve the quality of products.