Microbiological Survey of Animate and Inanimate Surfaces in a Correctional Center, South-South, Nigeria

Correctional centers (formerly referred to as prisons, in Nigeria) are facilities where offenders of the law are kept after been convicted of a crime. Many factors have in recent time contributed to an increasing rate of morbidity and mortality in these facilities, including overcrowding, poor sanitary conditions, inadequate ventilation, extreme temperatures, inadequate means for maintaining personal hygiene, lack of access to clean drinking water, and nutritionally deficient food. This study therefore centered on the microbiological survey of animate and inanimate surfaces in a correctional center, South-South Nigeria. For this research, a total of 150 samples (100 from skin (upper arm) and 50 from wall surfaces) were collected from the inmate skins and inanimate surfaces, using sterile swab sticks and were immediately transported to the Department of Microbiology Laboratory, Rivers State University for analyses using standard microbiological procedures. Data obtained from the study showed the inmates within the age bracket 21-30 were the highest (44%) while the age bracket 71-80 represented the lowest (1%) number of inmates. The study showed that male inmates represented 75% of the prisoners studied while the female represented 25%. The result showed that 37% of the studied inmates had spent 2-4 years in the correctional center while the least period of exposure or stay in the facility was recorded for 13 years in the correctional center, which represented 1% of the inmates. The age bracket 21-30 recorded the highest number of microorganisms (39) and 71-80 showed the least (1). Different microbial species were recovered from the skin of the inmates and included Staphylococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp, Klebsiella spp, Bacillus spp, and Aspergillus spp., with Staphylococcus spp showing the highest occurrence of 48%, while Klebsiella spp had the least occurrence (1%).The study indicated that the correctional center could pose serious environmental health concerns, requiring public health interventions. Adequate personal hygiene should be encouraged among the inmates. Regular sanitation as well as adequate healthcare and routine checkup should therefore be made available to the inmates.