Understanding the Factors Contributing to Microbial Contamination in Tissue Culture Laboratories in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Microbial contamination is a constant problem, which often compromise development of all in vitro techniques. This
study aimed at investigating the source of microbial contamination in tissue culture laboratories in southwestern
Nigeria. Nineteen microbial contaminants (consisting of eleven bacteria and eight fungi) were found associated with
the tissue culture plants and the laboratory environments. The bacterial contaminants include Pseudomonas
flourescens, Escherichia coli, Proteus sp, Micro-coccus spp, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus,
Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium sp and Erwinia sp. While Fungi isolates were Alterneria tenius,
Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium sp, Saccharomyces sp, Fusarium oxysporum, Rizopus
nigricans and Fusarium culmorum. The rate of occurrence of S. aureus, B. cereus, B. subtilis and E. coli were found to
be higher (ranging from 36-46%) in human skin than in all other sampled materials. The laboratory walls and tables also
harbored most of the contaminating microbes. The laboratory indoor air was found associated with all the
contaminating microbes.