Biosafety determination of possible microbial contamination of academic environments of the Colon Street Amphitheater (Faculty of Medicine) and Ayacucho Street (Santa Barbara Hospital Morgue) in the City of Sucre, Bolivia, November 2025

Abstract

Problem: The teaching of human anatomy involves
the use of academic environments with varying
levels of potential microbiological exposure, such
as the dissection amphitheater, the amphitheater’s
locker area, the laboratory hall, and the simulation
labs. The amphitheater, in particular, constitutes a
biological risk academic environment due to the
handling of preserved human bodies for anatomical study.
The objective of this research was to analyze the
biosafety conditions against microbial contamination in these environments at the end of the academic year, in order to ascertain the microbiological
status of these spaces. Method and Techniques:
An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional
study with a microbiological focus was conducted
in collaboration between medical faculty and biochemical professionals from the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia San
Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca. Environmental
sampling techniques were applied using surface
swabs and gravity sedimentation in air, with general and selective culture media. Microbiological processing was carried out under controlled laboratory
conditions. Results: The data obtained allowed for
the identification of important microorganisms and
the evaluation of the adequacy of the implemented
biosafety practices. Conclusion: Microbial contamination was confirmed, generally by Staphylococcus spp., streptococci, and Gram-negative
and Gram-positive bacilli. Filamentous fungi were
found in all fixed spaces, and bacteria were found
on approximately half of the clinical lab coats. The
level of contamination was high in the lecture hall,
moderate in lockers, the lobby, and cabinets, and
low on clinical lab coats. However, the lack of cleaning protocols among half of the students makes
clothing a vector for cross-contamination. Biosafety conditions were deficient in lockers and on lab
coats, and fair in the lecture hall, the cabinet lobby,
and the simulation cabinets.