Microbiological Contamination of Hospital Air

Abstract

The levels of airborne contamination in various areas of two hospitals were determined during a 15-month sampling period, using Casella and Andersen volumetric samplers. Based on nearly 5,000 samples, the mean count per ft3 ranged from 4.5 in obstetric-gynecology delivery rooms to 72.4 in waste-handling areas. The mean count for the entire hospital environment was on the order of 20 contaminants per ft3; 48 % were associated with particles >5 u diam, 30 % with particles between 2 and 6 A diam, and 22 7c with particles <2 4 diam. The airborne contamination was influenced by traffic, activity, ventilation considerations, and gross surface contamination, but not markedly by seasonal changes. When suitable control measures were implemented, the level of contamination could be diminished and kept low.

Monitoring airborne fungal spores in an experimental indoor environment to evaluate sampling methods and the effects of human activity on air sampling

“…Human activity in and around the sampling site is common during indoor air investigations, and questions have been raised concerning the significance of these disturbances when concentrations of airborne microorganisms are measured. Previously, foot traffic was shown to increase the airborne concentrations of bacteria (14). Our results with human activity on carpet contaminated with fungal spores support the results of this previous work.…”

“…Difficulties also arise with the interpretation of data because of numerous variables present in indoor environments, such as the activity of building occupants near the air sampling site. Although foot traffic has been shown to affect airborne concentrations of microorganisms during sampling (14), the extent of human activity on sampling has not been fully investigated.…”

The Microbial Contamination of Intravenous Infusions During Clinical Use

“…Viable microbial particles found in the air of a hospital can come from a variety of sources. The frequency and distribution of various bacterial species depends on where air samples are taken in the hospital (Greene et al 1962). Nevertheless, it has been shown that the predominant types of airborne micro-organisms are Gram positive cocci and diphtheroids (Greene et al 1962) and that they originate from hospital staff and patients (Speers et al 1965).…”

“…The frequency and distribution of various bacterial species depends on where air samples are taken in the hospital (Greene et al 1962). Nevertheless, it has been shown that the predominant types of airborne micro-organisms are Gram positive cocci and diphtheroids (Greene et al 1962) and that they originate from hospital staff and patients (Speers et al 1965). This observation was confirmed with respect to patients by Selwyn et al (1964) who demonstrated that the types of bacteria recovered from the environment in patient areas were related to those directly recoverable from lesions.…”

Measuring bioaerosol concentrations generated from toilet flushes during hospital-based patient care

“…Aerosolized bacterial agents are not well understood possibly due to variations in size, infectivity, and survival. Several studies have sampled for bioaerosols in healthcare settings in attempt to better understand the microorganism persistence in the environment (Augustowska & Dutkiewicz, 2006;Best, Fawley, Parnell, & Wilcox, 2010;Greene, Vesley, Bond, & Michaelsen, 1962;Li & Hou, 2003;Pastuszka, Marchwinska-Wyrwal, & Wlazlo, 2005;Roberts et al, 2008;Sudharsanam et al, 2012). Of the bioaerosol measurements, bacterial species composed the majority of the samples (Augustowska & Dutkiewicz, 2006;Greene et al, 1962;Li & Hou, 2003;Pastuszka et al, 2005;Sudharsanam et al, 2012).…”