Title of article :
Characteristics of Airborne Particles and Bacteria in Hospital Indoor and Outdoor Air
Author/Authors :
Atoof ، Fatemeh Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology - Faculty of Health - Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Gholipour ، Sahar Department of Environmental Health Engineering - Faculty of Health - Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Shamsizadeh ، Zahra Department of Environmental Health Engineering - School of Health - Larestan University of Medical Sciences , Amirimoghaddam ، Mohsen Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology - Faculty of Health - Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Mirzaei ، Nezam Department of Environmental Health Engineering - Faculty of Health - Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Nazari-Alam ، Ali Department of Microbiology and Immunology - Faculty of Medicine - Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Rabbani ، Davarkhah Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology - Faculty of Health - Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Baziar ، Mansour Ferdows school of Paramedical and Health - Birjand University of Medical Sciences , Hoseindoost ، Gholamreza Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology - Faculty of Health - Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Mostafaii ، Gholamreza Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology - Faculty of Health - Kashan University of Medical Sciences , Bahrami ، Abbas Department of Occupational Health Engineering - Faculty of Health - Kashan University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
Introduction: Given that hospital air is one of the important environmental sources for transmission of microorganisms, the importance of airborne transmission in the epidemiology of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) has gained attention in the past two decades. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the concentration of bacteria in association with airborne particulate matter (PM) in the outdoor and indoor air of two hospital wards. Materials and methods: The GRIMM 1.109 dust monitor and the Andersen one-stage viable impactor were used for particle counting and bioaerosol sampling, respectively. Results: The average levels of airborne bacteria sampled from outdoor air were 33 colony-forming units (CFU/m3), and in the air samples of medical and infectious disease wards, they were 76 and 85 CFU/m3, respectively. Staphylococcus spp. and Acinetobacter spp. were the most prevalent bacteria in the samples. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between PM2.5, and PM10 particle mass concentrations and airborne bacteria concentrations in indoor air samples (P-value 0.05). Conclusion: Some bacterial agents of HAIs existed in hospital air and may be problematic for immunocompromised patients. Higher levels of bacteria in indoor air compared to outdoor air may indicate that the bacteria were of indoor origin, such as the presence and activities of people. Moreover, the results showed that particle counting may be a useful tool for airborne bacteria monitoring.
Keywords :
Aerosols , Bacteria , Particulate Matter , Hospitals.
Journal title :
Journal of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development
Journal title :
Journal of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development
