Investigation of type and density of bio-aerosols in air samples from educational hospital wards of Kerman city, 2014
Background: Bio-aerosols in the air of hospital wards have an important role in the development of infections. It is important to make quantitative and qualitative estimations of microorganisms in the air of these wards as an index for environmental hygiene applicable to different hospital wards....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2016-10-01
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| Series: | Environmental Health Engineering and Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ehemj.com/article-1-227-en.html |
| Summary: | Background: Bio-aerosols in the air of hospital wards have an important role in the development of
infections. It is important to make quantitative and qualitative estimations of microorganisms in the air
of these wards as an index for environmental hygiene applicable to different hospital wards. The aim of
the study was to investigate degrees of diversity and density of bio-aerosols in the education hospitals
of Kerman city.
Methods: This study applied a descriptive-cross-sectional methodology in the second half of 2014 in
the education hospitals of Kerman city, with bed capacity of over 300. As many as 200 samples were
collected from the air in different wards of each hospital using the standard method of the National
Occupational Health and Safety Institute. Following collection, samples were placed in an incubator
for 48 hours and then bio-aerosol detections were made for and resulting data reported as colonies/m3.
Results: Results indicated that maximum and minimum degrees of bacterial density were observed in
operation rooms and in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Shafa hospital. Furthermore, comparison showedthat the operating room at Afzalipour hospital had the lowest level of fungal contamination, while ICU at Bahonar hospital had the highest level of fungal contamination. The emitted fungi of Aspergillus
and Penicillium along with the bacteria, staphylococci and Acinetobacter had greater frequencies. The
means of bacterial density and fungal density were not equal across the studied hospitals and significant statistical, difference was observed between means of bacterial and fungal density (P ≤ 0.001).
Conclusion: Amounts of bacterial and fungal density were greater than those proposed in the American
Industrial Health State Conference in 73.3% of the wards in the educational hospitals of Kerman city
sampled in this study. Therefore it is suggested that implementation of some, necessary measures for
continuous monitoring, promotion of hygienic disinfection standards, and ventilation systems are taken
more seriously by stipulating regulations to control this important issue in the country’s hospitals. |
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| ISSN: | 2423-3765 2423-4311 |