A study on microbiological contamination on air quality in hospitals in Egypt

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate airborne environmental bacteria (environmental origin), mesophilic bacteria (human related bacteria) and fungi at governmental (GH) and private (PH) hospitals, in addition to assess sink drain biofilms and dust accumulated on air conditioning filters and floor surfaces to determine if they constitute potential sources of airborne microbial biodiversity. Samples were collected from intensive care unit (ICU), operating theatre (OT), admission department (AD) and outdoor for comparison. Airborne bacteria and fungi were collected using an Andersen two-stage impactor sampler which divides particles into fine (≤8 µm) and coarse (≥8 µm) size ranges. Airborne environmental bacteria, mesophilic bacteria and fungi concentrations, were respectively in the range of 0.0–2638; 0.0–1654.9 and 11.7–566.5 CFU/m3 indoors and 155–32436; 11.7–5554 and 35–664 CFU/m3 outdoors. Bacillus atrophaeus was commonly isolated in all locations. However, Alloiococcus otitis was only found at the GH and Bacillus licheniformis at the PH. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the common fungal types in the air state and dust. Dust was accumulated on air conditioning filters and floor surfaces and these would constitute important sources of airborne bacteria and fungi inside these hospitals.