Concentration Profiles of AirborneMycobacterium tuberculosisin a Hospital

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis remains one of the major public health issues worldwide. However, concentration profiles of airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis in hospitals and other medical facilities have not been well characterized. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to measure concentration profiles of airborne M. tuberculosis in a hospital including TB-patient related areas (TB-areas), and non-TB-patient related areas (non-TB-areas). A total of 58 airborne samples were collected by a filter and quantified by real-time qPCR system. It was found that the airborne M. tuberculosis concentrations in TB-areas were significantly higher than those in non-TB-areas. In regard to the profiles in the investigated hospital, the airborne M. tuberculosis concentrations from high to low were found in the waiting rooms and consulting rooms of medical department, emergency department, medical wards, main registry area, waiting rooms of ophthalmology department, and dining hall, respectively. In the medical wards area, it was found that the airborne M. tuberculosis concentrations in the room of a suspected TB patient were even higher than those found in negative pressure isolation rooms with TB patient. This suspected TB patient was, in fact, diagnosed as a TB patient a month later. In conclusion, concentration profiles of airborne M. tuberculosis in hospital environments were successfully characterized in our present study. In addition, it was strongly demonstrated that TB-areas do have higher airborne M. tuberculosis concentrations than non-TB-areas and implicate higher risks for nosocomial TB infection. Moreover, environmental monitoring of airborne M. tuberculosis might provide an early indicator for identification of TB patient.