Abstract
Pathogenic airborne microbes are the potential source of infectious diseases transmission. This study aimed to investigate and compare the microbial load, composition and prevalence of fungal and bacterial species at hospital sites facilitated with different ventilation systems and having different disinfection frequencies and occupancy levels. For this purpose, sixteen sampling sites were selected in two public hospital buildings including outpatient departments (OPDs), surgical wards, operation theaters (OTs), emergency departments, waiting room, burn unit, intensive care unit, nursing unit and medical laboratory. Results showed highest bacterial (829–4980 CFU/m3) and fungal levels (90–920 CFU/m3) in OPDs and wards respectively, whereas lowest concentration was observed in OTs of both hospitals. Overall, sites facilitated with central/mechanical heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, higher cleaning frequency and lower occupant's density showed lower contamination levels. Staphylococcus spp. (53%), Micrococcus spp. (30%) and Bacillus spp. (11%) were found as abundantly occurring bacterial microbiota whereas Aspergillus spp. (67%) and Penicillium spp. (28%) were predominant fungal genera observed.
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