Concentration Of Airborne Bacteria Research Articles

Assessment of Bacterial Contamination and Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli Isolates from Slovak Dairy Farms.

The conditions in livestock housing are suitable for the survival of airborne microorganisms, mainly due to high temperatures, humidity, and the presence of organic material. The total count of airborne bacteria concentrations in cattle farms ranged from 3.01 log10 CFU/mL to 6.90 log10 CFU/mL; for coliform bacteria, they were from 2.18 log10 CFU/mL to 3.34 log10 CFU/mL; and for molds, they ranged from 3.00 log10 CFU/mL to 4.57 log10 CFU/mL. Bacteria resistant to antimicrobial substances and resistance genes can be spread on animal farms. Antimicrobial resistance in ubiquitous Escherichia coli isolated from cattle feces was investigated. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing was utilized to identify phenotypic resistance profiles, and the PCR method was employed to detect the presence of resistant genes. A higher percentage of resistance was found to amikacin (65%), tetracycline (61%), streptomycin (56%), ampicillin (55%), and nalidixic acid (45%). Multidrug resistance was determined in up to 64.3% of the isolates studied. The most widespread resistance genes were blaTEM (85.7%), sul2 (66.7%), tetB (52.38%), and sul1 (47.6%). We found that 4.8% of the E. coli isolates had the blaCMY gene. We found that, despite phenotypic resistance, E. coli isolates do not necessarily carry genes conferring resistance to that particular antimicrobial agent.

Investigations of the UVC 222 NM air cleaning system in an air-conditioned room

Far-Ultraviolet-C (far-UVC) 222 nm was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic to disinfect the airborne pathogens, particularly SARS-CoV-2. Although far-UVC 222 nm has shown promising results in surface disinfection, its efficacy in air disinfection remains uncertain due to additional variables in air. This study investigated the efficacy of far-UVC 222 nm UVGI in air disinfection experimentally, using total plate count, and input the measured far-UVC intensity into the computational fluid dynamic model to predict infection risk using the Wells-Riley model. Experimental results indicated that after 1 h of far-UVC irradiation, an equivalent far-UVC dosage of 21.31 J/m2, airborne bacteria concentration was reduced by 44.4 %–74.1 %, while airborne fungal concentration showed a marginal reduction. In a recirculating air-conditioned room, a 20 W far-UVC fixture installation, referred to as Case 1, demonstrated the highest available dosage of 7.66 % difference compared to Case 2. The use of far-UVC in Case 1 can reduce the risk of infection for the influenza H1N1, SARS-CoV-2, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis by 54.48 %, 60.06 %, and 83.73 %, respectively. The study suggests installing far-UVC near the recirculating air-conditioner supply air jet and away from surrounding walls for optimum effectiveness. These results provide recommendations for alternatives to upper-room UVGI, offering a viable option for continuous room air and surface disinfection.

A Clean and Health-Care-Focused Way to Reduce Indoor Airborne Bacteria in Calf House with Long-Wave Ultraviolet.

Long-term exposure to a relatively high concentration of airborne bacteria emitted from intensive livestock houses could potentially threaten the health and welfare of animals and workers. There is a dual effect of air sterilization and promotion of vitamin D synthesis for the specific bands of ultraviolet light. This study investigated the potential use of A-band ultraviolet (UVA) tubes as a clean and safe way of reducing airborne bacteria and improving calf health. The composition and emission characteristics of airborne bacteria were investigated and used to determine the correct operating regime of UVA tubes in calf houses. Intermittent exceedances of indoor airborne bacteria were observed in closed calf houses. The measured emission intensity of airborne bacteria was 1.13 ± 0.09 × 107 CFU h-1 per calf. Proteobacteria were the dominant microbial species in the air inside and outside calf houses. After UVA radiation, the indoor culturable airborne bacteria decreased in all particle size ranges of the Anderson sampler, and it showed the highest reduction rate in the size range of 3.3-4.7 μm. The results of this study would enrich the knowledge of the source characteristics of the airborne bacteria in intensive livestock farming and contribute to the environmental control of cattle in intensive livestock production.

Characteristics and health impacts of bioaerosols in animal barns: A comprehensive study

Bioaerosols produced during animal production have potential adverse effects on the health of workers and animals. Our objective was to investigate characteristics, antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs), and health risks of bioaerosols in various animal barns. Poultry and swine barns had high concentrations of airborne bacteria (11156 and 10917 CFU/m3, respectively). Acinetobacter, Clostridium sensu stricto, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus were dominant pathogenic bacteria in animal barns, with Firmicutes being the most abundant bacterial phylum. Based on linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), there were more discriminative biomarkers in cattle barns than in poultry or swine barns, although the latter had the highest abundance of bacterial pathogens and high abundances of ARGs (including tetM, tetO, tetQ, tetW sul1, sul2, ermA, ermB) and intI1). Based on network analyses, there were higher co-occurrence patterns between bacteria and ARGs in bioaerosol from swine barns. Furthermore, in these barns, relative abundance of bacteria in bioaerosol samples was greatly affected by environmental factors, mainly temperature, relative humidity, and concentrations of CO2, NH3, and PM2.5. This study provided novel data regarding airborne bio-contaminants in animal enclosures and an impetus to improve management to reduce potential health impacts on humans and animals.

Assessment of airborne bacteria in the indoor of public-use facilities concentrated on influencing factors and opportunistic pathogenic bacteria

For public-use facilities in urban centers with high occupancy, it is imperative to effectively manage opportunistic pathogenic bacteria due to the diverse range of users, including the immunocompromised population, such as the elderly, children. Therefore, we investigated the concentration of airborne bacteria at several public-use facilities in urban centers in South Korea. The level of total airborne bacteria in the facilities was positively correlated with user density and CO2 levels. Notably, subway compartments demonstrated particularly high levels of airborne bacteria. Subway compartments and daycare centers contained opportunistic pathogenic bacteria associated with antibiotic resistance. The relative abundance of genera associated with these species showed minor differences by season and facility; the genera Klebsiella and Staphylococcus showed high relative abundance in subway compartments and daycare centers, respectively. Based on our findings, we recommend enhancing management strategies targeting opportunistic pathogenic bacteria related to antibiotic resistance in the air of subway compartments and daycare centers.

Mitigation of Aerosol and Microbial Concentration in a Weaning Piggery by Spraying Nanobubble Ozone Water with an Ultrasonic Sprayer.

Enhancing biosecurity measures in livestock is an essential prerequisite for producing animal products with the highest levels of safety and quality. In Japan, 70% of the mortalities post-weaning are attributed to respiratory pathogens. The research has shown that microorganisms, including both viruses and bacteria, do not merely float in the air independently. Instead, they spread by adhering to aerosols. Therefore, improving the control of aerosol dissemination becomes a critical strategy for reducing pathogenic loads and boosting the overall efficiency of livestock production. This study focused on reducing concentrations of aerosol particles, airborne microbial concentrations, and airborne mass concentrations by spraying ozone solution with an ultrasonic sprayer. The experiments were conducted at a farm in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, known for its integrated management system, overseeing a herd of 200 sows. Nanobubble ozone water particles were dispersed using an ultrasonic sprayer, which allowed the particles to remain airborne significantly longer than those dispersed using a standard nozzle, at a rate of 30 mL per weaning pig 49 days old, for a 10 min period. This procedure was followed by a 10 min pause, and the cycle was repeated for 17 days. Measurements included concentrations of airborne bacteria, aerosol mass, and aerosol particles. The findings demonstrated a substantial reduction in airborne microbial concentrations of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in the treated area compared to the control, with reductions reaching a peak of 85.7% for E. coli and 69.5% for S. aureus. Aerosol particle sizes ranging from 0.3-0.5 µm, 0.5-1.0 µm, 1.0-2.0 µm, 2.0-5.0 µm, to 5.0-10.0 µm were monitored, with a notable decrease in concentrations among larger particles. The average aerosol mass concentration in the test area was over 50% lower than in the control area.

Characteristics of Airborne Particles and Bacteria in Hospital Indoor and Outdoor Air

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.

Indoor air quality improvement with filtration and UV-C on mitigation of particulate matter and airborne bacteria: Monitoring and modeling

Indoor air, especially with suspended particulate matter (PM), can be a carrier of airborne infectious pathogens. Without sufficient ventilation, airborne infectious diseases can be transmitted from one person to another. Indoor air quality (IAQ) significantly impacts people's daily lives as people spend 90% of their time indoors. An industrial-grade air cleaner prototype (filtration + ultraviolet light) was previously upgraded to clean indoor air to improve IAQ on two metrics: particulate matter (PM) and viable airborne bacteria. Previous experiments were conducted to test its removal efficiency on PM and airborne bacteria between the inlet and treated air. However, the longer-term improvement on IAQ would be more informative. Therefore, this research focused on quantifying longer-term improvement in a testing environment (poultry facility) loaded with high and variable PM and airborne bacteria concentrations. A 25-day experiment was conducted to treat indoor air using an air cleaner prototype with intermittent ON and OFF days in which PM and viable airborne bacteria were measured to quantify the treatment effect. The results showed an average of 55% reduction of total suspended particulate (TSP) concentration between OFF days (110 μg/m3) and ON days (49 μg/m3). An average of 47% reduction of total airborne viable bacteria concentrations was achieved between OFF days (∼3200 CFU/m3) and ON days (∼2000 CFU/m3). A cross-validation (CV) model was established to predict PM concentrations with five input variables, including the status of the air cleaner, time (h), ambient temperature, indoor relative humidity, and day of the week to help simulate the air-cleaning effect of this prototype. The model can approximately predict the air quality trend, and future improvements may be made to improve its accuracy.

A cross-sectional study on occupational exposure to microorganisms, endotoxin, hydrogen sulfide, and dust during work at drilling waste treatment plants.

This cross-sectional study aims to obtain knowledge about workers' exposure to airborne dust, bacterial and fungal species, endotoxin, biofilm formation, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in drilling waste treatment plants. In total, 408 full-shift personal samples, 66 work areas, 40 drilling waste, and reference (outdoor air and seawater) samples were analyzed. Some workers were exposed to high levels of endotoxin (207 EU/m3), bacteria (3.8 × 104 colony forming units (CFU)/m3 and 9.8 × 104 DNA copies/m3), or fungi (1.4 × 107 CFU/m3 and 3,600 copies/m3). The exposure levels to endotoxin, bacteria, and peaks of H2S were dependent on the treatment technique. All types of drilling waste contained large concentrations of bacteria compared to the seawater references. Elevated concentrations of airborne bacteria were found close to drilling waste basins. In total, 116, 146, and 112 different bacterial species were found in workers' exposure, work areas, and the drilling waste, respectively. An overlap in bacterial species found in the drilling waste and air (personal and work area) samples was found. Of the bacterial species found, 49 are classified as human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, and Klebsiella oxytoca. In total, 44 fungal species were found in the working environment, and 6 of these are classified as human pathogens such as Aspergillus fumigatus. In conclusion, across the drilling waste treatment plants, human pathogens were present in the drilling waste, and workers' exposure was affected by the drilling waste treated at the plants with elevated exposure to endotoxin and bacteria. Elevated exposure was related to working as apprentices or chemical engineers, and working with cleaning, or slop water, and working in the daytime.

Airborne bacteria in veterinary surgical theatres in South Africa.

The bioaerosol composition of the theatre environment plays a determining role in the development of surgical site infections (SSIs). It has been demonstrated that the concentration of viable airborne bacteria is influenced by the level of room occupancy, utilisation of surgical attire and importantly, proper ventilation systems, which are often lacking in the average veterinary facility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the airborne bacterial load encountered in non-environmentally controlled small animal veterinary theatres during routine surgical sterilisations, and to correlate these findings with the managerial practices at the facility. Four veterinary facilities with differing throughputs and managerial practices were recruited into the study. Blood agar settle plates, open from first incision to last suture, were used to quantify organisms that could settle in an incision. The 45 plates yielded 487 bacterial isolates (53 species). The Micrococcus (28.8%) and Staphylococcus (16.8%) genera were predominant. Of the isolates 61.8% were classified as human/small animal commensals and 37.2% belonged to species previously implicated in small animal SSIs. Specific trends were additionally evident in the bioaerosol loads. High room occupancy, lack of surgical attire and exposure to the outside environment were associated with higher bacterial counts. Accumulation from consecutive procedures was identified and linked to total occupancy time of the room. Current mitigation measures were not ideal to minimise the SSI risk. Routine, frequent and thorough cleaning in combination with surgical attire utilisation is recommended to reduce the bioburden for patient benefit.

Influence of meteorological factors and air pollutants on bacterial concentration across two urban areas of the Sistan region of Iran

This study assesses relationships between meteorological factors and air pollutants with ambient bacterial concentration. In the two main cities of Sistan, Zabol and Zahak, airborne bacteria concentration was monitored using the settle plate method inside and outside household environments during dusty days and nights in summer, autumn, and winter in 2022. As context for the study, it was determined that air quality index (AQI) values >100 on most sampling days in Zabol (51.9%) and Zahak (70.4%), with higher values in summer than autumn and winter. The lowest and highest bacterial concentrations in outdoor air were observed at AQI < 50 (good) and AQI > 300 (hazardous), respectively, in both cities. Bacterial concentration showed a decreasing trend from summer to winter, which coincided with a decreasing trend of air pollutant indices, wind speed, and temperature in addition to an increasing trend of relative humidity. Temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure had negative correlations, while wind speed and air pollutant indices (PM10, PM2.5 and AQI) showed positive correlations and wind direction had no correlation with bacterial concentrations. The factors best related to bacterial concentrations were air quality indices (PM10, PM2.5 and AQI) in both cities, with the highest levels driven by dust storms in Sistan.

Culturable and inhalable airborne bacteria in a semiunderground municipal wastewater treatment plant: Distribution, transmission, and health risk assessment

Airborne pathogens constitute a growing threat to global public health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important sources of airborne bacteria, which pose great health risks to the employee and nearby residents. In this study, the distribution, transmission and health risk of the airborne culturable and inhalable bacteria carried by PM2.5 in a semiunderground WWTP were evaluated. The concentrations of culturable bacteria in the air were 21.2–1431.1 CFU/m3, with the main contributions of primary and biological treatments. The relative abundances of culturable and total inhalable bacterial taxa were positively correlated (p < 0.05). However, certain bacteria, including Bacillus, Acinetobacter and Enterococcus, exhibited high reproductive capacity despite their low concentration in the air, suggesting that they can survive and regrow in suitable environments. Transmission modeling revealed that the concentrations of airborne bacteria exponentially decreased with distance from 18.67 to 24.12 copies /m3 at the source to 0.06–0.14 copies /m3 at 1000 m downwind. The risks of 8-h exposure in this WWTP except the outlet exceeded the reference value recommended by WHO, which were primarily dependent on P. aeruginosa, Salmonella, and E. coli. Management practices should consider improved controls for bioaerosols in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Assessment of airborne bacteria in residential buildings in Benin City, Nigeria

Exposure to bioaerosols poses significant health risks to occupants of buildings, especially in tropical areas due to its climatic characteristics that favour airborne bacterial growth. This study investigated the levels and composition of indoor and outdoor airborne bacteria in residential buildings in Benin Metropolis. Air samples were collected from forty-five randomly selected houses across the five local government areas in Benin City using the passive sampling technique. The culture-dependent 16S rRNA gene technique was utilized in theidentification of the bacterial isolates. The results revealed that the mean concentrations of the indoor and 3 3 outdoor total bacteria varied from 476.1 to 939.3 CFU/m3 and 181.1 to 373.2 CFU/m3 in the wet season, 335.0 3 3 to 457.2 CFU/m3 and 387.2 to 627.8 CFU/m3 in the dry season, respectively. The concentration of indoor and outdoor airborne bacteria varied significantly (P=0.001) during the wet and dry seasons. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool homology showed that the 16S rRNA gene sequences of isolates were related to Proteus mirabilis, Pectobacterium brasiliense, and Enterobacter sichuanensis. The bacterial communities identified are associated with humans and other outdoor environmental media and could lead to critical health outcomes among exposed vulnerable occupants of the buildings. This study, therefore, provides a database for airborne bacteria in residential houses in the study area and could assist in the implementation of effective interventions that reduce the risks and provide a safe environment.

Airborne bacterial species in indoor air and association with physical factors.

The aim of this study is to obtain knowledge about which cultivable bacterial species are present in indoor air in homes, and whether the concentration and diversity of airborne bacteria are associated with different factors. Measurements have been performed for one whole year inside different rooms in five homes and once in 52 homes. Within homes, a room-to-room variation for concentrations of airborne bacteria was found, but an overlap in bacterial species was found across rooms. Eleven species were found very commonly and included: Acinetobacter lowffii, Bacillus megaterium, B. pumilus, Kocuria carniphila, K. palustris, K. rhizophila, Micrococcus flavus, M. luteus, Moraxella osloensis and Paracoccus yeei. The concentrations of Gram-negative bacteria in general and the species P. yeei were significantly associated with the season with the highest concentrations in spring. The concentrations of P. yeei, K. rhizophila and B. pumilus were associated positively with relative humidity (RH), and concentrations of K. rhizophila were associated negatively with temperature and air change rate (ACR). Micrococcus flavus concentrations were associated negatively with ACR. Overall, this study identified species which are commonly present in indoor air in homes, and that the concentrations of some species were associated with the factors: season, ACR and RH.

The Risk of Exposure to Infectious Bacterial Bioaerosols in Different Hospital Wards: A Case Study

Background: Biological aerosol particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter are among the health concerns in hospitals since they remain in the air for a long time and are infectious and easily transported. We aimed to investigate the concentration of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bioaerosols and evaluate their risk in the indoor environment of different wards of Khatam al-Anbia hospital, Jask, Iran, in 2020. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed by collecting and analyzing 50 samples from seven different hospital wards. The active sampling of bioaerosols was performed according to the standard method of the National Organization for Occupational Health and Safety and by a pump with a flow rate of 28.3 L/min for 10 minutes. Blood agar and eosin methylene blue were used to detect bacteria. Then, the Monte Carlo simulation technique was used to assess the microbial risk. Results: The concentration of S. aureus in different wards of the hospital was 4.81 to 18.11 CFU/m3 . The lowest and highest concentrations of S. aureus were in the operating room and general emergency wards, respectively, while the highest and lowest concentrations of E. coli were in the inpatient wards (0 CFU/m3 ) and infectious emergency ward (21.22 CFU/m3 ), respectively. The highest and lowest daily risk of S. aureus was observed in the neonatal and general emergency wards (8.03×10-4 and 3.02×10-4), respectively. Moreover, the lowest and highest daily risk of E. coli was found in the neonatal and male inpatient wards (zero and 7.21×10-3), respectively. Conclusion: In some hospital wards, the concentration and infection risk of E. coli and S. aureus were found to be higher than the acceptable value. Since high concentrations of airborne bacteria can play an important role in producing nosocomial infections in patients and staff, it is necessary for hospital officials to take corrective measures in equipment control, use proper ventilation systems in the wards, and closely monitor the disinfection process.

The Indoor Concentration and Size Distribution of Airborne Bacteria in a Typical Traditional Market

The Indoor Concentration and Size Distribution of Airborne Bacteria in a Typical Traditional Market

Quantification of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in clouds at a mountain site (puy de Dôme, central France)

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is becoming a major sanitary concern worldwide. The extensive use of large quantities of antibiotics to sustain human activity has led to the rapid acquisition and maintenance of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) in bacteria and to their spread into the environment. Eventually, these can be disseminated over long distances by atmospheric transport. Here, we assessed the presence of ARGs in clouds as an indicator of long-distance travel potential of antibiotic resistance in the atmosphere. We hypothesized that a variety of ARGs can reach the altitude of clouds mainly located within the free troposphere. Once incorporated in the atmosphere, they are efficiently transported and their respective concentrations should differ depending on the sources and the geographical origin of the air masses. We deployed high-flow rate impingers and collected twelve clouds between September 2019 and October 2021 at the meteorological station of the puy de Dôme summit (1465 m a.s.l., France). Total airborne bacteria concentration was assessed by flow cytometry, and ARGs subtypes of the main families of antibiotic resistance (quinolone, sulfonamide, tetracycline; glycopeptide, aminoglycoside, β-lactamase, macrolide) including one mobile genetic element (transposase) were quantified by qPCR. Our results indicate the presence of 29 different ARGs' subtypes at concentrations ranging from 1.01 × 103 to 1.61 × 104 copies m−3 of air. Clear distinctions could be observed between clouds in air masses transported over marine areas (Atlantic Ocean) and clouds influenced by continental surfaces. Specifically, quinolones (mostly qepA) resistance genes were prevalent in marine clouds (54 % of the total ARGs on average), whereas higher contributions of sulfonamide, tetracycline; glycopeptide, β-lactamase and macrolide were found in continental clouds. This study constitutes the first evidence for the presence of microbial ARGs in clouds at concentrations comparable to other natural environments. This highlights the atmosphere as routes for the dissemination of ARGs at large scale.

Evaluation of an Air Cleaning Device Equipped with Filtration and UV: Comparison of Removal Efficiency on Particulate Matter and Viable Airborne Bacteria in the Inlet and Treated Air

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, improving indoor air quality (IAQ) has become vital for the public as COVID-19 and other infectious diseases can transmit via inhalable aerosols. Air cleaning devices with filtration and targeted pollutant treatment capabilities can help improve IAQ. However, only a few filtration/UV devices have been formally tested for their effectiveness, and little data is publicly available and UV doses comparable. In this research, we upgraded a particulate matter (PM) air filtration prototype by adding UV-C (germicidal) light. We developed realistic UV dose metrics for fast-moving air and selected performance scenarios to quantify the mitigation effect on viable airborne bacteria and PM. The targeted PM included total suspended particulate (TSP) and a coarse-to-fine range sized at PM10, PM4, PM2.5, and PM1. The PM and viable airborne bacteria concentrations were compared between the inlet and outlet of the prototype at 0.5 and 1.0 m3/s (low and high) air flow modes. The upgraded prototype inactivated nearly 100% of viable airborne bacteria and removed up to 97% of TSP, 91% of PM10, 87% of PM4, 87% of PM2.5, and 88% of PM1. The performance in the low flow rate mode was generally better than in the high flow rate mode. The combination of filtration and UV-C treatment provided 'double-barrier' assurance for air purification and lowered the risk of spreading infectious micro-organisms.

Abundant bacteria and fungi attached to airborne particulates in vegetable plastic greenhouses

The proliferation of modern vegetable plastic greenhouses (VPGS) supplies more and more vegetables for food all over the world. The airborne bacteria and fungi induce more exposure opportunities for workers toiling in confined plastic greenhouses. Culture-independent approaches by qPCR and high-throughput sequencing technology were used to study the airborne particulates microbiota in typic VPGS in Shandong, a large base of vegetables in China. The result revealed the mean airborne bacteria concentrations reached 1.67 × 103 cells/m3 (PM2.5) and 2.38 × 103 cells/m3 (PM10), and the mean airborne fungal concentrations achieved 1.49 × 102 cells/m3 (PM2.5) and 3.19 × 102 cells/m3 (PM10) in VPGS. The predominant bacteria in VPGS included Ralstonia, Alcanivorax, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Acinetobacter. Botrytis, Alternaria, Fusarium, Sporobolomyces, and Cladosporium were frequently detected fungal genera in VPGS. A higher Chao1 of bacteria in PM10 was significantly different from PM2.5 in VPGS. The potential pathogens in VPGS include Raltonia picketti, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Bacillus anthracis, Botrytis cinerea, and Cladosporium sphaerospermum. The network analysis indicated that airborne microbiota was associated with soil microbiota which was affected by anthropologic activities. The predicted gene functions revealed that bacterial function mainly involved metabolism, neurodegenerative diseases, and fungal trophic mode dominated by Pathotroph-Saprotroph in VPGS. These findings unveiled airborne microbiomes in VPGS so that a strategy for improving air quality can be applied to safeguard health and vegetation.

Understanding the influence of the bioaerosol source on the distribution of airborne bacteria in hospital indoor air

The composition and concentration of airborne microorganisms in hospital indoor air has been reported to contain airborne bacteria and fungi concentrations ranged 101–103 CFU/m3 in inpatients facilities which mostly exceed recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). In this work, a deeper knowledge of the performance of airborne microorganisms would allow improving the designs of the air-conditioning installations to restrict hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). A solution containing Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a model of airborne bacteria was nebulized using the Collison nebulizer to simulate bioaerosols in various hospital areas such as patients’ rooms or bathrooms. Results showed that the bioaerosol source had a significant influence on the airborne bacteria concentrations since 4.00 102, 6.84 103 and 1.39 104 CFU mL−1 were monitored during the aerosolization for 10 min of urine, saliva and urban wastewater, respectively. These results may be explained considering the quite narrow distribution profile of drop sizes around 1.10–1.29 μm obtained for urban wastewater, with much vaster distribution profiles during the aerosolization of urine or saliva. The airborne bacteria concentration may increase up to 107 CFU mL−1 for longer sampling times and higher aerosolization pressures, causing several cell damages. The cell membrane damage index (ID) can vary from 0 to 1, depending on the genomic DNA releases from bacteria. In fact, the ID of E. coli was more than two times higher (0.33 vs. 0.72) when increasing the pressure of air flow was applied from 1 to 2 bar. Finally, the ventilation air flow also affected the distribution of bioaerosols due to its direct relationship with the relative humidity of indoor air. Specifically, the airborne bacteria concentration diminished almost below 3-logs by applying more than 10 L min−1 during the aerosolization of urine due to their inactivation by an increase in their osmotic pressure.