Study of Airborne Bacterial Density in Surgery and Infectious Wards of Hospitals Affiliated with Kermakshah University Medical Science and its Relationship with Environmental Factors

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The presence of biological aerosols in the air of medical centers is more than other enclosed spaces. Determining the role and importance of such factors has always attracted the attention of health and medical researchers. This study aimed to evaluate the bacterial density of surgical and infectious wards in two important hospitals of Kermanshah and environmental factors affecting them. Methods: In this study, a total of 160 samples were selected. One hundred and twenty eight samples were related to the air of surgical and infectious wards in two stages before and after disinfection of wards and 32 samples were related to the hospital outdoor air as the control sample. MCS Flite (SKC) air sampling pump was equipped with a Biostage 225 (SKC) microbial sampling cassette made in the USA. Data were analyzed with SPSS 19. Results: The highest bacterial density in the air was measured in Imam Khomeini Hospital (402.7± 200.3 CFU/m3) and the lowest was in Imam Reza Hospital (258.6 ± 90.5 CFU/m3). There was a significant inverse relationship between air temperature and total bacterial density and a significant direct relationship between the whole population and bacterial density. Conclusion: It seems that reduced bacterial density in wards’ air with increased temperature occurs due to increasing the air volume and replacing air in wards. The presence of people in the ward plays an important role in increased bacterial density.

Keywords

• biological aerosols
• hospital
• air bacterial density