Distribution characteristics of airborne bacteria and fungi in the general hospitals of Korea.

The objective of this study is to provide fundamental data related to size-based characteristics of bioaerosol distributed in the general hospital. Measurement sites are main lobby, ICU, surgical ward and biomedical laboratory and total five times were sampled with six-stage cascade impactor. Mean concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were the highest in main lobby as followed by an order of surgical ward, ICU and biomedical laboratory. The predominant genera of airborne bacteria identified in the general hospital were Staphylococcus spp. (50%), Micrococcus spp. (15-20%), Corynebacterium spp. (5-20%), and Bacillus spp. (5-15%). On the other hand, the predominant genera of airborne fungi identified in the general hospital were Cladosporium spp. (30%), Penicillium spp. (20-25%), Aspergillus spp. (15-20%), and Alternaria spp. (10-20%). The detection rate was generally highest on stage 5 (1.1-2.1 microm) for airborne bacteria and on stage 1 (>7.0 microm) for airborne fungi.