AIM: To evaluate the level of microbial contamination of air in operating theatres using active [i.e. surface air system (SAS)] and passive [i.e. index of microbial air contamination (IMA) and nitrocellulose membranes positioned near the wound] sampling systems. METHODS: Sampling was performed between January 2010 and January 2011 in the operating theatre of the orthopaedics department in a university hospital in Southern Italy. FINDINGS: During surgery, the mean bacterial loads recorded were 2232.9 colony-forming units (cfu)/m(2)/h with the IMA method, 123.2 cfu/m(3) with the SAS method and 2768.2 cfu/m(2)/h with the nitrocellulose membranes. Correlation was found between the results of the three methods. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 12 of 60 operations (20%) with the membranes, five (8.3%) operations with the SAS method, and three operations (5%) with the IMA method. CONCLUSION: Use of nitrocellulose membranes placed near a wound is a valid method for measuring the microbial contamination of air. This method was more sensitive than the IMA method and was not subject to any calibration bias, unlike active air monitoring systems.
AIM: To evaluate the level of microbial contamination of air in operating theatres using active [i.e. surface air system (SAS)] and passive [i.e. index of microbial air contamination (IMA) and nitrocellulose membranes positioned near the wound] sampling systems. METHODS: Sampling was performed between January 2010 and January 2011 in the operating theatre of the orthopaedics department in a university hospital in Southern Italy. FINDINGS: During surgery, the mean bacterial loads recorded were 2232.9 colony-forming units (cfu)/m(2)/h with the IMA method, 123.2 cfu/m(3) with the SAS method and 2768.2 cfu/m(2)/h with the nitrocellulose membranes. Correlation was found between the results of the three methods. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 12 of 60 operations (20%) with the membranes, five (8.3%) operations with the SAS method, and three operations (5%) with the IMA method. CONCLUSION: Use of nitrocellulose membranes placed near a wound is a valid method for measuring the microbial contamination of air. This method was more sensitive than the IMA method and was not subject to any calibration bias, unlike active air monitoring systems.
Authors: Maria Teresa Montagna; Osvalda De Giglio; Maria Luisa Cristina; Christian Napoli; Claudia Pacifico; Antonella Agodi; Tatjana Baldovin; Beatrice Casini; Maria Anna Coniglio; Marcello Mario D'Errico; Santi Antonino Delia; Maria Grazia Deriu; Marco Guida; Pasqualina Laganà; Giorgio Liguori; Matteo Moro; Ida Mura; Francesca Pennino; Gaetano Privitera; Vincenzo Romano Spica; Silvia Sembeni; Anna Maria Spagnolo; Stefano Tardivo; Ida Torre; Federica Valeriani; Roberto Albertini; Cesira Pasquarella Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-06-22 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Maria Teresa Montagna; Serafina Rutigliano; Paolo Trerotoli; Christian Napoli; Francesca Apollonio; Alessandro D'Amico; Osvalda De Giglio; Giusy Diella; Marco Lopuzzo; Angelo Marzella; Simona Mascipinto; Chrysovalentinos Pousis; Roberto Albertini; Cesira Pasquarella; Daniela D'Alessandro; Gabriella Serio; Giuseppina Caggiano Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-09-25 Impact factor: 3.390