BACKGROUND: Microbial air monitoring in operating theatres has been a subject of interest and debate. No generally accepted sampling methods and threshold values are available. AIM: To assess microbial air contamination in empty and working conventionally ventilated operating theatres over a three-year period at the University Hospital of Parma, Italy. METHODS: Air sampling was performed in 29 operating theatres. Both active and passive sampling methods were used to assess bacterial and fungal contamination. FINDINGS: In empty theatres, median bacterial values of 12 colony-forming units (cfu)/m(3) [interquartile range (IQR) 4-32] and 1 index of microbial air contamination (IMA) (IQR 0-3) were recorded. In working theatres, these values increased significantly (P < 0.001) to 80 cfu/m(3) (IQR 42-176) and 7 IMA (IQR 4-13). Maximum recorded values were 166 cfu/m(3) and 8 IMA for empty theatres, and 798 cfu/m(3) and 42 IMA for working theatres. Combining active and passive samplings, fungi were isolated in 39.13% of samples collected in empty theatres and 56.95% of samples collected in working theatres. Over the three-year study period, bacterial contamination decreased in both empty and working theatres, and the percentage of samples devoid of fungi increased. In working theatres, a significant correlation was found between the bacterial contamination values assessed using passive and active sampling methods (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Microbiological monitoring is a useful tool for assessment of the contamination of operating theatres in order to improve air quality.
BACKGROUND: Microbial air monitoring in operating theatres has been a subject of interest and debate. No generally accepted sampling methods and threshold values are available. AIM: To assess microbial air contamination in empty and working conventionally ventilated operating theatres over a three-year period at the University Hospital of Parma, Italy. METHODS: Air sampling was performed in 29 operating theatres. Both active and passive sampling methods were used to assess bacterial and fungal contamination. FINDINGS: In empty theatres, median bacterial values of 12 colony-forming units (cfu)/m(3) [interquartile range (IQR) 4-32] and 1 index of microbial air contamination (IMA) (IQR 0-3) were recorded. In working theatres, these values increased significantly (P < 0.001) to 80 cfu/m(3) (IQR 42-176) and 7 IMA (IQR 4-13). Maximum recorded values were 166 cfu/m(3) and 8 IMA for empty theatres, and 798 cfu/m(3) and 42 IMA for working theatres. Combining active and passive samplings, fungi were isolated in 39.13% of samples collected in empty theatres and 56.95% of samples collected in working theatres. Over the three-year study period, bacterial contamination decreased in both empty and working theatres, and the percentage of samples devoid of fungi increased. In working theatres, a significant correlation was found between the bacterial contamination values assessed using passive and active sampling methods (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Microbiological monitoring is a useful tool for assessment of the contamination of operating theatres in order to improve air quality.
Authors: Doris Haas; Herbert Galler; Carola Fritz; Christina Hasler; Juliana Habib; Franz F Reinthaler Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-12-19 Impact factor: 3.240
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: Cesira Pasquarella; Carla Balocco; Maria Eugenia Colucci; Elisa Saccani; Samuel Paroni; Lara Albertini; Pietro Vitali; Roberto Albertini Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-01-10 Impact factor: 3.390