Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Indoor Air at Different Hospital Sites of Dilla University: A Cross-Sectional Study

Pathogenic bacteria and fungi in bioaerosols from specialized hospitals in Shandong province, East China

Bacteria and fungi are abundant and ubiquitous in bioaerosols in hospital environments. Understanding the distribution and diversity of microbial communities within bioaerosols is critical for mitigating their detrimental effects. Our knowledge on the composition of bacteria or fungi in bioaerosols is limited, especially the potential pathogens present in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from specialized hospitals. Thirty p.m.2.5 filter samples were collected from five hospitals (i.e., oral, dermatology, chest, eye, and general hospitals) in Shandong Province, East China. The diversity of bacteria and fungi was analyzed at the species level using single-molecule real-time sequencing of the 16 S and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS) ribosomal genes, respectively. Significant differences were detected across sampling sites in terms of microbial diversity and community composition in PM2.5 as well as pollution concentrations. The range of PM2.5 concentrations observed in hospital halls was higher, ranging from 39.0 to 46.2 μg/m3, compared to the wards where the concentrations ranged from 10.7 to 25.2 μg/m3. Furthermore, microbial variations in PM2.5 bioaerosols were associated with hospital type. The most dominant pathogens identified were Vibrio metschnikovii, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Fusarium pseudensiforme, and Aspergillus ruber. Among these, A. ruber was identified as an opportunistic fungus in a hospital setting for the first time. Nine potentially novel strains of F. pseudensiforme, showing 84.5%-92.0% ITS sequence similarity to known Fusarium isolates, were identified in PM2.5 samples from all hospitals (excluding an eye hospital). This study highlights the importance of hospital environments in shaping microbial aerosol communities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide insights into the bacterial and fungal biodiversity of PM2.5 in specialized hospitals, enriching research in healthcare environmental microbiology and carrying significant public health implications.

A review on factors related to patient comfort experience in hospitals

The creation of a welcoming hospital atmosphere is necessary to improve patient wellbeing and encourage healing. The goal of this study was to examine the variables affecting hospitalised patients' comfort. The study procedure included a thorough search of the Web of Science and Scopus databases, as well as the use of software analytic tools to graphically map enormous literature data, providing a deeper understanding of the linkages within the literature and its changing patterns. Insights from a range of disciplines, including engineering, psychology, immunology, microbiology, and environmental science, were included into our study using content analysis and clustering approaches. The physical environment and the social environment are two crucial factors that are related to patient comfort. The study stress the need of giving patient comfort a top priority as they heal, especially by tackling indoor air pollution. Our research also emphasises how important hospital care and food guidelines are for improving patient comfort. Prioritising patients who need specialised care and attention, especially those who have suffered trauma, should be the focus of future study. Future research in important fields including trauma, communication, hospital architecture, and nursing will be built on the findings of this study. To enhance research in these crucial areas, worldwide collaboration between experts from other nations is also advised. Although many studies stress the significance of patient comfort, few have drawn conclusions from a variety of disciplines, including medicine, engineering, immunology, microbiology, and environmental science, the most crucial issue of thoroughly researching the improvement of patient comfort has not been addressed. Healthcare workers, engineers, and other professions will benefit greatly from this study's investigation of the connection between hospital indoor environments and patient comfort.

Airborne influenza virus shedding by patients in health care units: Removal mechanisms affecting virus transmission

In this study, we characterize the distribution of airborne viruses (influenza A/B) in hospital rooms of patients with confirmed infections. Concurrently, we monitored fine particulate matter (PM2.5 & PM10) and several physical parameters including the room air exchange rate, temperature, and relative humidity to identify corresponding correlations with virus transport and removal determinants. The results continue to raise concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ) in healthcare facilities and the potential exposure of patients, staff and visitors to aerosolized viruses as well as elevated indoor PM levels caused by outdoor sources and/or re-suspension of settled particles by indoor activities. The influenza A virus was detected in 42% of 33 monitored rooms, with viruses detectible up to 1.5 m away from the infected patient. Active coughing was a statistically significant variable that contributed to a higher positive rate of virus detection in the collected air samples. Viral load across patient rooms ranged between 222 and 5,760 copies/m3, with a mean of 820 copies/m3. Measured PM2.5 and PM10 levels exceeded IAQ daily exposure guidelines in most monitored rooms. Statistical and numerical analyses showed that dispersion was the dominant viral removal pathway followed by settling. Changes in the relative humidity and the room's temperature were had a significant impact on the viral load removal. In closure, we highlight the need for an integrated approach to control determinants of IAQ in patients' rooms.

Assessment of Microbial Load in Regional Hospitals in Albania

Background Contaminated hospital indoor environments can expose patients to microorganisms and different infections. The aimed study was to assess the microbial load in hospital facilities inside Albania Regional Hospitals during the period 2017-2019. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period 2017-2019 for the assessment of microbial contamination in operating rooms, resuscitation, and delivery rooms in 12 regional hospitals in Albania. One thousand and three hundred microbiological specimens were collected from air and surfaces using 5% sheep blood agar (Oxoid, UK) and processed at IPH microbiology laboratory following the standard bacteriological procedures Data were analyzed using Statistical Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results Out of the total number of samples, 1148 (88.3%) were collected from surfaces and 152 (11.7%) were from the air. Bacterial growth was identified in 314 (24.2%) out of 1300 samples (95% CI 21.89–26.62). From the total site samples processed during the study period, bacterial growth showed 282 (89.8%) samples from surfaces and 32 (10.2%) air samples. There was found a significant association p-value =0.035. Regarding the sampling place collection, the largest number were collected in operating rooms (60.3%) followed by emergency rooms (28.2%), ICUs (7.7%), and maternity units (3.8%). Gram-negative isolates were predominant at 235 (74.8%), while the Gram-positive were at 60 (19.1%). E. coli was the most frequent bacterial isolate (50%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.6%), Staphylococcus aureus (19.1%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.3%). Also, we found a fungal agent such as Aspergillus in 19 (6.1%) samples. The isolated bacteria's overall drug resistance profile revealed that 66.8% of gram-positive bacteria were resistant to two or more antimicrobial drugs tested. Conclusion This study revealed that the surface and air and air within different wards of the hospitals studied were contaminated with different types of bacteria. Bacterial loads on the surface and air exceeded normal limits. Additionally, the study pointed out high levels of antimicrobial resistance to the drugs commonly prescribed for isolates. Therefore, intervention strategies need to be strengthened to expand infection prevention practices in hospitals. Continuous monitoring and monitoring of in-hospital pathogen types and susceptibility patterns should be performed on a very regular basis.