Systematic study on the relationship between particulate matter and microbial counts in hospital operating rooms

In this study, a systematic procedure for establishing the relationship between particulate matter (PM) and microbial counts in four operating rooms (ORs) was developed. The ORs are located in a private hospital on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The objective of developing the systematic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science and pollution research international 2022-01, Vol.29 (5), p.6710-6721
Main Authors: Tan, Huiyi, Wong, Keng Yinn, Nyakuma, Bemgba Bevan, Kamar, Haslinda Mohamed, Chong, Wen Tong, Wong, Syie Luing, Kang, Hooi Siang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Microbiology
Air Pollutants
Air temperature
Aquatic Pollution
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Bacteria
Correlation
Differential pressure
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental science
Fungi
Hospitals
Mechanical engineering
Microorganisms
Nosocomial infections
Operating Rooms
Parameters
Particle counters
Particle Size
Particulate emissions
Particulate matter
Particulate Matter - analysis
Patients
Radiation counters
Relative humidity
Research Article
Staphylococcus infections
Surgery
Temperature
Waste Water Technology
Water Management
Water Pollution Control
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Summary:In this study, a systematic procedure for establishing the relationship between particulate matter (PM) and microbial counts in four operating rooms (ORs) was developed. The ORs are located in a private hospital on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The objective of developing the systematic procedure is to ensure that the correlation between the PMs and microbial counts are valid. Each of the procedures is conducted based on the ISO, IEST, and NEBB standards. The procedures involved verifying the operating parameters are air change rate, room differential pressure, relative humidity, and air temperature. Upon verifying that the OR parameters are in the recommended operating range, the measurements of the PMs and sampling of the microbes were conducted. The TSI 9510-02 particle counter was used to measure three different sizes of PMs: PM 0.5, PM 5, and PM 10. The MAS-100ECO air sampler was used to quantify the microbial counts. The present study confirms that PM 0.5 does not have an apparent positive correlation with the microbial count. However, the evident correlation of 7% and 15% were identified for both PM 5 and PM 10, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that frequent monitoring of both PM 5 and PM 10 should be practised in an OR before each surgical procedure. This correlation approach could provide an instantaneous estimation of the microbial counts present in the OR. Graphical abstract
ISSN:0944-1344
1614-7499
DOI:10.1007/s11356-021-16171-9