الفهرس 
I. AIR QUALITY AND PM 2?5Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
T
hrough air sampling, it is possible to evaluate microbial contamination in environments at high risk of infection, and to check the efficiency of ventilation system and the medical team’s hygiene procedures.
The study aims to measure the concentration of particulate matter 2.5 or less microns and microbiological organisms in operating rooms (OR), intensive care units (ICU) and emergency rooms (ER) in Ain Shams University Surgery Hospital. The study also aims at assessing ventilation characteristics in operating rooms in the hospital.
This study was conducted in Ain Shams University Surgery Hospital located in Cairo, Egypt. The hospital has an average of 36,000 inpatient yearly, and containing 664 inpatient beds and 59 ICU beds.
Air samples were taken from the following sites in the hospital: 4 intensive care units (ICU), 8 operating rooms (OR), and 5 emergency rooms (ER).
Passive air sampling was done from ICUs, ORs, and ERs, also for each operating room, an observational checklist was done to record other factors that may affect air quality in the room.
The evaluated air indices were suspended Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 micrometer or less. Levels were measured using a portable dust monitor (MiniVol Portable Air Sampler, Airmetrics, U.S.A.), In the PM 2.5 sampling mode, air is drawn through a particle size separator and then through a filter medium.Culture media and microbial identification of bacteria and fungi.
Temperature and relative humidity (RH) using a digital thermometer and hygrometer (BT-2, China).
Data was processed and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 (Statistical Package for Social Science) software. The results were analyzed in terms of descriptive statistics, and the relationships between variables were tested by univariate, correlation and linear regression analyses.
Ain Shams University Surgery Hospital administrative approval was obtained. The study protocol was submitted for approval from the ethical committee of Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams University.
The highest mean found for bacterial (105.70±30.49) and fungi concentration (7.50±5.30) was in ER. The three settings did not differ statistically as regard levels of PM 2.5, temperature, and relative humidity. A positive correlation exits between bacteria and fungi concentration on one hand and relative humidity on the other. Diphteroid, CONS, MRSA, S. aureus, and Anthracoid were the most frequent isolated bacterial types, while Penicillium and Asperigillus fumigatus were the most frequent isolated fungi. There was statistical significance difference between OR resting and operating as regards bacterial count and PM 2.5 concentration being much higher at operation.
In operating rooms, the percent of unmasked persons present and the temperature positively influence the bacterial count, while ventilation condition is negatively influencing fungi count, and the number of persons present in the operating room positively affects the PM level. In conclusion, the concentration and the distribution of microbial organisms in the intensive care unit, emergency room and operating theaters, warrants attention from hospital infection control and environmental safety departments to reduce exposure risk of infection to surgical patients and healthcare workers. Cleaning and maintenance frequency for ventilation systems in operating theaters should be adjusted according to published universal guidelines. Further studies are required to identify potential hospital indoor air quality problems that result from healthcare procedures and equipments.