Surveillance of Airborne Adenovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in a Hospital Pediatric Department

This investigation evaluated the distributions of airborne adenovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in public areas in the pediatric department of Children's Hospital in northern Taiwan. The airborne viral and bacterial concentrations were evaluated twice a week for a year using filter sampling with an airflow rate of 12 liters per minute for eight hours in the pediatric outpatient department and 24 hours in the pediatric emergency room. Real-time polymerase chain reaction assays were conducted for analysis. Approximately 18% of the air samples from the pediatric emergency room were found to contain adenovirus. Approximately forty-six percent of the air samples from the pediatric outpatient department contained Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA products. High detection rates of airborne adenovirus DNA were obtained in July and August in the pediatric public areas. Airborne Mycoplasma pneumoniae was detected only in July in the pediatric emergency room and the peak levels were found from August to January in the pediatric outpatient department. Airborne particles that contained adenovirus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae were the most prevalent in the pediatric public areas. The potential relationship between these airborne viral/bacterial particles and human infection should be examined further

全球環境變遷對公共衛生衝擊之評析

本研究主要目的在透過文獻回顧之形式蒐集相關文獻，探討全球環境變遷與氣候變遷對公共衛生可能造成之衝擊，並嘗試提出因應對策以供政府施政之參考。針對全球氣候變遷及環境變遷對公共衛生之衝擊，由於無法以實證之方式探討相關效應，僅能以文獻回顧之方式探討氣候及環境變遷對人體健康所產生之影響。文獻顯示環境變遷之直接衝擊主要在熱危害，間接衝擊則涵蓋病媒導致之傳染病、紫外線導致之皮膚病變、環境污染導致之過敏、氣喘等疾病盛行率之增加等。但由於生態系受環境及氣候影響所產生之效應不易確定，加上目前相關領域之研究成果無法針對未來五十年生態系之變化作一預測，以致無法確實評估氣候及環境變遷對人體健康所可能產生之影響

AN AIRBORNE MOLD-DERIVED PRODUCT, BETA-1,3-D-GLUCAN, POTENTIATES AIRWAY ALLERGIC RESPONSES

Repeated inhalation of allergen leads to the downregulation of allergen-specific IgE responses in non-atopic individuals as well as in mice. This phenomenon is named as inhalation- induced IgE tolerance. In contrast, inhaled allergen causes significant IgE and allergic responses in atopic persons. The mechanisms involved in this differential regulation of airway allergen-specific immune responses remain unclear. Besides the allergen exposure in genetic susceptible individuals, environmental contaminant is considered to play as an initiating factor for airway allergic responses. By using murine model, we demonstrate here that airborne b-1,3- glucan, which exists frequently in our environments particularly in highly humid area, can abrogate inhalation- induced IgE isotype-specific down- regulation and promote airway eosinophil infiltration to inhaled antigen

Air quality monitoring of the post-operative recovery room and locations surrounding operating theaters in a medical center in Taiwan.

To prevent surgical site infection (SSI), the airborne microbial concentration in operating theaters must be reduced. The air quality in operating theaters and nearby areas is also important to healthcare workers. Therefore, this study assessed air quality in the post-operative recovery room, locations surrounding the operating theater area, and operating theaters in a medical center. Temperature, relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide (CO2), suspended particulate matter (PM), and bacterial concentrations were monitored weekly over one year. Measurement results reveal clear differences in air quality in different operating theater areas. The post-operative recovery room had significantly higher CO2 and bacterial concentrations than other locations. Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., and Staphylococcus spp. bacteria often existed in the operating theater area. Furthermore, Acinetobacter spp. was the main pathogen in the post-operative recovery room (18%) and traumatic surgery room (8%). The mixed effect models reveal a strong correlation between number of people in a space and high CO2 concentration after adjusting for sampling locations. In conclusion, air quality in the post-operative recovery room and operating theaters warrants attention, and merits long-term surveillance to protect both surgical patients and healthcare workers

DAMPNESS AND SICK BUILDING SYMDROME SYMPTOMS IN OFFICE BUILDING WORKERS

To evaluate dose-response relationships between airway inflammation/systemic symptoms and dampness exposure, we conducted a self-reported questionnaire study on risk factors among 1237 employees in 19 air-conditioned office buildings in the Taipei area. The odds ratio for eye irritation was 1.34 when either stuffy odor or mold was present in the buildings. The odds ratio increased to 1.72 when both stuffy odor and mold were present, to 3.14 when water damage was also present, and to 5.03 when four dampness exposure factors were present. Dampness in the building had a dose-response effect on eye irritation, cough, and lethargy/fatigue

INDOOR CHARACTERISTICS OF ENDOTOXIN AND GLUCAN IN ASSOCIATION WITH SICK BUILDING SYNDROME SYMPTOMS

Indoor bioaerosols (i.e., bacteria, fungi, endotoxin, and beta-1,3-glucan) were determined in daycare centers, office buildings, and domestic environments in the Taipei area. In addition, we used a questionnaire survey to determine associations between indoor dampness, bioaerosols, and airway inflammation and systemic symptoms. We demonstrated that the median levels of indoor bacteria and fungi were the highest in daycare centers, followed by those in homes and office buildings. Similar patterns were observed for endotoxin and beta-1,3-glucan. The prevalences of airway inflammation and systemic symptoms were higher for females in office buildings than for employees in daycare centers; all symptoms were more prevalent in females than males. With respect to the relationship between bioaerosol exposure and airway inflammation and systemic symptoms, we found a strong association between beta-1,3-glucan and lethargy/fatigue

Diagram of operating theater area of a hospital.

<p>A: post-operative room; B: kidney transplant room; C: traumatic surgery room; D: liver transplant room; E: instrument room; F: office; G: supply washing room; H: restaurant; I: delivery room.</p

Isolation rates of airborne bacteria (%)^† in the operating theater area.

†<p>: the number of specific isolated microorganism was divided by the total number of isolated microorganisms;</p>‡<p>: chi-square test.</p><p>POR: post-operative room; IR: instrument room; SWR: supply washing room; DR: delivery room; KTR: kidney transplant room; TR: traumatic surgery room; LTR: liver transplant room.</p

Air quality measurement of the operating theater area.

<p>Data were represented as mean±sd or geometric mean (GSD). *: <i>p</i><0.05 compared with KTR; †: <i>p</i><0.05 compared with TR; ‡: <i>p</i><0.05 compared with LTR.</p><p>POR: post-operative recovery room; IR: instrument room; SWR: supply washing room; DR: delivery room; KTR: kidney transplant room; TR: traumatic surgery room; LTR: liver transplant room.</p

Correlation matrix of environmental factors in the operating theater area of a hospital.

*<p>: <i>p</i><0.05; **: <i>p</i><0.01; ^†: The bacterial concentration was calculated by geometric transformation.</p