Monitoring of airborne bacteria and aerosols in different wards of hospitals - Particle counting usefulness in investigation of airborne bacteria

[b]Introduction and objective[/b]. The presence of airborne bacteria in hospital environments is of great concern because of their potential role as a source of hospital-acquired infections (HAI). The aim of this study was the determination and comparison of the concentration of airborne bacteria in different wards of four educational hospitals, and evaluation of whether particle counting could be predictive of airborne bacterial concentration in different wards of a hospital. [b]Materials and method.[/b] The study was performed in an operating theatre (OT), intensive care unit (ICU), surgery ward (SW) and internal medicine (IM) ward of four educational hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. A total of 80 samples were analyzed for the presence of airborne bacteria and particle levels. [b]Results.[/b] The average level of bacteria ranged from 75–1194 CFU/m [sup]3[/sup] . Mean particle levels were higher than class 100,000 cleanrooms in all wards. A significant correlation was observed between the numbers of 1–5 µm particles and levels of airborne bacteria in operating theatres and ICUs. The results showed that factors which may influence the airborne bacterial level in hospital environments should be properly managed to minimize the risk of HAIs especially in operating theaters. [b]Conclusions.[/b] Microbial air contamination of hospital settings should be performed by the monitoring of airborne bacteria, but particle counting could be considered as a good operative method for the continuous monitoring of air quality in operating theaters and ICUs where higher risks of infection are suspected

ATHEROSCLEROSIS OF THE INTERNAL MAMMARY ARTERY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING

In patients requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), usually at least one of the internal mammary arteries is used. This study evaluates the degree of atherosclerotic involvement of the internal mammary artery (IMA) in patients undergoing CABG. During two months period, 79 patients (66 male and 13 female with a medium age of 58 years) undergoing myocardial revascularization had a biopsy of the distal left internal mammary artery. In our study atherosclerotic involvement of the IMA was assessed according to the scale of Kay. Using this index, grade 0 corresponds to a normal artery without atherosclerosis, grade 1 represents minimal disease, grade 2 a narrowing of less than 25% of the lumen, grade 3 narrowing between 25 and 50%, and grade 4 narrowing of 50% or greater of the lumen. Of the 79 IMAs examined, the arteries with degree 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 were: 17 (21.5%), 36 (45.6%), 13 (16.5%), 10 (12.7%), and 3 (3.8%), respectively. Considering the arteries with severe atherosclerotic narrowing (3.8%), the IMA had a low but consistent incidence of atherosclerotic involvement. According to our investigation among risk factors only high blood pressure has some roles in inducing atherosclerotic changes (p=0.014). The other risk factors (i.e. diabetes mellitus, smoking, hyperlipidemia) had no correlation with the atherosclerotic changes in IMA. Preoperative angiography of the IMA is not necessary for all the patients that require CABG, but could be recommended in hypertensive patients