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

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