Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the level of microbial contamination of air in operating theatres using active [i.e. surface air system (SAS)] and passive [i.e. index of microbial air contamination (IMA) and nitrocellulose membranes positioned near the wound] sampling systems. METHODS: Sampling was performed between January 2010 and January 2011 in the operating theatre of the orthopaedics department in a university hospital in Southern Italy. FINDINGS: During surgery, the mean bacterial loads recorded were 2232.9colony-forming units (cfu)/m(2)/h with the IMA method, 123.2cfu/m(3) with the SAS method and 2768.2cfu/m(2)/h with the nitrocellulose membranes. Correlation was found between the results of the three methods. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 12 of 60 operations (20%) with the membranes, five (8.3%) operations with the SAS method, and three operations (5%) with the IMA method. CONCLUSION: Use of nitrocellulose membranes placed near a wound is a valid method for measuring the microbial contamination of air. This method was more sensitive than the IMA method and was not subject to any calibration bias, unlike active air monitoring systems.

Autore Pugliese

• Notarnicola Angela , Moretti Biagio , Montagna Maria Teresa , Tafuri Silvio

Tutti gli autori

• NOTARNICOLA A.;MORETTI B.;NAPOLI C.;MONTAGNA M.T.;TAFURI S.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

0195-6701

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

1

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

24

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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