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Variability in airborne bacterial and fungal population in the tertiary health care centre

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Abstract

An investigation of the air quality and the quantity of airborne microbes was conducted in a private and a government tertiary health care centre of Davanagere in the month of November 2011 to assess the level of air borne pathogens. Using a Merck Microbial Air Sampler MAS-100NT, samples were collected in the morning and in the evening from the different environs of the private and government tertiary health care centre. The media used for the study of fungi was sabouraud dextrose agar. Aspergillus spp, Curvularia spp, Alternaria spp, Penicillium spp, Rhizopus spp, Nigrospora spp, and Fusarium spp were found in either of the tertiary health care centre. Aspergillus spp was dominant in the Government tertiary health care centre, and Alternaria spp and Curvularia spp were dominant in the private tertiary health care centre. For the bacteria, quantitative enumeration was done using soyabean casein digest agar and selective media like Escherichia coli and coliform agar and urinary tract infection agar were used in qualitative enumeration. Selected pathogens like E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, and Entirococcus faecalis were found in either of the tertiary health care centre. Maximum number of fungi and bacteria were isolated from emergency ward and general ward of government and private health care centre. There was also considerable difference in the morning and in the evening.

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Acknowledgments

The authors want to remain grateful to Principal and all in charge personnel of the various intensive care units of private tertiary health care centre. They also acknowledge with gratitude the District surgeon and his associates of the Government tertiary health care centre. They remember with gratitude Dr. Carmen Galan, a senior aerobiologist for the critical comments, and Dr. A. B. Singh, Emeritus Scientist, IGIB, New Delhi, for all the suggestions and sincerely thank the Director, Principal, and the Management of Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Davanagere.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology and Research Centre, Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Davangere, 577004, Karnataka, India

    B. E. Rangaswamy, Fernandes Francis, K. K. Prakash & N. S. Manjunath

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  1. B. E. Rangaswamy
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  2. Fernandes Francis
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  3. K. K. Prakash
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  4. N. S. Manjunath
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Correspondence to B. E. Rangaswamy.

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Rangaswamy, B.E., Francis, F., Prakash, K.K. et al. Variability in airborne bacterial and fungal population in the tertiary health care centre. Aerobiologia 29, 473–479 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-013-9297-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-013-9297-z

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