Air Contamination in the Hospital Environment

Abstract

Air is postulated to be a mode of transmission of multiple infections. Microorganisms can be found in the air in two forms depending on its size, smaller particles called aerosols, and bigger ones called droplets. The effect of biological aerosols depends on the characteristic of the environment where they were formed and released and its biological composition including the ability of the organisms to survive free in the environment. There are several situations when air sampling in the hospital setting is indicated. There are two methods for sampling air: passive methods based on sedimentation, and active ones that use more complex devices. The method chosen to sample air will depend on various factors, including the purpose for which air sampling is being performed, the type of organism being studied, the expertise or preferences of the investigator, and the resources available for such task.