Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 20 No 5 (2016): 1217 - 1224

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/mjas-2016-2005-28

 

 

 

A STUDY OF MICROBE AIR LEVELS IN SELECTED ROOMS OF A HOSPITAL CULTIVATED ON TWO CULTURE MEDIAS

 

(Kajian Tahap Mikrob dalam Udara yang Di Kultur Pada Dua Media Kultur di dalam Bilik Hospital Terpilih)

 

Che Noraini Che Hasnam¹, Hafizan Juahir¹*^, Azman Azid¹, Mohammad Azizi Amran¹, Fazureen Azaman¹, Ahmad Dasuki Mustafa¹, Zarizal Suhaili¹, Sukri Md. Ismail¹, Khairul Affendi Yusof², Cik Fatimah Nadia Che Hasnam¹

 

¹East Coast Environmental Research Institute (ESERI),

Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

²Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology,

Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Abdul Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: hafizanj@unisza.edu.my

 

 

Received: 14 April 2015; Accepted: 3 August 2016

 

 

Abstract

The levels of airborne microbe in hospital are unknown previously in Terengganu. Typically, fungi and bacteria are usually presented in indoor environments and cause of human health effects. The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate the level of airborne microbial pollution in the indoor air of the selected hospital rooms. A total of 8 rooms were investigated for this study. Sampling was conducted with an Eco-Mas 100 Single-Stage Microbial Air Impactor and counting plates containing two selective media, Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol Agar (RBCA) and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Air sampling was taken for 5 min at an airflow rate of 28.3 L/min. A medium-low level of bacterial and fungal concentrations (8 to 38 CFU/m³ for RBCA and 2 to 149 CFU/m³ for SDA), respectively were found in indoor air quality of the hospital. The highest microbe air levels for RBCA was measured in the washing room, while the highest microbe air levels for SDA was measured in the reprocessing room of hemodialysis unit. The culturable airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations on SDA agar were higher than those on RBCA. The most common culturable airborne microbes were Penicillium and Cladosporium. In addition, the use of RBCA rather than SDA significantly improved the fungal yield. The study also revealed that no indoor atmosphere in the hospital is completely free from microorganisms.  

 

Keywords:  hospital, indoor air quality, airborne microbe, colony counts

 

Abstrak

Tahap mikrob bawaan udara di hospital tidak di ketahui sebelum ini di Terengganu. Lazimnya, kulat dan bakteria terdapat dalam persekitaran dalaman dan menyebabkan kesan terhadap kesihatan manusia. Tujuan kajian deskriptif ini adalah untuk menyiasat tahap pencemaran mikrob bawaan udara di dalam bangunan bilik – bilik yang terpilih di hospital. Sejumlah 8 buah bilik telah disiasat untuk kajian ini. Pensampelan telah dijalankan dengan menggunakan Eco-Mas 100 Impaktor Udara Mikrob Tahap Tunggal dan plat yang mengandungi dua media terpilih iaitu Rose Bengal  Chloramphenicol Agar  (RBCA)  and  Sabouraud  Dextrose Agar.  Pensampelan  udara dijalankan selama 5 minit pada kadar aliran udara 28.3 L/min. Satu tahap kepekatan sederhana rendah bakteria dan kulat (8 hingga 38 CFU/m³ untuk media RBCA dan 2 hingga 149 CFU/m³ untuk media SDA) masing – masing ditemui dalam kualiti udara dalam bangunan hospital tersebut. Tahap udara mikrob yang tertinggi untuk RBCA diukur di bilik cuci, manakala tahap udara mikrob yang tertinggi untuk SDA diukur di bilik pemprosesan semula unit hemodialisis. Kepekatan bakteria dan kulat bawaan udara yang dikultur pada agar SDA adalah lebih tinggi daripada agar RBCA. Mikrob bawaan udara lazimnya yang didapati dari media kultur ialah Penicillium and Cladosporium. Penggunaan media RBCA adalah ketara lebih baik berbanding media SDA dalam penghasilan kulat. Kajian juga mendedahkan bahawa tiada keadaan persekitaran tertutup di dalam hospital yang bebas sepenuhnya dari mikroorganisma.

 

Kata kunci:  hospital, kualiti udara dalam bangunan, mikrob bawaan udara, pengiraan bilangan koloni

 

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