Abstract
An experimental investigation was carried out to determine the agreement between two methods of viable bacteria aerosol detection. Various amounts of Bacillus globigii (BG) spores were aerosolized in 1-s bursts into a HEPA-filtered air stream and sampled simultaneously with a fluorescence aerosol particle sensor (FLAPS) and a slit to agar biological air sampler. The slit sampler incorporated 150-mm malt extract culture plates, which were incubated at 37°C for at least 12 h before culturable BG particles were counted in terms of colony-forming units (CFU). A relationship between CFU and optically detected viable bacteria particles was determined as culturable particle concentrations decreased. Through further analytical procedures, the FLAPS showed a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.2 bacterial particle/2.5 l of sampled air or 1.7 × 103 m-3. This real-time bacteria aerosol monitor could be used to detect burst contamination events during a surgical procedure. The technology may be used for developing a dose- response relationship between bacterial particle exposure and infection, a tool potentially helpful in determining patient risk.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 163-172 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Aerobiologia |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2011 |
Keywords
- FLAPS
- Fluorescent aerosol sensor
- Hospital bacteria detection
- Limit of detection
- Operating room monitoring