Determining the Concentration of Particulate Matters and Microbiological Quality of Indoor Air in Intensive Care Units of Kashan Hospital, Iran

Introduction: Maintaining hospital air quality is very important, especially in intensive care units (ICUs), where patients undergo invasive procedures. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between particulate matters (PMs) and bioaerosols in pediatric ICU (PICU), neonatal ICU (NICU), and ICU open heart (ICU OH) of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted for six consecutive months, i.e., autumn and winter of ۲۰۲۱. PM samples were taken using a Grimm Dust Monitor and microbial samples were taken using a Quick Take ۳۰ sampler. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for analysis and then ANOVA and LSD were used for further tests. Results: The maximum and minimum PM۱۰ concentrations in the PICU and ICU OH were ۵۹.۱۹ and ۹.۷۱ μg/m۳, respectively; and the maximum and minimum PM۲.۵ concentrations were ۲۰.۲۳ μg/m۳ in the NICU and ۴.۶۹ μg/m۳ in PICU. The mean PM concentration and the number of bacterial and fungal colonies were consistent with the WHO and EPA guidelines. Gram-positive Staphylococcus were the most abundant bacteria (۹۰.۹۶%). The most abundant fungi were Aspergillus (۵۴.۲۳%), Penicillium (۱۵.۶۴%), and Cladosperium (۱۲.۱۷%) species. There was also no significant relationship between PMs and bioaerosols. Conclusion: The mean concentrations of PMs and bioaerosols match with the guidelines, which can be attributed to more observance of health protocols and restrictions on the movement of people into ICUs due to the COVID-۱۹ outbreak.

کلیدواژه ها:

Air Pollution ، Indoor ، Hospitals ، Particulate Matter ، Kashan City.