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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Exposure to bioburden (comprising bacteria and fungi) has become one of the critical issues for occupational and public health approaches in the hospital environment. This study aims to assess the fungal burden in one Central Hospital in Oporto, Portugal, applying the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Portuguese legislation as guidance, verifying both the limit values and the conformity established for general indoor environments. Air samples were collected using a microbiological air sampler in several hospital areas (Day hospital, Internment ward, Operating Room, and Outpatient area). Among the 15 rooms analyzed, 20% (3 out of 15) presented I/O > 1 and 4 out of 15 presented Aspergillus section Fumigati, in a concentration above 12 UFC·m−3. Besides Aspergillus section Fumigati, the sections Nigri, Aspergilli, Usti, and Versicolores were also observed. Qualitative assessment, besides the quantitative, should always be performed to guarantee an accurate assessment, even though the quantitative cut-off complies with the legal requirement. A multi-approach on sampling methods and in assays (culture-based and molecular methods) will enrich data findings, enabling exposure assessors to perform IAQ assessments.
Description
Project EXPOsE, Project nº 23222 (02/SAICT/2016)
Keywords
Environmental health Hospital Airborne fungi Indoor air Air quality Qualitative assessment Project nº 23222 (02/SAICT/2016) Project EXPOsE
Citation
Viegas C, Almeida B, Paciência I, Rufo JC, Pereira C. Hospital environment: a safe place to be when using Portuguese legislation as guidance? In: Cotrim T, Serranheira F, Sousa P, Hignett S, Albolino S, Tartaglia R, editors. Health and social care systems of the future: demographic changes, digital age and human factors – HEPS 2019: advances in intelligent systems and computing (Vol. 1012). Cham: Springer; 2019. p. 230-6.
