Ribeiro, EdnaFaria, Isabel2017-10-202017-10-202017-10Ribeiro E, Faria I. Analyses approaches for bactéria. In: Viegas C, Viegas S, Gomes AQ, Täubel M, Sabino R, editors. Exposure to microbiological agents in indoor and occupational environments. Springer; 2017. p. 97-108.978-3-319-61688-9http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/7433Bacterial bioburden assessments, particularly in the context of human environmental/occupational exposure, have major implications for public health risk assessment. Several sampling methods, which must be adapted to the studied environmental context, are currently available. Culture-dependent and culture-independent methodologies have been utilized for the analysis of bacterial communities in various environments. Culture-dependent techniques drove extraordinary advances in microbiology and allow the enhancement of bacterial material to be utilized in a supplementary analysis; however, these approaches may underestimate the bacterial bioburden of the studied samples. On the other hand, culture-independent approaches are considered more sensible and efficient with the capacity to provide valuable information regarding bacterial diversity and quantity; nevertheless, preferential amplification and poor primers specificity can account for major limitations. In order to perform valuable and efficient assessments of bacterial bioburden booth approaches should be utilized simultaneously.engBacterial bioburdenEnvironmental samplingCulture-dependent bacterial analysisCulture-independent bacterial analysisbook part10.1007/978-3-319-61688-9_5