Abstract

There are documents that confirm the cycle of bacterial transmission between patients, staff, and the inanimate environment. The environment may have more effect on intensive care units (ICUs), because the patients who require intensive care have unstable clinical conditions and are more sensitive to infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bacteria in air and inanimate surface in the ICUs and to compare the microbial levels to standard levels. Air and inanimate surface in the four ICUs of a teaching hospital underwent weekly surveillance by means of air sampler and swabs for a period of six-month. Total bacterial counts were evaluated onto trypticase soy agar and mannitol salt agar (MSA). A total of 725 samples air (168) and inanimate surfaces (557) were collected. The total mean +/- SD CFU/m(3) of airborne bacteria in all of the ICUs were 115.93 +/- 48.04. The most common bacteria in air of the ICUs were Gram-positive cocci (84.2%). The total mean +/- SD airborne of Staphylococcus aureus was 12.10+/-8.11 CFU/m(3). The highest levels of S. aureus contamination were found in ventilators and bed ledges. More suitable disinfection of hospital environments and monthly rotation in utilization of the various disinfectant agents are needed for the prevention of airborne and inanimate transmission of S. aureus.