title: [Microbial environmental surveillance in a bone marrow transplant unit].
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate, after several years of application, in a bone marrow transplant (BMT) center of a Cagliari Hospital, the effectiveness of the disinfection protocol in minimizing the risk of environmentally transmitted infections. Microbial contamination of the air was evaluated every two months during normal activity using an SAS sampler. The contamination of surfaces was determined weekly, 2hrs after sanitation, using disposable surface contact plates. The results of environmental monitoring generally showed low values of microbial contamination of air and surfaces. Only two service rooms and two patient's rooms without own bathroom showed levels of microbial contamination slightly exceeding, in a few samplings, the values considered acceptable for environments at high risk of infections. From a qualitative point of view, the microrganisms isolated generally belonged to environmental species. In conclusion our study confirms the importance of microbial monitoring in the control and prevention of outbreaks of infections in BMT Units. This approach allows significant reduction in the level of contamination not only by improving cleaning procedures, but also by motivating the cleaning staff trough making them aware of their responsibilities.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Sperimentale, Sezione Igiene, Universit  degli Studi di Cagliari.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cosentino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puddu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puggioni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palmas
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010356:Patient Isolation