Bacterial and fungal counts in hospital air: comparative yields for 4 sieve impactor air samplers with 2 culture media.
We compared the yields of 4 recently developed sieve impactor air samplers that meet international standard ISO 14698-1, using 2 growth media (tryptic soy agar and malt extract agar) in real conditions of use. Several hospital sites expected to have different densities of airborne microflora were selected in 2 hospitals. The Samplair MK2, Air Ideal, and Mas-100 samplers yielded higher bacterial counts than did the SAS Super-100 device (P<.05). No significant differences in fungal counts were noted between the 4 devices. The use of malt extract agar in addition to tryptic soy agar significantly improved the fungal yield.
Gangneux
Jean-Pierre
JP
Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Rennes, France. jean-pierre.gangneux@univ-rennes1.fr
Robert-Gangneux
Florence
F
Gicquel
Guirec
G
Tanquerel
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Chevrier
Sylviane
S
Poisson
Magali
M
Aupée
Martine
M
Guiguen
Claude
C
D000388:Air; D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006761:Hospitals
D003470:Culture Media