Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Mashhad, Iran.
Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 1;14(1):26259. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-69088-x.
There is insufficient research on bioaerosols in hospital waste decontamination stations. This study aimed to investigate the effect of three-layer and N95 masks in reducing the inhalation risk of bacterial bioaerosols in a waste decontamination station at a teaching hospital. Active sampling was conducted on five different days at three locations: the yard, resting room, and autoclave room in three different modes: without a mask, with a three-layer mask, and with an N95 mask. Bacterial bioaerosols passing through the masks were identified using biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The median concentration and interquartile range (IQR) of bacterial bioaerosols was 217.093 (230.174) colony-forming units per cubic meter (CFU/m), which is higher than the recommended amount by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The resting room had high contamination levels, with a median (IQR) of 321.9 (793.529) CFU/m of bacterial bioaerosols. The maximum concentration of bioaerosols was also recorded in the same room (2443.282 CFU/m). The concentration of bacterial bioaerosols differed significantly between using a three-layer or N95 mask and not using a mask (p-value < 0.001). The non-carcinogenic risk level was acceptable in all cases, except in the resting room without a mask (Hazard Quotient (HQ) = 2.07). The predominant bacteria were Gram-positive cocci (33.98%). Micrococci (three-layer mask = 51.28%, N95 mask = 50%) and Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (three-layer mask = 30.77%, N95 mask = 31.82%) were the most abundant bioaerosols passing through the masks. The results obtained are useful for managerial decisions in hospital waste decontamination stations to reduce exposure to bioaerosols and develop useful guidelines.
医院废物消毒站的生物气溶胶研究不足。本研究旨在调查三层口罩和 N95 口罩在减少教学医院废物消毒站细菌生物气溶胶吸入风险方面的效果。在三个不同的位置（院子、休息室和消毒室）和三个不同的模式（不戴口罩、戴三层口罩和戴 N95 口罩）下，在五天内进行了主动采样。通过生化试验和聚合酶链反应（PCR）对通过口罩的细菌生物气溶胶进行鉴定。细菌生物气溶胶的中值和四分位距（IQR）为 217.093（230.174）菌落形成单位/立方米（CFU/m），高于泛美卫生组织（PAHO）推荐的量。休息室的污染水平较高，细菌生物气溶胶的中值（IQR）为 321.9（793.529）CFU/m。同一房间也记录到生物气溶胶的最高浓度（2443.282 CFU/m）。使用三层或 N95 口罩与不使用口罩之间的细菌生物气溶胶浓度差异有统计学意义（p 值<0.001）。除了不戴口罩的休息室（危险指数（HQ）=2.07）之外，所有情况下非致癌风险水平都是可以接受的。优势细菌为革兰阳性球菌（33.98%）。通过口罩的最丰富的细菌是微球菌（三层口罩=51.28%，N95 口罩=50%）和凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌（三层口罩=30.77%，N95 口罩=31.82%）。获得的结果可用于医院废物消毒站的管理决策，以减少生物气溶胶暴露并制定有用的指南。
