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Published on: June 28, 2018
Bacterial indoor air contaminations in hospitals in MENA region: a systematic review
Lubna I Abu-Rub1, Al-Reem A Johar2, Hassan Al Mana1
1Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Abstract:
Poor indoor air quality in healthcare settings has been tied with the increase in hospital-acquired infections. Thus, this systematic review was conducted to assess the levels and compositions of bacteria in indoor hospital air in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We examined results provided by different search engines published between 2000 and 2021. Our data showed that most studies were conducted in Iran (80.9%) with a bacterial concentration mean of 172.9 CFU/m3. Comparing sensitive and non-sensitive areas of hospitals, no significant difference was detected in the mean bacterial concentration. The most investigated sensitive hospital areas were operating rooms and intensive care units with mean indoor bacterial concentrations of 180.3 CFU/m3 and 204.6 CFU/m3, respectively. Staphylococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Bacillaceae were commonly identified bacterial families. In conclusion, the mean concentrations of the airborne bacteria were within the acceptable limit compared to WHO standards (300 CFU/m3) for the air in areas occupied by immunosuppressed people.
Insights
This review assessed indoor hospital bacteria in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), finding concentrations within World Health Organization (WHO) limits, suggesting good indoor air quality in healthcare settings.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Healthcare-associated infections
- Hospital indoor air quality
Background:
- Poor indoor air quality in healthcare settings is linked to increased hospital-acquired infections.
- Assessing bacterial levels in hospital air is crucial for infection control.
- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region requires specific data on hospital airborne bacteria.
Approach:
- Systematic review of studies published between 2000 and 2021.
- Searched multiple scientific databases for relevant literature.
- Analyzed bacterial concentrations and compositions in indoor hospital air across the MENA region.
Key Points:
- Most studies (80.9%) were conducted in Iran, with a mean bacterial concentration of 172.9 CFU/m³.
- No significant difference in bacterial concentration was found between sensitive and non-sensitive hospital areas.
- Common bacterial families identified include Staphylococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Bacillaceae.
Conclusions:
- Mean airborne bacterial concentrations in MENA hospitals are within WHO acceptable limits (300 CFU/m³).
- Findings suggest that current indoor air quality in the studied hospitals is generally adequate, even in sensitive areas like operating rooms and ICUs.
- Further research across more diverse MENA countries is recommended to confirm these findings.
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