[Examination possibilities of microbial nucleic acid samples derived from the environment]

Hospital-acquired infections, which affect numerous patients worldwide, are an important component of patient safety. In Europe, approximately one in fifteen patients acquires an infection during the time in the hospital. The continuous monitoring of the hygiene status in the hospital environment is currently a significant task for institutions, and the emergence of certain critical pathogens (e.g., multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria) requires immediate intervention. The spread of nosocomial pathogens in the hospital environment is primarily influenced by frequently touched surfaces and hand hygiene, although individual pathogens are often only identified when the infection occurs. Nucleic acid-based procedures – such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and next-generation sequencing – enable more effective detection of non-cultivable pathogens. Furthermore, next-generation sequencing not only provides information about the composition of the environmental microbiome but also about the presence of various resistance genes and resistance mechanisms. Based on this, it can be stated that the molecular examination of surface, airborne and wastewater microbiomes can offer useful additional information alongside traditional environmental monitoring procedures. The goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of how the aforementioned procedures can be applied to assess the microbial state of the environment and thus provide supplementary information for enhancing patient safety. Orv Hetil. 2024; 165(16): 613–619.