Distribution characteristics and related factors of microorganisms and particulate matter in the air of ICU
YANG Xin
FAN Shanhong
JIN Yafei
XU Wen
GE Wei
HE Gaihua
HUO Xinxin
BIAN Mei
ZHANG Li'na
Abstract：Objective:To investigate the dynamic distribution characteristics of microbial concentrations and particulate matter(PM)particle size in the air of hospital intensive care units(ICU)and their associated factors.Methods:A convenience sampling method was used to select a multi-bed open ICU in a tertiary hospital in Xi'an as the sampling site.The TSI 9 360 laser dust particle counter was used to sample six particle sizes with aerodynamic equivalent diameters(AED)greater than 0.3,0.5,1.0,2.5,5.0,and 10.0 µm within the ICU.Results:In actual conditions,the microbial concentrations and number of particulate matter in the ICU showed fluctuating trends.Microbial concentrations were negatively correlated with indoor temperature and humidity,and positively correlated with the number of staff,number of aerosol-generating procedures(AGP),and patient occupancy rate.The number of particulate matter was negatively correlated with indoor humidity and positively correlated with the number of staff and number of AGP.Conclusion:Within a certain range,microbial concentrations in the ICU decrease as temperature and humidity increase,but increase with the number of fixed and active individuals in the hall,total number of staff,patient occupancy rate,and number of AGP.The number of particulate matter decreases within a certain range as indoor humidity increases,but increases with the number of fixed and active individuals in the hall,total number of staff,and number of AGP.The main source of indoor particulate matter is nebulization procedures.
Keywords：intensive care unit(ICU)microbial aerosolparticulate matterdistribution characteristicsrelated factorshospital infection
Publication Date：2025-03-09
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 775-782 )