Airborne bacteria and affordable air purifiers in small-animal hospital, Thailand

Abstract

Exposure to bioaerosol in hospitals is associated with health effects but in the field of veterinary hospitals there are
limited articles on bioaerosol concentration especially in Southeast Asia. This investigation of aerosol bacteria (crosssectional study) was conducted in two veterinary teaching hospitals located in Thailand. Airborne bacteria were
collected from air samples in four room types (reception hall, intensive care unit, out-patient department and in-patient
hospital department) in each hospital using a sieve impactor air sampler at different periods (8:00–10:00, 10:00–12.00
and 13:00–15:00). The results revealed high bacterial contamination in all collected air samples. The average levels of
total viable bacteria count were >500 colony forming units (CFU)/m3 in all rooms but at some periods aerosol bacteria
were <500 CFU/m3. Also, in the late morning and afternoon period, aerosol bacteria increased from early morning
period. Further investigation on the experimental efficacy of two different types of air purifier (also called cleaners in
some of the literature) was tested to identify an alternative apparatus requiring limited space and competent for a high
concentration of odor and animal fur. The non-ionized air purifier for animate space and the ozone generator air
purifier for inanimate space significantly (p<0.05) reduced the aerosol bacterial concentration.