1. Sampling of Aspergillus spores in air
- Author
-
Maarit H. Kokki, Malcolm Richardson, G. Morris, and K. Anderson
- Subjects
Microbiology (medical) ,Air filtration ,Air sampling ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Guidelines as Topic ,030501 epidemiology ,Aspergillosis ,Microbiology ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,law ,Humans ,Medicine ,Intensive care medicine ,Aerosols ,Air Pollutants ,Infection Control ,0303 health sciences ,Aspergillus ,biology ,030306 microbiology ,business.industry ,Sampling (statistics) ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,biology.organism_classification ,3. Good health ,Infectious Diseases ,Ventilation (architecture) ,Room air distribution ,0305 other medical science ,business ,Haematological malignancy ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
Nosocomially acquired aspergillosis typically occurs in the setting of treatment for leukaemia or other haematological malignancy. As Aspergillus species can be readily found in the environment, it has been widely believed that aspergillosis occurs as a consequence of exogenous acquisition of the fungus. Stringent environmental controls in transplant units have included high-efficiency air filtration, positive-pressure ventilation and frequent room air changes. Although there have been several well-documented examples of aspergillosis outbreaks as a result of hospital demolition and reconstruction, it has not always been possible to demonstrate elevated spore counts in clinical areas during building work. The sampling of air for Aspergillus is very problematic. Careful attention must be given to the design of air sampler, sampling protocols and an understanding of air sampling data. This review outlines many of the physical and environmental parameters that influence meaningful air sampling and recommends a simple procedure that has been tried and tested in many aspergillosis outbreaks.
- Published
- 2000