Índices da qualidade microbiológica do ar em ambientes hospitalares

Abstract

The surrounding air is an ecological factor with a strong impact on public health. It is responsible for being an indirect transmission factor for microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which play a crucial role in assessing or defining air quality. The healthcare environment, dedicated to providing healthcare services, requires a thorough evaluation and careful attention to air quality. This article aimed to analyze the microbiological quality of the air in different sectors of the Clinical Hospital at the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, through passive sampling and comparing the air quality index with current regulations. Passive sampling was carried out at two exposure times, quantified in terms of Colony Forming Units (CFU) in the Medical Clinic, Burn/Plastic Surgery, and Infectious Diseases wards. The results obtained in the study classified the air in the wards as unsatisfactory. Considering that it is a Brazilian hospital, the local current legislation is highlighted, as the microbiological quality of the air in the study was considered of poor quality, according to the comparisons with indices found in the literature.