Real-time measurements of airborne biologic particles using fluorescent particle counter to evaluate microbial contamination: Results of a comparative study in an operating theater

• This study first revealed that the number of biologic particles detected by the fluorescent particle counter was correlated with airborne bacterial counts.
• Biologic particle and airborne bacterial counts increased substantially during operation preparation periods.
• Increasing results of the 2 methods corresponded with frequent human movements in the operating room.
• Fluorescent particle counters have great application prospects in predicting airborne bacterial contamination in operating theaters.

BackgroundAirborne bacterial contamination poses a risk for surgical site infection, and routine surveillance of airborne bacteria is important. Traditional methods for detecting airborne bacteria are time consuming and strenuous. Measurement of biologic particle concentrations using a fluorescent particle counter is a novel method for evaluating air quality. The current study was to determine whether the number of biologic particles detected by the fluorescent particle counter can be used to indicate airborne bacterial counts in operating rooms.MethodsThe study was performed in an operating theater at a university hospital in Hefei, China. The number of airborne biologic particles every minute was quantified using a fluorescent particle counter. Microbiologic air sampling was performed every 30 minutes using an Andersen air sampler (Pusong Electronic Instruments, Changzhou, China). Correlations between the 2 different methods were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficients.ResultsA significant correlation was observed between biologic particle and bacterial counts (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.76), and the counting results from 2 methods both increased substantially between operations, corresponding with human movements in the operating room.ConclusionFluorescent particle counters show potential as important tools for monitoring bacterial contamination in operating theatres.