Determination of bacterial air pollution in various premises

Abstract

A simple method, applicable in routine work, for simultaneous air sampling of total bacteria, on serum agar, and Str. salivarius and Bact. coli on specific media, is described.Simultaneous air sampling including, in addition to detection of total bacteria, Str. salivarius and Bact. coli as indicators of buccal and faecal air-borne bacteria, respectively, reveals the kind and source of air-borne pollution much better than the simple total bacterial count.The air in various medical and public institutions was examined; the results are presented and discussed. The air pollution of the premises examined was relatively high, especially in the operating theatres. The air of infants' wards was found to be heavily polluted with Bact. coli as a result of poor nursing technique and this might have had bearing on the epidemic of infant diarrhoea.