ABSTRACT
Nanosilver-based paint is a new technology with antimicrobial and antifungal characteristics. These characteristics were investigated in this study with regard to fungal contamination in hospitals. Regarding hospitalization of transplant patients and their sensitivity to hospital infections, two similar rooms were selected in nephrology ward. One of them was painted with Nanosilver paint and the other one with ordinary paint. Sampling was done via Swap Sterile and Open Plate. A total of 350 samples was obtained and colony-forming units in Open Plate and Surface Culture methods in case and control rooms were compared. Mean colony- forming units in case and control groups showed significant difference in both open plate and surface culture methods [P<0.000, P<0.001 respectively]. In studying the effect of time passing on the effectiveness of nanosilver paint, P values were 0.165 and 0.644 for open plate and surface culture methods respectively. It was found that Nanosilver paint is indeed effective in reducing both air and surface fungal contamination, but it is more effective on surface. Moreover, the passing of time had no effect on the effectiveness of the paint
ABSTRACT
Air pollution has broad social, economical, political and technical aspects. one of the major issues in this regard is taking measures to prevent its increase. Since suspended particles are among the standard pollutants, the present study was carried out with the aim of measuring the amounts of these particles. In the present study, the suspended particles [PM1, PM2.5 and PM10] were measured at two sites in Qom city. For each of them, 60 samples were selected with the Enviro Check during five consecutive months during summer [2 months] and fall. During sampling, PM10 in the period between October 22'th to November 22[nd] 2007 had the maximum amount with the mean of 117microg/m[3] and in the period between September 22'th to October 22[nd] 2007 it had the minimum amount with the mean of 83microg/m[3]. PM2.5 in the period between November 22[nd] to December 22[nd] 2007 with the mean of 33microg/m[3] had the maximum amount and in the period between July 22[nd] to October 22[nd] 2007 it had the minimum amount with the mean of 8microg/m[3]. Based on the findings of this study, the densities of suspended particles PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 were below the standard levels on most occasions. The amounts of AQI for them were normal and acceptable
ABSTRACT
Fungi spores can be found everywhere. The amount and variety of fungal spores and their vast spread could be a preliminary step to the initiation of different diseases in people with different levels of health.In the present study six wards including nephrology, internal ward for women, surgery ward for men, operating theater for E.N.T., ophthalmology, infectious diseases ward and the laboratory were chosen for sampling on the basis of their types of activities and their in-patients. We used Anderson sampling method, collected samples within two minutes with flow rate of 28.3 L/Min in sabouraud medium. Maximum contamination in the infectious diseases ward was 300 CFU/m[3] and minimum contamination in E.N.T. was 94 CFU/m[3]. The maximum percentage of fungal spores in the hospital air was observed to be as follows: penicillin with 36.36%, Cladosporium 24.74%, A.niger 17.97%, Rhizopus 10.57% and A.flavus 2.74A%. Fungal contamination concentration in hospital indoor air in this study was higher than the recommended limits and other similar studies from a quantitative point of view, but it was similar to other studies in terms of identified species