ABSTRACT
Environmental disinfection greatly reduces the occurrence of nosocomial or healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) which are the major healthcare problems worldwide. In India, Ayurvedic traditionalfumigation with natural plant products is used to disinfect environment. In the present study, environmental disinfection efficiency of traditional fumigation practice has been evaluated by using naturalplant products such as garlic (Allium sativum) peel, turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder, Carom (Trachyspermum ammi) seeds (Ajwain) and Loban (resin of Styrax benzoin and Boswellia species). The efficiencyof traditional fumigation using these natural products to disinfect air and surface was evaluated. Theeffect of traditional fumigation on the microbiological quality of air was revealed by active air sampling.In addition, the ability of the traditional fumigation using garlic peel to disinfect inanimate surface wasevaluated using three strains of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Glass slide wasartificially contaminated with the bacteria and fumigated whereas non-fumigated slide served as control.The control and fumigated slides were analyzed for surviving bacteria and subjected to scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM) analysis. Traditional fumigation performed separately with three grams of garlic peel,turmeric, carom seeds and loban powder reduced the average air borne bacterial colony forming units(cfu)/m3 compared to non-fumigated control. The SEM analysis showed reduced number of bacteria ingarlic peel fumigated surface samples. The results of the study strongly suggested that the traditionalAyurvedic fumigation with natural plant products is effective in reducing air-borne bacteria and indisinfecting inanimate surfaces. The traditional fumigation with herbal products has huge potential toaddress the problem of nosocomial infections.© 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institute of Transdisciplinary Health Sciencesand Technology and World Ayurveda Foundation. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-NDlicense (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
ABSTRACT
Aim: To study the presence of indoor mycoflora in A/c Buses to know the commuters risk of exposure to fungal spores. Place and Duration: Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), Koyambedu, Chennai, India. Study was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012. Methodology: Airborne fungi from 50 A/c buses were studied using Reuter Centrifugal Sampler (Biotest, Germany), fungi from the surfaces of air vents through swab sample and bus seats by rubbing sterile petridishes on the seats. Sabourauds Dextrose Agar (SDA) was used for the isolation of fungi from different buses. The collected data were statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 38 species classified in 21 genera were recorded. Among which, Zygomycetes was represented by 4 species, Ascomycetes and Coelomycetes by single species each and the remaining belongs to Hyphomycetes. The genus, Aspergillus was represented by maximum number of species (11 species) followed by Penicillium (5 species). A total average of 713 CFU/m3 of air was recorded within the buses. Aspergillus niger was the first dominant fungi in the order of dominance followed by Chrysonilia sitophila, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus flavus in that order. From the surface of bus seats, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Rhizopus stolonifer and A. japonicus were recorded as dominant. However, different mycofloral composition was recorded from air vents. Cladosporium chlorocephalum and Curvularia lunata dominated the surface of air vents. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the presence of potential fungal species which pose exposure risk to the immune compromised commuters.