RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the colony count of airborne microbes contamination every hour in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit (NSICU) in order to identify the relationship of colony count to person-visits. METHODS: Data were collected during from 11:00 a.m. September 5 to 11:00 a.m. September 6, 2002. This study used blood agar & nutrient agar and handtally counter (USA) for collection of airborne microbes and number of person-visits. Data was analyzed using the SPSSWIN 10.0 with means, Pearson correlation coefficient, and simple regression. RESULTS: The result of this study are as follows. Total colony count of airborne microbes for 24 hours in the NSICU was 4,609. Total number of person-visits to the NSICU was 15,347. The highest scores for the total colony count in different areas of the NSICU was the rear door, followed by the preparation room, and the front entrance, while the lowest count was in the isolation rooms. There was a statistically significant relationship between colony count and number of person-visits to the NSICU. The most frequently airborne microbes in the NSICU were Micrococcus, CNS, Staphylococcus Micrococcus, Aureus. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the number of person-visits in hospitals influences total colony count of airborne microbes. This study contributes to assessment of biological indoor air quality in hospital and in the development of an NSICU care plan.