Air

Microbiology

The air contains gases,

dust particles, dried vapor
droplets, in addition to
these, air also contains
more
number
of
microorganisms. The air
has vegetative cells and
spores of bacteria, fungi
and algae and protozoan

Aerobiology
It includes the study of air-borne
spores, virus, and cells of fungi,
algae, pteridiphyta and microinsects including pollen grains and
interaction
of
these
with
particulate matter of air like
smoke,
dust,
radio-particles,
pesticides etc.
Air borne microbes are affected
mostly by H2S, SO2, CO, Cl2, HF2, O3

Aeroallergen:
This
causes
allergy
mammalian system

to

the

Cells of different living creatures

Pollens
Danders (feathers of chicken, ducts,
birds, hairs of cattles, pets
House dusts, insecticides, paints,
varnish
Cosmetics- Talc, perfumes, lotion,
bindi

Air infection is caused by 2 types

of
droplets
Droplet
Nuclei
Droplet nuclei are defined as droplets that
have evaporated to form clumps of microbes
and condensable matter with size of smaller
than 0.1mm These are carried to a long
distance and is diluted. They become evaporated and
smaller to 0.5 to 20 microns in diameter, that remain airborne for
extended periods of time (become bioaerosol)

Droplet ( infection)
Theoretically, a droplet
may be several
microns in diameter. These settle out rapidly,
cover a short distance. Infection by this
droplet is localized and concentrated or
evaporate to form droplet nuclei in the aerosol size range.

Bioaerosols

The biological contaminants suspended

in air are referred as bioaerosol. Size
may vary from 1-50 m composed of
single
or clump
of cells.
Microorganisms
or particles, gases, vapors, or fragments of
biological origin (i.e., alive or released from a living organism)
that are in the air.
Bioaerosols are everywhere in the environment.
Some bioaerosols, when breathed in, can cause diseases
including pneumonia, asthma, rhinitis (e.g. cold, hay fever), and
respiratory infection.
Some bioaerosols can also infect the eyes and via ingestion
(swallowed).

Algae-mostly single celled like

Chlamydomonus, diatoms, chlorella or
Nostoc
Fungi-Alternaria, Aspergillus, Candida,
Fusarium, Curvularia, Rhizopus,Pencillium, Cellulolytic fungi ( with aflatoxins, aldehydes,
alcohols)
Lichen-Cladonia, Usnea
Pollengrains- Argemone, Amaranthus,
Cassia, Azadhiracta, Ricinus, Croton
Protozoa -Naegleria, Acanthamoeba
Others- virus, Bacteria,, moss, fern,
seeds and spores, mites

Pathogenic bacteria in bioaerosols:

Corynebacterium,
Micrococcus,
Sarcina,
Mycobacterium,
Flavobacterium,
Streptococcus,
Staphalococcus
,
Bacillus.
Legionella,
Actinomycetes, (and their toxins)
Special Features of
airmicroorganisms
1. Having low water activity
2. spore forming
3. cupsulation
4. Longer dormant period
5. withstand dessication
6. Resistance to UV radiationetc

borne

Diseases Caused by Bioaerosols:

Hypersensitivity or Allergic Diseases
Result from exposure to antigens (of indoor bioaerosols) that
stimulate an allergic response by the body's immune system.
Susceptiblity varies among people.
Diseases usually are diagnosed by a physician.
Once an individual has developed a hypersensitivity disease,
a very small amount of the antigen may cause a severe
reaction.
Hypersensitivity diseases account for most of the health
problems due to indoor bioaerosols.

Regions of the Respiratory System

The cellular composition as well as geometry of the
respiratory system influence particle deposition.
Nasopharynx Region: the head region, including the
nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx
Tracheobronchial Region: includes the trachea,
bronchi, and bronchioles
Pulmonary (Alveolar) Region: comprised of the
alveoli; the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
through the process of respiration occurs in the
alveolar region

Respiratory Deposition - Sedimentation

Settling out of particles in the smaller airways of the
bronchioles and alveoli, where air flow is low and
airway dimensions are small.
Rate of sedimentation is dependent on the terminal
settling velocity of the particles
Sedimentation plays a greater role in the deposition
of particles with larger aerodynamic diameters.
Hygroscopic particles may grow in size as they pass
through the warm, humid air passages, thus
increasing the probability of deposition by
sedimentation.

Respiratory fungal infections

(Histoplasma)

Reservoirs and Amplifiers of Airborne Microbes

Reservoirs:
Wide range, overall
Depends on the microbe

humans,
animal,
soil
dust
water
air

Amplifiers:
Places where microorganisms multiply or proliferate.
Most reservoirs are potential amplifiers.

Factors Influencing Airborne Infection /Aerosol Factors

Particle size; <5 um dia.; "droplet nuclei" from coughing & sneezing
Deposition site: depends on particle size and hygroscopicity
Chemical composition of the aerosol particle
Relative humidity (RH); dessication (loss of moisture)
Temperature: generally greater inactivation at higher temperature
Sunlight: UV inactivation of microbes
Factors influencing air movement: winds, currents, mechanical air
handlers, etc.
Seasonal factors: precipitation, air currents, pollen sources, etc.
Air pollution:
chemicals inactivating airborne microbes (OAF= Open Air
Factor)
enhancing their ability to cause infection in a host

Factors Influencing Airborne Infection

Microbe Factors:
Size of microbe and of aerosol particle
influences air transport
influences deposition site: in environment and in host

Composition:
lipids, proteins (structural, enzymes), amino acids, etc.
enveloped and non-enveloped viruses respond
differently to air pollution

Protective forms:

spores
cysts
growth phase
moisture content

Air Samplers - Sedimentation

Sedimentation methods: collection
of aerosol particles on a sticky
surface; e.g., a petri dish containing
agar or glycerol.

Sedimentation - Agar Medium Plate

Impaction
Slit samplers: Sampled of
air is directed through a slit
against a rotating collection
surface. For bacteria, this
could be an agar medium
petri plate.
Rotation is
intermittent so that each
impaction area represents a
specific volume of sampled
air and a time series of
samples can be collected.

Agar
plate

Air Samplers - Stacked Sieve (Anderson type) Sampler

Six stages, each a perforated plate located above a petri dish.
Diameter of air passageway is smaller at each successive level,
collecting progressively smaller particles.
Classifies and collects particles according to size
Used mostly for bacteria.
Can be used for virus sampling by collecting onto a sticky surface in
the petri dish.

The Anderson sampler

The
Anderson
sampler
(Figure L) is an ingenious
device
for
selectively
trapping different sizes of
particles according to their
size
(momentum).
This
sampler consists of a stack
of 8 metal sections that fit
together with ring seals to
form an air-tight cylinder.
Each metal section has a
perforated base (seeFigure
N), and the number of
perforations is the same in
each section, but the size of
these
perforations
is

Air sucked in at the top of the columntravels at

relatively low speed towards the first agar
plate, and so only the largest particles impact
onto the agar surface. The air then travels
round the edge of the agar plate and through
the perforations to the second agar plate, and
so on. As this process continues down the
stack, the same volume of air is forced to
travel
through
successively
smaller
perforations, and so the air speed is
progressively increased. The progressively
increased air speed lower down the column
raises the momentum of the air-borne
particles, so that even the very smallest
particles (less than 3 micrometres diameter)

When the sampler has run for 5-15 minutes or

more, the metal plates are separated and the
Petri dishes are removed for incubation to
identify the colonies that develop. Figures PR(below) show some examples of agar plates
from an Anderson sampler. In this case the air
sample contained spores from mouldy hay, and
the agar plates were incubated at 37oC.

Air Sampling - Filtration Methods

Pass air through a membrane filter of small enough pore

size to trap aerosol particles.
After collection, the filter can be plated or particles can be
washed off.
Dessication and inefficient washing/recovery of collected
particles can be problems.

Open Face Air Filter Cassette with Cap

Air Samplers - Electrostatic Precipitation

 Air is drawn over electrically charged collection

plates so that charged particles are attracted to
and collected on either a positively or negatively
charged, wetted surface.
Collected particles are washed off into the
circulating collection fluid on the charged plate
surface.

Air Samplers - Liquid Impingers

Collects particles from sampled air
into a liquid medium.
All glass impinger (AGI).
Particles are drawn through a
small orifice that increases their
velocity, thereby causing them to
impinge on the bottom surface of
the container and be "scrubbed"
into the collection fluid.
Excessive cooling and evaporation
and leakage (particles not being
retained) can be a problem.

Air Samplers

High volume liquid (cyclone) scrubber: Particles in air traveling at

high speeds through a progressively smaller, helical passageway
impinge against the container walls and are collected into a
recirculating collection fluid supplied by a pump

The N95 Respirator

The
most
common
respirator used is the
disposable particulate type
N95.
The
N
stands
for
respirator filters that can
be used when no oil is
present
in
the
contaminants.
The95 means that the
product has been tested
and certified by NIOSH to
have a filter efficiency
level of 95% or greater
CARE SYSTEM
against SAINT BARNABAS HEALTH
particulate

Sanitation - Disinfect or
4 Sanitize
levels of sanitation:
1. Cleaning: complete removal of visible dust
from surface
2. Sanitation: reducing organisms living on
inanimate object to an acceptable public
health standard
3. Disinfection: reducing number of pathogenic
organisms (not necessarily spores) to a
harmless level
4. Sterilization: rendering an object free of all
living organisms

anitation program = cleaning + sanitizing

Choosing a Chemical
Label Claims: regulated by EPA under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
Spectrum of Activity: the specific organisms tested
against the product
Effectiveness in Hard Water: Hard water ions can
inactivate chemical.
Stability of the pH: Buffers prevent > pH changes
from the concentrated to the diluted form or by
additives such as soaps.
Use Dilution: Using too much of product is wasteful
and using too little may reduce or eliminate the
antimicrobial effect.

Other Attributes
Toxicity:

thoroughly rinse away

Application Mops and squeegees

Sprays
Immersion
Fogging
Fumigation

Evaluation Methods:

bacterial cultures

Chemicals
Glutaraldehyde
Formaldehyde
Toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive,
and has limited penetrability.
It should be used only by
specially trained personnel.

Peracetic acid
Chlorine dioxide
Ethylene oxide
Plasma sterilizers

Radiation
Ionizing = gamma and beta
Non-ionizing = ultraviolet, or UV
Disrupts microorganisms protein structure
Ionizing radiation can be lethal to humans
Gamma rays used on instruments and
supplies.
Irradiated diets are nutritionally
supplemented.
Non-ionizing radiation less penetrability.
Irradiated items are not radioactive.

Laminar air flow combined with HEPA

filters prevent airborne microorganisms
from entering.
HEPA filters are 99.7 percent efficient.
removes particles as small as 0.3
microns.
If HEPA filters are kept dry, bacteria
and viruses cannot pass through them.
Laminar air flow cabinets or cubicles Air is drawn through a pre-filter and
forced into a plenum or distribution
chamber, then through HEPA filters
and over cages.
With reversal of air flow, devices