Antibiotic Resistance of Airborne Viable Bacteria and Size Distribution in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Wendy Beatriz Morgado-Gamero, Martha Mendoza Hernandez, Margarita Castillo Ramirez, Jhorma Medina-Altahona, Stephanie De La Hoz, Heidy Posso Mendoza, Alexander Parody, Elba C. Teixeira and Dayana Milena Agudelo-Castañeda
Additional contact information
Wendy Beatriz Morgado-Gamero: Department of Exact and Natural Sciences, Universidad de la Costa, Calle 58#55-66, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Martha Mendoza Hernandez: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Km 5 Vía Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla 081007, Colombia
Margarita Castillo Ramirez: Barranquilla Air Quality Monitoring Network, EPA—Barranquilla Verde, Barranquilla 080001, Colombia
Jhorma Medina-Altahona: Department of Exact and Natural Sciences, Universidad de la Costa, Calle 58#55-66, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Stephanie De La Hoz: Department of Exact and Natural Sciences, Universidad de la Costa, Calle 58#55-66, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Heidy Posso Mendoza: Department of Bacteriology, Universidad Metropolitana, Calle 76 No. 42-78, Barranquilla 080020, Colombia
Alexander Parody: Engineering Faculty, Universidad Libre Barranquilla, Carrera 46 No. 48-170, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Elba C. Teixeira: Postgraduate Program in Remote Sensing, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil
Dayana Milena Agudelo-Castañeda: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Km 5 Vía Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla 081007, Colombia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-22

Abstract: Despite their significant impact on public health, antibiotic resistance and size distributions of airborne viable bacteria in indoor environments in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) remain understudied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the antibiotic resistance of airborne viable bacteria for different sizes (0.65–7 µm) in private-style and public-style neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Airborne bacteria concentrations were assessed by a six-stage Andersen impactor, operating at 28.3 L/min. Public-style NICU revealed higher concentrations of airborne viable bacteria (53.00 to 214.37 CFU/m 3 ) than private-style NICU (151.94–466.43), indicating a possible threat to health. In the public-style NICU, Staphylococcus was the highest bacterial genera identified in the present study, were Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus epidermidis predominated, especially in the second bronchi and alveoli size ranges. Alloiococcus otitidis , Bacillus subtiles , Bacillus thuringiensis , Kocuria rosea , and Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligene , were identified in the alveoli size range. In NICU#2, eight species were identified in the alveoli size range: Bacillus cereus , Bacillus subtilis , Bacillus thuringiensis , Eikenella corrodens , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidis , and Streptococcus gordoni. Multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) were found in both of the NICUs. Bacillus cereus strains were resistant to Ampicillin, Cefoxitin, Ceftaroline, and Penicillin G. Staphylococcus cohnii ssp. cohnii was resistant in parallel to ampicillin and G penicillin. Staphylococcus saprophyticus strains were resistant to Ampicillin, Penicillin G, Oxaxilin, and Erythromycin. Results may indicate a potential threat to human health due to the airborne bacteria concentration and their antibiotic resistance ability. The results may provide evidence for the need of interventions to reduce indoor airborne particle concentrations and their transfer to premature infants with underdeveloped immune systems, even though protocols for visitors and cleaning are well-established.

Keywords: bioaerosols; neonatal intensive care unit; antibiotic resistance; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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