Purpose

to perform comparative analyzes of the size distributions of bacteria and fungi in the air of overground therapy chambers in Szczawnica sanatorium and subterranean inhalation chambers in Bochnia Salt Mine health resort taking into account influence of the season and presence of pathogenic species.

Methods

bioaerosol samples were collected using 6-stage Andersen impactor. Bacterial and fungal aerosol concentrations and size distributions were calculated and isolated microorganisms were taxonomically identified based on their morphological, biochemical, and molecular features. Results: in both treatment rooms and atmospheric (outdoor) air, the acceptable microbial pollution levels were periodically exceeded. The size distribution analyzes revealed that in the case of bacteria – emission from the patients and in the case of fungi – transport with atmospheric (outdoor) air were the major processes responsible for microbiological contamination of indoor premises. The majority of microbial particulates were present in the air of studied premises as single bacterial vegetative cells, spores and fungal conidia or (most commonly) formed small microbial or microbial-dust aggregates. This phenomenon may have a significant effect on patients’ actual exposure (especially on those treated for respiratory diseases) in terms of the dose of inhaled particles.

Conclusions

the microbiological quality of the air in sanatoriums and health resorts is a key factor for their therapeutic and prophylactic functions. When microbial pollution crossed the acceptable level, the measures that enable reducing undesirable contamination should be introduced, especially if large groups of patients undergo such therapy.

中文翻译：

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疗养胜地地上和地下处理室中微生物气溶胶的大小分布

目的

考虑到季节的影响和病原菌的存在，对 Szczawnica 疗养院的地面治疗室和 Bochnia 盐矿疗养胜地的地下吸入室的空气中细菌和真菌的大小分布进行比较分析。

方法

使用 6 级安徒生撞击器收集生物气溶胶样品。计算细菌和真菌气溶胶浓度和大小分布，并根据其形态、生化和分子特征对分离的微生物进行分类鉴定。结果：在治疗室和大气（室外）空气中，定期超过可接受的微生物污染水平。尺寸分布分析表明，在细菌的情况下——患者的排放物和真菌的情况——与大气（室外）空气的运输是造成室内场所微生物污染的主要过程。大多数微生物颗粒以单个细菌营养细胞的形式存在于研究场所的空气中，孢子和真菌分生孢子或（最常见的）形成小的微生物或微生物粉尘聚集体。就吸入颗粒的剂量而言，这种现象可能对患者的实际暴露（尤其是那些接受呼吸系统疾病治疗的患者）产生重大影响。

结论

疗养院和疗养胜地空气的微生物质量是其治疗和预防功能的关键因素。当微生物污染超过可接受的水平时，应引入能够减少不良污染的措施，尤其是在大量患者接受此类治疗的情况下。