Aims: Aim of this study was to monitor the environment at the Transplant Unit—Hemato-Oncology Clinic, University Hospital Olomouc (Olomouc, Czech Republic) and identify risks for the patients.
Methods and Results: Microorganisms were cultivated under standard aerobic conditions. Strains were biochemically identified using the BD Phoenix™ PID Panel (USA).
Legionella pneumophila was identified by DNA sequencing. From the air, the most frequently isolated strains were coagulase-negative staphylococci (94.3%),
Micrococcus spp. and
Bacillus spp. No Gram-negative strains were isolated from the air. From the surfaces, the most frequently isolated Gram-positive strains were coagulase-negative staphylococci (67.4%),
Bacillus spp., enterococci (5.5%),
Staphylococcus aureus (2.3%) and
Micrococcus spp. (1.7%). From the surfaces, the most frequently isolated Gram-negative strains were from genera
Pseudomonas (28%),
Enterobacter (28%),
E. coli (6%), and
Klebsiella spp. (5%). From the personnel, the most frequently isolated Gram-positive strains were coagulase-negative staphylococci (59.6%),
Bacillus spp. (24.1%) and
Staphylococcus aureus (9.8%). From the personnel, the most frequently isolated Gram-negative strains were
Enterobacter spp. (61%),
Klebsiella oxytoca (18%), and
E. coli (11%). Microscopic filamentous fungi were isolated in 13 cases (2.71%). Isolated strains were
Aspergillus spp. (4),
Trichoderma spp. (2),
Penicillium spp. (2), one case of the strains
Paecilomyces spp.,
Eurotium spp.,
Monilia spp.
Conclusions: The study found no significant deviations in the microbial contamination of the cleanroom air. The personnel entrance of the Transplant Unit represent a high risk area, an extreme value (7270 CFU/m
3) was recorded. Regime measures are fully effective, no other deficiencies were found.
Significance and Impact of the Study: This epidemiological study, which was held for the duration of one year at the Transplant Unit—Hemato-Oncology Clinic, University Hospital Olomouc. The study monitored microbial contamination of the cleanroom air, surfaces, water, colonization of the personnel by bacterial strains of epidemiological consequence.
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