Microbial air monitoring in the operating theatres of Salam Center for Cardiac Surgery in Khartoum (Sudan)

The seriousness of postoperative infections and the increased susceptibility of patients undergoing cardiac surgery increase the demand for the operating theatre (OT) asepsis to prevent bacterial infections. In fact, the organisms carried by the air reach the wound after having sedimented onto sterile field. The air represents a critical point for quality control of air filtration systems, for sanitization procedures and for the evolution of hygienic features of the OT environment.Aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of microorganisms found in the operating rooms (OR) air monitoring in the Salam Center for Cardiac Surgery of Khartoum (Sudan) between July 2008 and March 2009.The specimens were collected every month in two different times: “OR at rest” (after sanitization) and “OR operational”, using sedimentation method (Fisher 1972). Results showed that each sample collected at rest had IMA (index of microbial air contamination) < 5CFU/plt, whereas the bacterial growth was between 25 and 50 CFU/plt when the samples had been collected in the same places during operating activities.This indicate the effectiveness of sanitization procedures and confirm that people working in OT are an important source of bacteria causing postoperative infections. Coagulase negative Staphylococci, Gram negative bacillus and Staphylococcus aureus spp. were the predominant organisms isolated.