The air does contains microbial agents originally coming from the soil, water, plants or animals, including men. Temperature, light and humidity are the basic factors which has influence of microbial survival and abundance. Different microorganisms travel by aerial transmission and are involved in serious processes causing pneumonia and other diseases.In our study we decided to investigate microbial load in air at the Transplant Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital of Hradec Králové, Czech republic for two years period. Air samples were taken from the patient's breathing zone in the single rooms. Air was sampled with Biotest RCS Plus air sampler and material collected on the Total Count strips prepared with Tryptic Soy Agar.The majority of air samples (54.2%) had microbial air load ≤ 100 CFU.m^-3. Very low microbial air concentration from 15 to 30 CFU.m^-3 was detected in the rooms before admission of new patients. Higher concentration was detected when medical staff was present in the room and investigation or treatment was carried out. The majority of microbial findings in the air were Gram-positive cocci (coagulase-negative staphylococci, Micrococcus spp., Sarcina spp.). Findings of Gram-negative stems were sporadic (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) as well as incidence of microscopic fungi (Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp.).

Keywords: transplant intensive care unit; microbial air load; biotest RCS Plus air sampler; immunocompromised patients