Comprehensive characterization of indoor airborne bacterial profile
P. L. Chan , P. H. F. Yu , Y. W. Cheng , C. Y. Chan , P. K. Wong
DOI:
Received October 06, 2008,Revised January 13, 2009, Accepted , Available online
Volume 21,2009,Pages 1148-1152
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This is the first detailed characterization of the airborne bacterial profiles in indoor environments. Two restaurants were selected
for this study. Fifteen genera of bacteria were isolated from each restaurant and identified by three di erent bacterial identification
systems including MIDI, Biolog and Riboprinterr. The dominant bacteria of both restaurants were Gram-positive bacteria in which
Micrococcus and Bacillus species were the most abundant. Most bacteria identified were representative species of skin and respiratory
tract of human, and soil. Although the bacterial levels in these two restaurants were below the limit of the Hong Kong Indoor Air
Quality Objective (HKIAQO) Level 1 standard (i.e., < 500 cfu/m3), the majority of these bacteria were opportunistic pathogens. These
results suggested that the identity of airborne bacteria should also be included in the IAQ to ensure there is a safety guideline for the
public.
