[CHRISP_TB CHRISP_TB]

Hello,

A more recent document than the 2002 Hoffman working party report is
The Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 Part A published by the UK
Department of Health in 2007. Unfortunately (in my opinion) it still
refers to bacteriologic air sampling as part of the commissioning
process.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/144029/HTM_03-01_Part_A.pdf

The ACORN standard only refers to air sampling in the context of risk
assessment during construction, renovation or demolition rather than
commissioning.

The 2003 CDC Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in
Health-Care Facilities has an excellent discussion of the problems
associated with microbiological air sampling and mentions the practice
of air sampling when commissioning theatres but does not recommend it.

The 2012 Australasian Health Facility Guidelines Part D indicates that
air sampling and particulate counts should be done as part of the
commissioning process. I’d venture to suggest that the particulate
count would be more useful than the air sampling!

In summary – I agree with Irene – if the theatre has been thoroughly
cleaned and if the air handling system passes all the engineering checks
then bacteriological air sampling is not necessary and potentially a
waste of time and money.

regards
Louise Davis

CHRISP & Tuberculosis Control
(Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention)
Communicable Diseases Unit| Chief Health Officer Branch |Queensland
Department of Health
Level 1, 15 Butterfield Street, Herston QLD 4006 |PO Box 2368Fortitude
ValleyBC4006
Email:CHRISP_TB@health.qld.gov.au |

>>> “Wilkinson, Irene (Health)”
21/08/2013 10:32 am >>>

Hi Rebecca,

I will be addressing this topic at the upcoming APIC conference in
October. The presentation should be made available shortly afterwards on
the APIC website.
Your summary of the current status of guidelines regarding
microbiological air sampling of theatres is correct. As far as I can
find, there are no more recent guidelines, and still a lot of debate.
There is not a great deal of science on which to base recommendations,
but I intend to cover the theoretical risks of airborne contamination
and the difficulties in interpreting sampling results.
There is a strong argument that if the newly installed air ventilation
system passes all the necessary engineering checks for leaks, particle
counts etc. then microbiological testing is maybe not necessary.
However, I am pre-empting my talk here, so Ill leave it at that for
now.

Regards,
Irene

Irene Wilkinson
Manager, Infection Control Service
SA Department of Health & Ageing
Irene.wilkinson@health.sa.gov.au

From:ACIPC Infexion Connexion [mailto:AICALIST@AICALIST.ORG.AU] On
Behalf Of McCann, Rebecca
Supply Units

Dear All

Can anyone advise of your current practices for the requirement to
perform microbiological air sampling following construction of or major
refurbishment of operating rooms. The WA policy is based on the 2002
Hoffman paper and I am not aware of any more recent extensive
publications on this subject.
A commentary in JHI in 2005 questioned the value of microbiological
sampling (Jowitt / Morris), and the Aust HFG recommend it is performed
on commissioning but give no acceptable cfu counts. The 2005
Loddon/Mallee text, give various counts for fungi and bacteria and HB
260 does not mention nor do the Australian Infection Control Guidelines.

If anyone can shed some light on the way forward in 2013 it would be
appreciated.

Kind Regards

Rebecca

Rebecca McCann Program Manager
Healthcare Associated Infection Unit (HAIU)
Communicable Disease Control Directorate Department of Health
Grace Vaughan House
227 Stubbs Terrace
SHENTON PARK WA 6008
T:08 9388 4859 M:0439 920 819 F:08 9388 4888
E:rebecca.mccann@health.wa.gov.au

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