The aerobiome in a hospital environment: Characterization, seasonal tendencies and the effect of window opening ventilation

• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110024
• Publication Date: 2023-01-17T00:31:34Z
• Authors: Andrés Núñez; Ana M. García
• Keywords: Indoor bioaerosol; Natural Ventilation; Bioaerosol; Seasonality

The urban atmosphere carries biological particles (bioaerosols) that may cause several diseases and allergies. These bioaerosols infiltrate mix with those present inside the buildings, including hospitals. However, little is known about behavior of these around health facilities. Here, we described composition an hospital indoor outdoor at two different periods (winter summer) using DNA sequencing. We observed seasonality was also displayed indoor, and, in some cases, taxa showed trends depending on season. Pathogenic species bacteria fungi were found indoors low levels but outdoors, being mostly environmental species, which would reject idea hospitals be acting as a source emission via aerosols. Skin-related most prevalent group related to human microbiome, more abundant indoors. Air temperature principal factor affecting samples but, general, meteorological parameters outdoors poor descriptors Similarly, concentrations main air pollutants did not correlate microbial abundances. Globally, natural ventilation through window opening significantly alter indoor.