Microbial Environmental Pollution in ICUs: Results, Trends, and Suggestions from a Long-Lasting Surveillance

Intensive care units (ICUs) are special areas in hospitals for patients with severe and life-threatening diseases. ICUs of several categories, such as neonatal ICUs, cardiac neurological surgical etc. The ICUs’ may show a high susceptibility hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) depending on underlying disease, duration stay treatment. considered potential reservoirs (opportunistic) pathogenic microbial strains the risk acquiring infection these hospital environments is higher than others. Several studies role inanimate surface equipment contamination transmission pathogens to ICU patients. aim this study describe results 124 sampling campaigns performed during 12 years microbiological surveillance five different an overall number 714 samples (232 from air 482 surface), analyze their trends elaborate suggestions improve environmental quality patients’ safety.