TABLE 2.
Change in aerosolized culturable cell concentration and S. marcescens particle size with change in RHa
| Stage | Stage size rangeb (μm) | Suspending mediumd
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water only
|
PBS
|
Serum only (high RH) | ||||
| Low RH | High RH | Low RH | High RH | |||
| 4 | 2.1-3.3 | 0 | 0 | 20 ± 3.9 | 23 ± 0.8 | 4.7 ± 2.3 |
| 5 | 1.1-2.1 | 2.6 ± 1.7c | 36 ± 4.1 | 65 ± 4.9 | 56 ± 6.3 | 41 ± 5.1 |
| 6 | 0.65-1.1 | 97 ± 1.7 | 67 ± 1.4 | 15 ± 1.0 | 13 ± 2.1 | 51 ± 4.1 |
| Total culturable particles (particles m−3) | 683 | 859 | 5,385 | 19,498 | 13,376 | |
| CMD (μm) | 0.88 | 0.95 | 1.60 | 1.70 | 1.10 | |
| GSD | 1.12 | 1.50 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 1.56 | |
a
Low RH, 36%; high RH, 68%.
b
Stage size ranges of the six-stage Andersen samplers were determined by the manufacturer (Andersen Samplers, Inc.).
c
Percentage of recovered cells from each stage of the Andersen sampler at UV off mode (mean ± confidence interval, α = 0.05).
d
Suspending media were aerosolized with a six-jet Collison nebulizer (model CN-38; BGI) running at 20 lb/in2.