Table 1. Distribution of microbial counts (cfu/m3) of air samples collected from 30 studied ambulance runs (measurements were taken at the start of the run and during patient services).
| Parameters | Start of run Number (%) of microbial counts (cfu/m3) in each run n=53 |
During patient services Number (%) of microbial counts (cfu/m3) in each run n=106 |
Number (%) of microbial counts (cfu/m3) in outdoor air n=60 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≤300 | 301-500 | >500 | ≤300 | 301-500 | >500 | Before run >1000 |
After run >1000 |
|
| Bacterial counts Mean±SD |
23(76.6) | 2(6.7) | 5(16.7) | 19(63.3) | 4(13.4) | 7(23.3) | 4(13.3) | 4(13.3) |
| 318±485* | 468±607* | 537±577 | 518±589 | |||||
| Fungal counts Mean+SD |
16(53.3) | 4(13.4) | 10(33.3) | 11(36.6) | 5(16.7) | 14(46.7) | 10(33.3) | 12(40.0) |
| 522±581** | 656±612** | 1191±908 | 1221±997 | |||||
* Statistically significant difference by t-test, p=0.005
** Statistically significant difference by t-test, p=0.030
Remarks: One to two air samples per ambulance run were collected at the start of runs, and three to four were collected during patient services. Two air samples per ambulance run were collected from outdoor air (one before the ambulance run and one after).