Evaluation of the results of routine microbiological monitoring of the hospital environment of a cardiac surgical hospital in comparison with the incidence of patients with purulent-septic infections

There is no convincing evidence in the scientific literature of the association of the incidence of nosocomial purulent-septic infections (HSI) with the results of routine microbiological studies of flushes and hospital air. The aim of the work is to determine the relationship between microbial contamination of the hospital environment, identified by the results of routine monitoring, and the incidence of HSI in patients of a cardiac surgical hospital. The results of a bacteriological study of 3331 rinses from environmental objects and 461 air samples from a cardiac surgical hospital for 2019–2023 are summarized. Based on the materials of 26 549 case histories using standard case definitions, the true incidence of HSI in hospital patients over the same time period was revealed. A direct statistically significant relationship has been established between the total number of microorganisms in 1 m3 of air in class A and B rooms of a cardiac surgical hospital and the incidence of infections in the surgical area. Keywords: cardiac surgery hospital, flushing of objects, air samples, microbiological examination, purulent-septic infections, morbidity.