Airborne bacterial profiling and air disinfection efficacy in small animal hospitals in South Korea
10.4142/jvs.25228
- Author:
Dongryeoul BAE
;
Yuseung KIM
;
Kwang-Young SONG
;
Jung-Hee KWON
;
Jungwhan CHON
- Publication Type:Research Report
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science
2026;27(1):e2-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of a high-pressure spray disinfection system using neutral electrolyzed water to reduce airborne bacterial concentrations in veterinary hospitals and to characterize clinically relevant airborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.
Methods:Active air sampling was performed before and after disinfection in multiple room types across five small animal hospitals in South Korea. Total airborne bacterial concentrations were quantified as colony-forming units per cubic meter. Representative colonies were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, with confirmatory sequencing for selected isolates. Susceptibility testing was performed for Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species using disk diffusion.
Results:Mean airborne bacterial concentrations decreased from 358.2 to 150.6 colony-forming units per cubic meter (58% reduction; p < 0.05). Waiting rooms showed the highest predisinfection concentrations, and operating rooms the lowest. Among 848 isolates, Micrococcus luteus, staphylococci, and Bacillus species were most frequent. Eight isolates were clinically important pathogens; two met multidrug resistance criteria. No targeted pathogens were detected after disinfection.
Conclusions:and Relevance: High-pressure neutral electrolyzed water spraying significantly reduced airborne bacterial loads in veterinary clinical environments, supporting routine air disinfection and microbial surveillance as components of infection prevention programs.
