MILITARY PHARMACY AND MEDICINE

© Military Pharmacy and Medicine • 2012 • 4 • 21 – 26Jaśmina Żwirska at al.: Assessment of microbial quality of drinks not included …EpidemiologyAssessment of microbial quality of drinks not included in thehospital diet as consumed by patients during hospitalizationand the assessment of microbial contamination of hospital airJaśmina Żwirska 1 , Wanda Jabłońska 1 , Paweł Jagielski 1 , Stanisław Stępniewski 2 ,Małgorzata Schlegel Zawadzka 11Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University Medical College,Krakow, Poland2St. Louis Voivodship Specialist Pediatric Hospital in Krakow, PolandAuthor’s address:Jaśmina Żwirska, Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University MedicalCollege, ul. Grzegórzecka 20, 31-531 Krakow, Poland; phone: (+48) 426393270,e–mail: jzwirska@cm-uj.krakow.plReceived: 2012.10.18 • Accepted: 2012.11.22 • Published: 2012.12.08Summary:Introduction: According to epidemiological data from different countries, the incidence of nutritionrelatedpoisonings and infections is constant, and even growing in some regions. Currently, there areno standards defining acceptable levels of airborne microorganisms in indoor air (hospital facilities)in PolandMaterial and methods: 100 juice samples collected from previously opened packagings between March2007 and December 2009 in the Voivodship Specialist Hospital in Krakow were subjected to microbialexamination. Open juice packagings were kept for 48 hours at room temperature in patient rooms atthe hospital wards. Ninety-one air quality measurements were also conducted at different locations inthe hospital to monitor microbial infections. The control group consisted of 50 juice samples stored inhome conditions.Conclusions: Significant transgression of the acceptable air contamination limits in hospital rooms,together with the transgressed limits of microbial contamination in juices suggest that the juices mightbe a potential source of nosocomial infections. Opened juices should not be stored at room temperaturefor periods longer than 24 h.Key words: microbial contamination, juices, air, nosocomial infections.IntroductionAccording to epidemiological data from differentcountries, the incidence of nutrition-relatedintoxications and infections is constant, andeven growing in some regions. In the past, juiceswere excluded from food safety studies due totheir low pH values resulting from the presencehttp://military.isl-journals.comof organic acids with antibacterial properties.However, recent studies suggested a possibilityof food poisoning induced by contaminatedjuices [1-3].Intestinal infections occurring in differentgroups of patients during hospitalization may21