Distribution characteristics of bacterial communities in central air-conditioning ventilation systems of a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai based on 16S rRNA sequencing
BackgroundA diverse cohort of patients and susceptible individuals congregate in healthcare facilities, where exposure to pathogenic microorganisms associated with respiratory infectious diseases constitutes a significant risk factor for cross-infection. Central air-conditioning ventilation systems...
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Editorial Committee of Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine
2025-06-01
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| Series: | 环境与职业医学 |
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| Online Access: | http://www.jeom.org/article/cn/10.11836/JEOM24394 |
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| author | Jun NI Haiyun ZHANG Jian CHEN Lijun ZHANG Yongping LIU Xiaojing LI Yiming ZHENG Liping ZHANG |
| author_facet | Jun NI Haiyun ZHANG Jian CHEN Lijun ZHANG Yongping LIU Xiaojing LI Yiming ZHENG Liping ZHANG |
| author_sort | Jun NI |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundA diverse cohort of patients and susceptible individuals congregate in healthcare facilities, where exposure to pathogenic microorganisms associated with respiratory infectious diseases constitutes a significant risk factor for cross-infection. Central air-conditioning ventilation systems improve some indoor environment indicators while exacerbating the risk of transmission of respiratory infectious diseases.ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution characteristics of microbial communities in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems of hospitals, providing a scientific basis for the selection of microbial indicators in hygiene standards for hospital central air-conditioning ventilation systems and for hospital risk early warning systems.MethodsIn October 2023, two central air-conditioning ventilation systems were selected from a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai: one was an all-air air-conditioning system serving the waiting area on the ground floor, and the other was a fan coil plus fresh air system serving the outpatient area on the third floor. Samples from four different components of the ventilation systems—air outlets, filters, surface coolers, and condensate trays—were collected for high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to analyze bacterial communities. Alpha-diversity and beta-diversity analyses were performed to investigate the microbial community composition and diversity characteristics of the hospital central air-conditioning ventilation systems. Functional analysis was conducted to determine the relative abundance of bacterial functions in these systems.ResultsA total of 528 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified, encompassing 20 bacterial phyla, 37 classes, 79 orders, 123 families, and 240 genera. The analysis revealed that the bacterial community was predominantly composed of Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadates, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. The diversity analysis indicated that bacterial community richness and diversity were highest in the condensate trays, while no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the bacterial community composition among the air outlets, filters, and surface coolers. The functional analysis showed that the bacterial communities in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems primarily exhibited chemoheterotrophic, oxidative energy-dependent heterotrophic, and ureolytic functional characteristics.ConclusionThe dominance of Proteobacteria suggests that this phylum exhibits strong adaptability in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems, possibly related to its ability to survive and reproduce under varying environmental conditions. The diversity analysis indicates that the condensate tray is a critical area for bacterial proliferation in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems. The similarity in environmental conditions among the air outlets, filters, and surface coolers result in similar bacterial community structures. The functional analysis reveals that the bacterial communities possess robust energy conversion and metabolic capabilities, potentially contributing to processes such as organic matter decomposition and nitrogen cycling within the central air-conditioning ventilation systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb395624966c4ff9af223f7a02df4369 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2095-9982 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Editorial Committee of Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine |
| record_format | Article |
| series | 环境与职业医学 |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb395624966c4ff9af223f7a02df43692025-08-20T03:28:48ZengEditorial Committee of Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine环境与职业医学2095-99822025-06-0142673273910.11836/JEOM2439424394Distribution characteristics of bacterial communities in central air-conditioning ventilation systems of a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai based on 16S rRNA sequencingJun NI0Haiyun ZHANG1Jian CHEN2Lijun ZHANG3Yongping LIU4Xiaojing LI5Yiming ZHENG6Liping ZHANG7Division of Public Health Service and Safety Assessment, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, ChinaInspecting Agency, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai 200031, ChinaDivision of Public Health Service and Safety Assessment, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, ChinaDivision of Public Health Service and Safety Assessment, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, ChinaHealth Surveillance Section, Putuo District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200333, ChinaDivision of Public Health Service and Safety Assessment, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, ChinaDivision of Public Health Service and Safety Assessment, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, ChinaDivision of Public Health Service and Safety Assessment, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 200336, ChinaBackgroundA diverse cohort of patients and susceptible individuals congregate in healthcare facilities, where exposure to pathogenic microorganisms associated with respiratory infectious diseases constitutes a significant risk factor for cross-infection. Central air-conditioning ventilation systems improve some indoor environment indicators while exacerbating the risk of transmission of respiratory infectious diseases.ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution characteristics of microbial communities in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems of hospitals, providing a scientific basis for the selection of microbial indicators in hygiene standards for hospital central air-conditioning ventilation systems and for hospital risk early warning systems.MethodsIn October 2023, two central air-conditioning ventilation systems were selected from a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai: one was an all-air air-conditioning system serving the waiting area on the ground floor, and the other was a fan coil plus fresh air system serving the outpatient area on the third floor. Samples from four different components of the ventilation systems—air outlets, filters, surface coolers, and condensate trays—were collected for high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to analyze bacterial communities. Alpha-diversity and beta-diversity analyses were performed to investigate the microbial community composition and diversity characteristics of the hospital central air-conditioning ventilation systems. Functional analysis was conducted to determine the relative abundance of bacterial functions in these systems.ResultsA total of 528 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified, encompassing 20 bacterial phyla, 37 classes, 79 orders, 123 families, and 240 genera. The analysis revealed that the bacterial community was predominantly composed of Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadates, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. The diversity analysis indicated that bacterial community richness and diversity were highest in the condensate trays, while no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the bacterial community composition among the air outlets, filters, and surface coolers. The functional analysis showed that the bacterial communities in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems primarily exhibited chemoheterotrophic, oxidative energy-dependent heterotrophic, and ureolytic functional characteristics.ConclusionThe dominance of Proteobacteria suggests that this phylum exhibits strong adaptability in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems, possibly related to its ability to survive and reproduce under varying environmental conditions. The diversity analysis indicates that the condensate tray is a critical area for bacterial proliferation in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems. The similarity in environmental conditions among the air outlets, filters, and surface coolers result in similar bacterial community structures. The functional analysis reveals that the bacterial communities possess robust energy conversion and metabolic capabilities, potentially contributing to processes such as organic matter decomposition and nitrogen cycling within the central air-conditioning ventilation systems.http://www.jeom.org/article/cn/10.11836/JEOM2439416s rrna sequencinghospitalcentral air-conditioning ventilation systemmicrobial distributionrisk early warning |
| spellingShingle | Jun NI Haiyun ZHANG Jian CHEN Lijun ZHANG Yongping LIU Xiaojing LI Yiming ZHENG Liping ZHANG Distribution characteristics of bacterial communities in central air-conditioning ventilation systems of a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai based on 16S rRNA sequencing 环境与职业医学 16s rrna sequencing hospital central air-conditioning ventilation system microbial distribution risk early warning |
| title | Distribution characteristics of bacterial communities in central air-conditioning ventilation systems of a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai based on 16S rRNA sequencing |
| title_full | Distribution characteristics of bacterial communities in central air-conditioning ventilation systems of a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai based on 16S rRNA sequencing |
| title_fullStr | Distribution characteristics of bacterial communities in central air-conditioning ventilation systems of a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai based on 16S rRNA sequencing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution characteristics of bacterial communities in central air-conditioning ventilation systems of a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai based on 16S rRNA sequencing |
| title_short | Distribution characteristics of bacterial communities in central air-conditioning ventilation systems of a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai based on 16S rRNA sequencing |
| title_sort | distribution characteristics of bacterial communities in central air conditioning ventilation systems of a grade 3a hospital in shanghai based on 16s rrna sequencing |
| topic | 16s rrna sequencing hospital central air-conditioning ventilation system microbial distribution risk early warning |
| url | http://www.jeom.org/article/cn/10.11836/JEOM24394 |
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