Hospital acquired infections are not a new problem in society and in fact they have probably existed since hospitals were built.  An archeological dig orchestrated by University of Winchester in Hampshire, England produced what is believed to be the earliest known hospital in the United Kingdom, which was radio carbon dated to about A.D. 960-1030.¹ Obviously hospital acquired infections are not a recent discovery.  The ability to reduce the amount of nosocomial (hospital acquired ) infections has greatly improved over the years due to new developments in technology and better understanding of how malignant microbes reproduce, where they originate, and how to destroy or capture them. 

Hospital acquired infections are thought to come from direct contact or fomite (inanimate object or substance) contact i.e. clothing, surfaces, bedding, furniture, soap etc.  Airborne transmission for the most part has not really been part of the equation other than the obvious ones like tuberculosis.   While many well meaning scientists have worked hard to disprove the airborne transmission theory of malignant microbes their discoveries have proven quite the opposite.  More often than not it has been discovered that airborne pathogens do contribute to nosocomial infections. 

Many contributing factors in the outdoor environment affect the indoor ambient air.  Bacteria, mold spores, and fungi, exist naturally outside and help breakdown organic matter.  People and animals often carry Aspergillus, Clostridium, Staphylococcus aureus and many other potentially dangerous microbes   on their skin or in their nares.  If they are in good health they are usually not affected by these pathogens.  Once people enter buildings or in this case a hospital some of those malignant microbes fall off their skin and move with the air currents throughout the hospital possibly infecting immunologically   compromised patients.  Sneezing and coughing can also make pathogens become airborne.  The normal air current from opening and closing of doors to the hospital facilities can bring in a myriad of airborne pathogens. 

Normal respiration of patients in hospitals is one way airborne pathogens can enter their body and cause serious illness but what about the many surfaces where the airborne pathogens settle from the air and then are picked up by touching that surface?  What if malignant microbes settle on an open wound or surgical site what then?  The relationship between airborne pathogens and surface contamination are more closely related than many health care professionals formally thought. 

Prevention of hospital acquired infections needs to be thought of as a process including air, surfaces, and hands.  Air purification using photocatalytic oxidation is the recognized technology that destroys airborne pathogens.  Cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and thorough, frequent hand washing, and air purification and filtration can significantly reduce hospital acquired infections.

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1. http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Archaeologists_uncover_Britain's_earliest_known_hospital

2. “Hospital Airborne infection Control”, Wladyslaw Kowalski 2012