Transmission occurs when microbial pathogens are released from an infected patient to vulnerable individuals through activities such as coughing, sneezing and talking [3]. Recent studies have demonstrated that see more challenging pathogens such as methicillin-resistant

Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) may spread via the aerial route, which can lead to an increase in hospital-acquired infections and the spread of antibiotic resistant genes [4]. Other possible sources of bio-aerosols in hospital may be clothes or other personal items belonging to patients [4]. In the health-care environment, kitchens play a critical role in food safety; the safety and the quality of food served in hospitals depends on the kitchen design and storage conditions, as well as on the food preparation practices of food handlers [5]. Numerous studies have revealed that food handlers may also contribute in the distribution of airborne microbial contaminants through activities such as coughing, sneezing and talking. Food handlers,

however, also play a key role in the prevention of food contamination during selleck compound food production, handling and distribution, a point that has also been widely highlighted [5]. Interestingly, bacterial contamination in the kitchen may also be attributable to bacterial loads on paper towels and hand-towels which when used release bacteria including spores, increasing airborne microbial loads and possibly settling on food contact surfaces [6]. Bacteria mainly isolated from paper towels Rucaparib ic50 are the toxin-producing Bacillus that has been implicated in cases of food poisoning. As a result, kitchens are

believed to be other possible contributing factors in the spread of food-borne and infectious diseases including airborne microbial contaminants [6]. The presence of airborne foodborne pathogens such as B. cereus and S. aureus that have been implicated in several HAI cases is of great concern in health-care settings. This does not exclude other foodborne hospital-acquired pathogens such Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium click here perfringens, Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli that can also be transmitted via the aerial route [7, 8]. In addition, the presence of fungi in the health-care environment has also been implicated in numerous HAI cases. Although aerosolised fungi have been known mainly to cause food spoilage, literature has shown that airborne fungi may result in infectious diseases such as aspergilloses, candidoses, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, mycetomas and paracoccidioidomycosis [9]. Lack of reports especially in South Africa regarding the composition and quantity of airborne microbial contaminants especially in health-care settings is a concern attributable to the increasing risk associated with contracting HAI via the aerial route [10, 11].