The present study was carried out to investigate the concentration and species diversity of airborne fungi in thermophilic mushroom cultivation houses. Fungal concentration measurements were performed in April and May 2022 for a Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation house, in July and August 2023 for a Pleurotus sajor-caju and Agaricus blazei cultivation house, and in June, July and August 2023 for a Pleurotus pulmonarius, Pleurotus sajor-caju and Calocybe indica cultivation house. The airborne fungal concentration was 2.95 × 102 CFU/m3~105CFU/m3, above 105CFU/m3, and 1.12 × 103 CFU/m3~ 9.17 × 103 CFU/m3 in the three cultivation houses, respectively. A total of 8 genera and 22 species of airborne fungi were isolated from three mushroom cultivation houses. 5 genera and 7 species were identified from P. ostreatus cultivation house. Furthermore, 4 genera 6 species were found from A. blazei and C. indica cultivation house. In addition, 5 genera and15 species were isolated from P. pulmonarius, P. sajor-caju and C. indica cultivation house. Among the fungi isolated, the class of Eurotiomycetes was the most common. Among the 22 fungal species, Aspergillus flavus, A. ochraceus A. sydowii, A. tubingensis, A. westerdijkiae, Penicillium brevicompactum, P. citrinum, and P. steckii have been reported as harmful species to mushrooms, food, and human.

Airborne bacteria in mushroom growing environments are a potential risk of contamination in commercial mushroom production. Controlling contamination in mushroom farms requires understanding the bacterial ecology in the cultivation environment. This study was conducted to investigate the concentration and species diversity of floating bacteria in a thermophilic mushroom cultivation room. Temperature, humidity, temperature, humidity, and bacterial concentration measurements were performed in April and May 2022 for a Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation house, in July and August 2023 for a Pleurotus sajor-caju and a Agaricus blazei cultivation house, and in June, July and August 2023 for a Pleurotus pulmonarius, Pleurotus sajor-caju and Calocybe indica cultivation house. The airborne bacterial concentration was 5.27 × 103~105 CFU/m3, 3.81 × 102 ~1.37 × 103 CFU/m3, and 2.55 × 102 ~1.37 × 102 CFU/m3 in the three cultivation houses, respectively. A total of 23 genera and 37 species of airborne bacteria were isolated from the three mushroom cultivation houses. 12 genera and 18 species were identified from P. ostreatus cultivation house. Furthermore, 4 genera and 4 species were found from A. blazei and C. indica cultivation house. In addition, 11 genera and 18 species were isolated from P. pulmonarius, P. sajor-caju and C. indica cultivation house. Among the bacteria isolated, the Bacilli class was the most common, followed by Gammaproteobacteria. Among the 37 bacterial species, it was determined that Bacillus cereus, B. licheniformis, Cedecea neteri, Exiguobacterium acetylicum and Raoultella terrigena could negatively affect humans or foodstuff. Cedecea neteri is also known to cause diseases among mushrooms.

This study was carried out to examine the concentration and distribution characteristics of total airborne bacteria (TAB) and airborne mold in non-regulated public-use facilities. The arithmetic mean (AM) of the TAB in all facilities was 356.5 ± 419.3 CFU/m3, and the geometric means (GM) was 157.8 CFU/m3, which did not exceed the standard value of 800 CFU/m3. The highest concentration was 637.3 ± 372.0 CFU/m3 (GM: 534.9 CFU/m3) in the underground shopping mall. The AM of airborne mold in all facilities was 448.2 ± 429.6 CFU/m3 (GM: 285.4 CFU/m3), which did not exceed the standard value of 500 CFU/m3, but was close to it. In particular, subway station (AM: 661.5 ± 441.2 CFU/m3, GM: 540.0 CFU/ m3), large-scale store (AM: 587.6 ± 683.2 CFU/m3, GM: 297.8 CFU/m3), and private educational institute (AM: 528.8 ± 379.6 CFU/m3, GM: 373.7 CFU/m3) exceeded the standard. Operational taxonomic unit of 16S rDNA and ITS2 rDNA region was analyzed to profile bacteria and mold component in the air of the public-use facilities. As a result, Pseudomonas and Morganella are the major bacterial groups. Regarding mold, Aspergillus, Candida, Malassezia, and Penicillium are the major groups. Component of each airborne bacterial and mold groups varied depending on the type of public-use facilities.

After infection by Gram negative bacteria, neonatal patients or patients in intensive care unit usually suffer from endotoxin shock, leading to death finally in spite of eradication of bacteria by potent antibiotics. The purpose of this study that is the pilot study to prevent endotoxin shock and nosocomial infection, is to offer basic data on species and concentrations of airborne microbes in hospitals. Therefore, this study collected and analyzed articles and documents on airborne microbes in hospitals in Korea that were published in relevant journals from 1980 to 2004. Studies on the concentration of airborne microbes in hospitals as a part of study on the nosocomial infection have been performed from the latter half of 1970s. Pooled average concentrations of total suspended bacteria in hospitals by RCS air sampler and Cascade air sampler were 194.85 CFU/㎥ and 367.72 CFU/㎥, respectively. They were lower than the guideline concentration(800 CFU/ ㎥) of the Korean Ministry of Environment. Pooled average concentrations of total suspended fungi in hospitals by RCS air sampler and Cascade air sampler were 20.66 CFU/㎥ and 193.34 CFU/㎥, respectively. They were lower than the guideline concentration(150 CFU/㎥) of the World Health Organization(WHO). Pooled average concentrations of total suspended bacteria in operating room and intensive care unit(ICU) were 324.75 CFU/㎥ and 182.43 CFU/㎥, respectively. They again were lower than the guideline concentration of the Korean Ministry of Environment. Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., and Lactobacillus spp. for Gram-positive bacteria, and Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., and Escherichia spp., for Gram-negative bacteria were shown in hospitals. Also, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Mucor spp., Epidemophyton spp., Trichophyton spp., and Cladosporium spp. for fungi were found in hospitals. Staphylococcus spp. was shown frequently in operating rooms, intensive care units and wards. Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. were shown commonly in them.