ORIGINAL ARTICLE Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences/Volume1/Issue5/November-2012Page-715 EFFICACY OF AIR DISINFECTION DEVICES IN CONTROLLING ATMOSPHERIC MICROFLORA IN ENCLOSED HEALTH CARE SETTINGS. Ravi Kumar R, Jyothi E. K, Nanda Kumar B. S, Madhava Murthy M. R. 1. Professor & Head, Department of Neuromicrobiology, NIMHANS, Bangalore. 2. PhD Scholar, Department of Neuromicrobiology, NIMHANS, Bangalore. 3. Associate Professor cum Epidemiologist, Department of Community Medicine, MSRMC. 4. Chief Executive Officer, Innova Technology Solutions Mysore Pvt Ltd., Bangalore. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Dr. R. Ravi Kumar MD, Professor and Head, Department of Neuromicrobiology, NIMHANS, Bangalore, E-mail: ravikumarbly@yahoo.co.uk, Ph: 0091 9448073965. ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: There is increasing concern with the prevalence of hospital infection. This is causing a significant economic and logistical burden on the health services. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of hydroxyl radical based air disinfection devices in reducing the atmospheric pathogen count in enclosed health care settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sequential trial with repeated readings was designed before and after installation of the Air Disinfection devices. Study was conducted at 52 points in different locations which included sections from out Patient Department, Intensive Care Units, Operation Theatre, Surgical Ward, Radiology Department and cubicles in routine microbiology. The samples collected with air sampler were processed in Neuromicrobiology Laboratory. RESULT: It was observed that the mean (±SE) colony forming units (CFU/m 3 ) count after 24 and 48 hours before and after use of air disinfectant devices at the above locations were 159.75 (±35.42), 210.31 (±65.15) and 44.04 (±14.15), 55.31 (±15.06) respectively. The differences in the mean CFU concentrations were found to be statistically significant (p= 0.006). Additionally, a high degree of variance in the CFU counts was noted before using the devices as compared to that after using the same. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that there is considerable reduction in the number of colony forming units subsequent to the introduction of the Air Disinfection devices. These devices supplement and compliment the general hygienic practices. However owing to a lot of compounding factors affecting the colony forming units in a given location, sufficient care must be taken for ascribing the reduction in the counts only to the device. KEYWORDS: Air Disinfection, Environmental Flora, Disinfection Devices, Air Sampling, Hospital Infection. INTRODUCTION: Hospitals and associated areas are high risk areas for acquiring infections 1 . Therefore, it is imperative that strict policies be implemented and maintained so as to achieve the goal of infection control. One of the modes to achieve the same is by air disinfection process wherein devices are used to reduce the number of microorganisms in the air. This concept in disease prevention is pivotal in certain high risk areas within the hospital like Intensive care units, operation theatres, and other sites where virulent and resistant organisms, high risk patients and invasive interventions are present. Prevention of infections by means of air disinfection will enhance and greatly synergise with other infection control measures and