State of Kuwait                                                                      
         Ministry of Health 
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
          
            
            
            Guidelines of Microbiological Environmental 
                   Sampling in Healthcare Settings 
                                    
                                2011 
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
          
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                                                        Contents 
            1  INTRODUCTION                                                                                            
            2  INDICATIONS 
            3  PRE SAMPLING INSPECTION  
            4  PROGRAM OPERATION PROCESSES  
            5  TYPES OF SAMPLING  
               5.1 AIR SAMPLING          
               5.1.1 Non Cultural Sampling 
                  5.1.2 Indoor           
                  5.1.3 Outdoor  
               5.1.2. Cultural Sampling                                                              
               5.1.3. Equipment     
               5.2 SURFACE SAMPLING 
               5.3 WATER SAMPLING 
                   5.3.1 Sampling methods for bacteriological testing 
                   5.3.2 Sampling Procedure  
                      5.3.2.1 Visual inspection  
                      5.3.2.2 Sampling and control  
                      5.3.3 Preserving and Storing your Sample:  
                      5.3.4 Sampling containers and its preparation 
                      5.3.5. Types of water sampling 
                      5.3.5.1 Sampling of Drinking Water 
                              5.3.5.1.1 Location of sampling points  
                              5.3.5.1.2 Sampling frequency 
                      5.3.5.2 Renal unit water 
                      5.3.5.3 Drinking, tap and hydrotherapy water 
                      5.3.5.4 Dental unit water 
                      5.3.5.5 Pharmacy water 
            6  ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS   
            7  INTERPRETATION AND STANDARD OF RESULT 
                      7.1  Air sampling 
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                              7.2  Surface sampling  
                              7.3  Water sampling  
                8  REFRENCES 
                9  APPENDICES  
                    -    Appendix A. Preparation of area prior to sampling  
                    -    Appendix B. Environmental checklist for monitoring cleaning prior to sampling 
                    -    Appendix C. Environmental sampling request form 
                    -    Appendix D. Environmental sampling result form 
                    -    Appendix E. Water sampling request and result form 
                    -    Appendix F. Figure (1) The suggested sampling technique for the flat surfaces  
                    -    Appendix G. Table (7) Gram-negative bacteria associated with water and moist 
                         environment 
                    -    Appendix H. Table (8) Airborne fungi associated with the transmission of infection, and 
                         their implicated environments at Kuwait health care settings. 
                    -    Appendix I. Water sampling from three basic source types  
                    -    Appendix J. Thio-Bag EPA Approved for Potable Water Collection 
                          
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
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             Tables 
                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                           
                  •   Table (1) Sampling time adjustment according to environmental site 
                      and dust particles 
                       
                  •   Table (2) Environmental monitoring limits for controlled areas and 
                      devices in operation  
                       
                  •   Table (3) Testing requirements and interpretation of results air 
                      quality (as determined by active air sampling) 
                       
                  •   Table (4) Testing requirements and interpretation of results for renal 
                      dialysis fluid Testing 
                       
                        
                  •   Table (5) requirements and interpretation of results for hydrotherapy 
                      water samples 
                       
                  •   Table (6)  Testing requirements and interpretation of results for 
                      pharmacy samples 
                       
                  •   Table (7) Gram-negative bacteria associated with water and moist 
                      environment 
               
                  •   Table (8) Airborne fungi  associated with the transmission of 
                      infection, and their implicated environments at Kuwait health care 
                      settings. 
               
              
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