Microbiological analysis . Microbial environment (air, surfaces, water)

Environmental media (air, surfaces, water) are subject to microbiological contamination that is permanent but variable in time and space. The micro-organisms present are environmental saprophytes, commensals or human pathogens. As vectors of contamination, environmental media disseminate micro-organisms over varying distances, insidiously contributing to the progressive contamination of the environment's various inert supports. Some of these micro-organisms are the cause of product spoilage in various industries, and of healthcare-associated infections in vulnerable patients in healthcare establishments.

In the face of this ubiquitous contamination, the protection of vulnerable products and individuals can only be envisaged in a controlled microbial environment. It is therefore essential to assess the risks of contamination, and to manage these risks appropriately and consistently. The microbiological quality of all environmental media must be constantly controlled and regularly monitored. This monitoring is based on a variety of methods, both old and new, for sampling and analyzing environmental micro-organisms, which are presented in this article.

This article is part of a series of four dedicated to microbiology analysis:

• "Microbiology analysis – Sterile products [P 3 352]

• "Microbiology analysis – Antibacterials [P 3 353] ;

• "Microbiology analysis – Non-sterile products [P 3 354]

• "Microbiology analysis – Microbial environment (air, surfaces, water) [P 3 355]