Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan Masyarakat
Vol. 17 No. 2 (2026): Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan Masyarakat (JIKM)

Association Between Indoor Environmental Conditions and Airborne Bacterial Counts in Inpatient Rooms at I.A. Moeis Regional Public Hospital, Samarinda: IN PRESS

Nur Nazliyatun Nada (Undergraduate Student of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia)
Ayudhia Rachmawati (Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Esat Kalimantan, Indonesia.)
Riyan Ningsih (Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Esat Kalimantan, Indonesia.)
Blego Sedionoto (Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Esat Kalimantan, Indonesia.)
Vivi Filia Elvira (Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Esat Kalimantan, Indonesia.)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2026

Abstract

Hospitals are highly vulnerable to indoor air pollution, particularly in inpatient rooms where interactions among patients, visitors, and healthcare workers may influence environmental sanitation and infection risk. This study aimed to assess airborne bacterial counts and indoor environmental conditions and to explore their associations in inpatient rooms at I.A. Moeis Regional Public Hospital, Samarinda. An exploratory cross-sectional environmental assessmentwas conducted in 7 rooms selected purposively based on room class and function. Airborne bacteria were measured using the Total Plate Count method, while environmental parameters included temperature, humidity, lighting, occupancy density, disinfection frequency, and ventilation conditions. Data were analyzed using univariate and correlation tests. The mean bacterial count was 317.86 CFU/m³, ranging from 98 to 397 CFU/m³, and no room exceeded the upper reference limit of 500 CFU/m³. The mean temperature was 25.5°C, above the recommended range, while mean humidity was 71% and reached 83%, exceeding the recommended range of 40–60%. Two rooms had lighting below 100 lux, and room-space compliance varied. Disinfection was performed twice daily. No significant associations were observed between bacterial counts and temperature, humidity, lighting, or occupancy density (p > 0.05). These findings should be interpreted cautiously because the small sample size (n = 7) limited statistical power. Hospitals should strengthen routine microbial monitoring, maintain ventilation and air-conditioning systems, assess airflow and air-exchange effectiveness, control temperature and humidity, manage occupancy, and consistently implement disinfection and environmental hygiene practices.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jikm

Publisher

Subject

Health Professions Public Health

Description

Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan Masyarakat (JIKM) is a scientific peer-reviewed journal. Its aims are to share out, to develop, to facilitate research findings in Public Health that it will give benefit to managers, decision makers, public health officer, health problem practitioners, lecturers, as well as ...