Airborne Microbial Investigation in Operating Rooms Using MALDI-TOF and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to Reduce Surgical Site Infection Risk

This study investigates airborne microbial contamination in hospital operating rooms (ORs) by comparing two complementary microbiological identification techniques: culture-based analysis using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and metagenomic profiling via Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Air samples were collected during surgical procedures conducted at Sant’Anna Hospital (Ferrara, Italy) from 2024 to 2025. Samples were processed for both traditional culture identification and molecular analysis. The study aimed to evaluate the differences and complementarities between the two techniques in characterizing airborne microbiota in real surgical conditions. Data were analyzed with reference to surgical specialty, procedure duration, and environmental parameters. The project contributes to refining surveillance methods for airborne contamination in ORs and supports the development of strategies to improve infection control.