Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers (대한환경공학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Engineers (대한환경공학회)
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Presence of Bacteria and Fungi in Inner Compartment of Personal Computers(PCs)

개인용 컴퓨터 내부에서 발견되는 세균과 곰팡이

  • Kwon, Kil-Koang (Department of Microbial Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Yoon, Seok-Min (Department of Microbial Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Choi, Chang-Ho (Department of Microbial Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Jeong, Bong-Geun (Department of Microbial Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Lee, Ki-Won (Department of Microbial Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Yi, Dong-Heui (Department of Microbial Engineering, Konkuk University) ;
  • Kim, Hyung-Joo (Department of Microbial Engineering, Konkuk University)
  • 권길광 (건국대학교 미생물공학과) ;
  • 윤석민 (건국대학교 미생물공학과) ;
  • 최창호 (건국대학교 미생물공학과) ;
  • 정봉근 (건국대학교 미생물공학과) ;
  • 이기원 (건국대학교 미생물공학과) ;
  • 이동희 (건국대학교 미생물공학과) ;
  • 김형주 (건국대학교 미생물공학과)
  • Published : 2007.06.30
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Abstract

Presence and distribution of bacteria and fungi in inner compartment of PCs(Personal Computers) were investigated. Samples for the analysis were collected from inside of PCs which had been used in various facilities including public computer facilities, laboratories and computer training rooms of a university. Total number of PC examined in this study was 51 each. When the total CFU(colony forming unit) of the inner compartment of the PCs was measured, the bacterial count was found to be dependent on the operation time(total running time) of PCs. When the distribution of bacteria in the inner compartment of PCs was estimated, CPU(Central Processing Unit) cooling fan area showed the highest bacterial concentration(average 605 $CFU/cm^2$). In the case of the fungi, various opportunistic pathogens including Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. were isolated and identified in the inner compartment of PCs. And the average of bacterial number in the dust collected from the PCs was 212 CFU/mg. These results indicated that handling of PC might have a risk of infection by the microorganism.

본 연구에서는 개인용 컴퓨터(PC) 내부의 시료를 채취하여, 세균의 CFU와 곰팡이의 종류를 분석하였다. 시료는 대중 PC 이용 시설(PC방), 대학실험실 및 대학 전산실습실의 PC 51대에서 채취하였다. CFU(colony forming unit)법을 이용한 세균수의 경우, 컴퓨터 총 작동시간이 증가할수록 PC 내부의 세균수는 증가하는 것으로 확인되었으며$(r^2=0.90)$, PC 내부 부품 중에서는 CPU 냉각 팬에서 가장 높은 수치로 확인되었다(평균 605 $CFU/cm^2$). 곰팡이의 경우, 다수의 유해성을 지닌 곰팡이가 검출되었으며, 그 중 Aspergillus sp.와 Penicillium sp.가 가장 많은 비율로 존재함이 확인되었다. 또한 PC 내부에서 채취된 먼지에서는 mg 당 212 CFU의 세균이 발견되었다. 본 연구의 결과, PC 내부에는 여러 다양한 종류의 미생물이 존재한다는 것을 확인하였으며, 이 결과는 PC의 취급, 사용 및 정비 시 각종 미생물에 의한 감염의 가능성이 있다는 것을 나타내고 있다.

Keywords

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