尿臭の発生源に着目した介護施設内全体の臭気の低減について

摘要

高齢者介護施設内の臭気は，しばしば利用者の苦情の一因となるが，発生原因が多岐にわたり対策が難し い.今回，臭気が主に尿臭である施設に対して，臭気の主要成分のフエノール化合物の発生源や尿臭の臭気 前駆体分解に関与するルグルクロニダーゼ活性菌の棲息場所を特定し低減対策を検討した.施設内各地点の 臭気の分析よりフエノール化合物の一つである/)-クレゾール濃度が臭気強度と高い相関を示した（空間r = 0.89,発生部位r = 0.93).ルグルクロ ニダーゼ活性菌は尿臭の認められた部位，ポータブルトイレの容器底 部（特に尿石付着部分)，ベッド下カーペット，ベッドシーツから検出された.市販製品による臭気発生部 位に着目した洗浄や殺菌を1年間継続したところ，ルグルクロ ニダーゼ活性菌の菌数，施設内の空間の臭気 強度およびかクレゾール濃度が明らかに低下した.洗浄や殺菌等の局所的な対策を行うことで施設内全体の 臭気を低減できる可能性力《示された.%Indoor malodor of elderly nursing homes often causes complaints from their users. However, eliminating malodor is very difficult due to the variety of causes. In this study, we investigated a nursing home that often received "urine-like malodor" complaints. To clarify the causes and find a solution to the malodor, we investigated both the emitting sources of phenol derivatives as the key urine malodor component and the inhabiting areas of the bacteria that produce β-glucuronidase as the cause of urine malodor. As a result, it was found that p-cresol, among phenol components, has a high correlation with odor intensity. Urine-malodor-causing bacteria were found in several areas, all of which had urine odor such as the surface of the bowl of the portable toilet, a section of carpet beside the bed, and a section of the bed sheet. Continuous use of cleansing and disinfectant products over a year focusing on the areas where the malodor is emitted and malodor-causing bacteria inhabit reduced both the number of the bacteria and the indoor malodor intensity. Thus, focusing on specific areas related malodor can reduce the indoor malodor of elderly nursing homes.