Influence of CO2 and Dust on the Survival of Non-Resistant and Multi-Resistant Airborne E. coli Strains.

The airborne transmission of bacterial pathogens poses a significant challenge to public health, especially with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. This study investigated environmental factors influencing the survival of airborne bacteria, focusing on the effects of different carbon dioxide (CO2) and dust concentrations. The experiments were conducted in an atmospheric simulation chamber using the non-resistant wild-type E. coli K12 (JM109) and a multi-resistant variant (JM109-pEC958). Different CO2 (100 ppm, 800 ppm, 3000 ppm) and dust concentrations (250 µg m-3, 500 µg m-3, 2000 µg m-3) were tested to encompass a wide range of CO2 and dust levels. The results revealed that JM109-pEC958 exhibited greater resilience to high CO2 and dust concentrations compared to its non-resistant counterpart. At 3000 ppm CO2, the survival rate of JM109 was significantly reduced, while the survival rate of JM109-pEC958 remained unaffected. At the dust concentration of 250 µg m-3, JM109 exhibited significantly reduced survival, whereas JM109-pEC958 did not. When the dust concentration was increased to 500 and 2000 µg m-3, even the JM109-pEC958 experienced substantially reduced survival rates, which were still significantly higher than those of its non-resistant counterpart at these concentrations. These findings suggest that multi-resistant E. coli strains possess mechanisms enabling them to endure extreme environmental conditions better than non-resistant strains, potentially involving regulatory genes or efflux pumps. The study underscores the importance of understanding bacterial adaptation strategies to develop effective mitigation approaches against antibiotic-resistant bacteria in atmospheric environments. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the interplay between environmental stressors and bacterial survival, serving as a foundational step towards elucidating the adaptation mechanisms of multi-resistant bacteria and informing strategies for combating antibiotic resistance in the atmosphere.

How much information do patients want or need.

Based on literature and personal experience, this paper address the question of how much information patients want or need prior to surgery. It underlines the importance of not only answering patients' questions but also making them aware of information available, to help them go through this difficult process. Aspects such as obtaining a second opinion and use of the Internet are also covered.