Degradation of carbamazepine by the UVA-LED365/ClO2/NaClO process: Kinetics, mechanisms and DBPs yield.

A mixed oxidant of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and NaClO was often used in water treatment. A novel UVA-LED (365 nm)-activated mixed ClO2/NaClO process was proposed for the degradation of micropollutants in this study. Carbamazepine (CBZ) was selected as the target pollutant. Compared with the UVA365/ClO2 process, the UVA365/ClO2/NaClO process can improve the degradation of CBZ, with the rate constant increasing from 2.11×10-4 sec-1 to 2.74×10-4 sec-1. In addition, the consumption of oxidants in the UVA365/ClO2/NaClO process (73.67%) can also be lower than that of UVA365/NaClO (86.42%). When the NaClO ratio increased, both the degradation efficiency of CBZ and the consumption of oxidants can increase in the UVA365/ClO2/NaClO process. The solution pH can affect the contribution of NaClO in the total oxidant ratio. When the pH range of 6.0-8.0, the combination process can generate more active species to promote the degradation of CBZ. The change of active species with oxidant molar ratio was investigated in the UVA365/ClO2/NaClO process. When ClO2 acted as the main oxidant, HO• and Cl• were the main active species, while when NaClO was the main oxidant, ClO• played a role in the system. Both chloride ion (Cl-), bicarbonate ion (HCO3-), and nitrate ion (NO3-) can promote the reaction system. As the concentration of NaClO in the reaction solution increased, the generation of chlorates will decrease. The UVA365/ClO2/NaClO process can effectively control the formation of volatile disinfection by-products (DBPs), and with the increase of ClO2 dosage, the formation of DBPs can also decrease.

"Four - in - one" platform based on multifunctional nanozyme for ultra - accurate detection and on - demand disinfection of Listeria monocytogenes.

The inability to integrate detection and disinfection hindered building a unified pathogen monitoring platform, risking secondary contamination. Herein, a novel "four - in - one" platform for monitoring foodborne Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) was presented. The magnetic daptomycin - functionalized Fe3O4 (Dap/Fe3O4) could selectively bind to L. monocytogenes, enhancing detection accuracy. The separated bacteria were captured by aptamers - functionalized Fe - doped - silica nanoparticles (Apt/Fe@SiNPs) for tri - mode detection. Besides fluorescence, the Apt/Fe@SiNPs converted 3,3',5,5' - tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to oxidized TMB (oxTMB) via peroxidase activity, allowing colorimetric and subsequent photothermal detection upon irradiation, as low as 2.06 CFU/mL. Magnetic - induced aggregation of Apt/Fe@SiNPs generated toxic hydroxyl radicals around L. monocytogenes, achieving ∼99.6% disinfection. Furthermore, the biofilm of L. monocytogenes was effectively inhibited by the action of hydroxyl radicals. The platform might offer a promising prospect to control L. monocytogenes in food industries.

Conocimiento en estudiantes de enfermería sobre desinfección terminal del área quirúrgica / Knowledge in nursing students about terminal disinfection of the surgical area

Determinar el nivel de conocimiento de los estudiantes de enfermería de la Universidad Técnica de Ambato sobre la desinfección terminal del área quirúrgica. Metodología: Esta investigación es cuantitativa, con enfoque descriptivo de cohorte transversal ya que el nivel de conocimiento se ha representado mediante tablas y gráficos para describir la problemática del periodo octubre 2023-febrero 2024. Resultados: Se evidencia el alto porcentaje de respuestas incorrectas por cada ítem por parte de los estudiantes. La categoría desinfección fue respondida de manera incorrecta con un porcentaje del 26%, la categoría proceso de desinfección con el 55,6%, la categoría aplicación del DAN con el 45.8%, la categoría desinfectante del DAN con el 36,2% y, por último, la categoría riesgo y prevención del DAN con el 29,2%. Conclusiones: El nivel de conocimiento de los estudiantes sobre desinfección es bajo, porque no están lo suficientemente motivados o interesados en el tema de desinfección[AU]

Determine the level of knowledge of nursing students at the Technical University of Ambato about terminal disinfection of the surgical area.Methodology:This research is quantitative, with a descriptive cross-sectional cohort approach and the level of knowledge has been represented through tables and graphs to describe the problems of the period October 2023-February 2024.Results:A high percentage of incorrect answers for each item by the students is evident. The disinfection category was answered incorrectly with a percentage of 26%, the disinfection process category with 55.6%, the DAN application category with 45.8%, the disinfectant category with 36.2% and, finally, the DAN risk and prevention category. with 29.2%. Conclusions:The level of knowledge of students about disinfection is low, because they are not sufficiently motivated or interested in the topic of disinfection[AU]

Determinar o nível de conhecimento dos estudantes de enfermagem da Universidade Técnica de Ambato sobre desinfecção terminal da área cirúrgica. Metodologia:Esta pesquisa é quantitativa, com abordagem descritiva de coorte transversal e o nível de conhecimento foi representado por meio de tabelas e gráficos para descrever os problemas do período outubro de 2023 a fevereiro de 2024.Resultados: Evidencia-se um alto percentual de respostas incorretas para cada item por parte dos alunos. A categoria desinfecção foi respondida incorretamente com um percentual de 26%, a categoria processo de desinfecção com 55,6%, a categoria aplicação DAN com 45,8%, a categoria desinfetante com 36,2% e, por último, a categoria risco e prevenção DAN. com 29,2%.Conclusões:O nível de conhecimento dos alunos sobre desinfecção é baixo, porque não estão suficientemente motivados ou interessados no tema da desinfecção[AU]

Peracetic Acid Efficacy on Disinfection of Photostimulable Phosphor Plates.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of white vinegar, acetic acid and peracetic acid on photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plates disinfection, and to assess the disinfectant influence on the radiographic quality. METHODS: Eight PSP plates (Express system) were contaminated with Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. These plates were wiped with tissues without any substance, with white vinegar, acetic acid, and peracetic acid, followed by an agar imprint. Number of microbial colonies formed was recorded. Afterwards, the quality of radiographs was tested using the more efficient disinfectant. Before disinfection and after every five disinfections, two radiographs of an acrylic-block and two radiographs of an aluminum step-wedge were acquired for each plate. Density, noise, uniformity, and contrast were analyzed. Three oral radiologists evaluated the images for the presence of artifacts. One-way Analysis of Variance compared changes on gray values among the disinfections (α = 0.05). Intra- and inter-examiner agreement for the presence of artifacts was calculated by weighted Kappa. RESULTS: Peracetic acid was the only one that eliminated both microorganisms. Density and uniformity decreased after 100 disinfections, and contrast changed without a pattern in the course of disinfections (P ≤ 0.05). Small artifacts were observed after 30 disinfections. Intra- and inter-examiner agreements were almost perfect. CONCLUSIONS: Disinfection with peracetic acid eliminated both microorganisms. However, it also affected density, uniformity and contrast of radiographs, and led to the formation of small artifacts.

Persistence of two coronaviruses and efficacy of steam vapor disinfection on two types of carpet.

BACKGROUND: Coronaviruses, a group of highly transmissible and potentially pathogenic viruses, can be transmitted indirectly to humans via fomites. To date, no study has investigated their persistence on carpet fibers. Establishing persistence is essential before testing the efficacy of a disinfectant. METHODS: The persistence of BCoV and HCoV OC43 on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon carpet was first determined using infectivity and RT-qPCR assays. Then, the disinfectant efficacy of steam vapor was evaluated against both coronaviruses on nylon carpet. RESULTS: Immediately after inoculation of carpet coupons, 32.50% of BCoV and 3.87% of HCoV OC43 were recovered from PET carpet, compared to 34.86% of BCoV and 24.37% of HCoV OC43 recovered from nylon carpet. After incubation at room temperature for 1 h, BCoV and HCoV OC43 showed a 3.6 and > 2.8 log10 TCID50 reduction on PET carpet, and a 0.6 and 1.8 log10 TCID50 reduction on nylon carpet. Based on first-order decay kinetics, the whole gRNA of BCoV and HCoV OC43 were stable with k values of 1.19 and 0.67 h- 1 on PET carpet and 0.86 and 0.27 h- 1 on nylon carpet, respectively. A 15-s steam vapor treatment achieved a > 3.0 log10 TCID50 reduction of BCoV and > 3.2 log10 TCID50 reduction of HCoV OC43 on nylon carpet. CONCLUSION: BCoV was more resistant to desiccation on both carpet types than HCoV OC43. Both viruses lost infectivity quicker on PET carpet than on nylon carpet. Steam vapor inactivated both coronaviruses on nylon carpet within 15 s.

Quantifying the effects of chlorine disinfection on microplastics by time-resolved inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Using current water treatment systems, significant amounts of microplastics (MPs) are passing through and being released into the aquatic environment. However, we do not clearly know what effects disinfection processes have had on these particles. In this study, we applied inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operating in time-resolved analysis (TRA) mode for quantifying changes in the chlorine (Cl) content of MPs under a variety of water treatment scenarios. Our results illustrated that time-resolved ICP-MS offers a potential method for sensitive and direct analysis of Cl content, including Cl mass and chlorine association (%Cl/C), of discrete particles in the MP suspension by the fast sequential measurements of signals from 35Cl1H2 and 12C1H. Our research, across various water treatment scenarios, also showed that polystyrene (PS) MPs exhibited greater reactivity to Cl disinfectant after being pre-disinfected with UV light and in mildly acidic to neutral pH environments. It is noteworthy that about half of the particles in MP suspension exposed to 10 mg Cl2/L, a typical Cl dose applied in water treatment, were chlorinated, and had a Cl content comparable to that of particles subjected to extreme conditions. Of even greater concern is the fact that our cell viability tests revealed that chlorinated MPs induced considerably higher rates of cell death in both human A549 and Caco-2 cells, and that the effects were Cl dose- and polymer type-dependent. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of time-resolved ICP-MS as a valuable technique for quantifying the Cl content of MP particles, which is crucial to assessing the fate and transformation of MPs in our water supply and treatment systems.

Bacteriophage-like Nanobiocatalysts with Spiky Topography and Dual-Atom Sites for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria.

Overuse of antibiotics leads to the proliferation of drug-resistant bacterial strains, worsening global morbidity, and mortality rates. Bioinspired nanomaterials present a promising avenue for developing nonantibiotic strategies against drug-resistant bacteria. Here, we engineer a bacteriophage-inspired artificial nanobiocatalyst via nonstoichiometric W18O49 that features a spiky topography and synergistic dual-atom sites for combating drug-resistant bacterial infection. Benefiting from the strong interaction within the synergistic Fe-O-Mo sites, the synthesized spiky artificial nanobiocatalyst exhibits superior reactive oxygen species (ROS)-catalytic activity, attributed to the regulated adsorption affinity between the reaction intermediates and catalytic sites. The experimental and theoretical investigations demonstrate that the bioinspired biocatalyst can effectively capture and kill bacteria through its spiky morphology and potent ROS-catalytic activity, which can enable a significant reduction in bacterial viability through downregulating genes associated with biosynthesis, cellular maintenance, and respiration. In vivo experiments demonstrate that the spiky artificial biocatalyst accelerates the reconstruction of drug-resistant bacteria-infected skin wounds in rabbits, exhibiting efficacy comparable to that of vancomycin. It is expected that this bioinspired study on spiky artificial nanobiocatalysts offers a straightforward path to facilitate the development of both bionic and nonantibiotic disinfection strategies.

Evaluation of the long-term protection conferred by an organosilicon-based disinfectant formulation against bacterial contamination of surfaces.

AIMS: The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of an organosilicon-based, commercially available antimicrobial formulation in the My-shield® product line against bacterial surface contamination. METHODS AND RESULTS: The antimicrobial product was tested in vitro for its long-term persistence on surfaces and effectiveness against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in comparison to 70% ethanol and 0.1% or 0.6% sodium hypochlorite. Field testing was also conducted over 6 weeks at a university athletic facility. In vitro studies demonstrated the log reductions achieved by the test product, 70% ethanol, and 0.1% sodium hypochlorite were 3.6, 3.1, and 3.2, respectively. The test product persisted on surfaces after washing and scrubbing, and pre-treatment with this product prevented S. aureus surface colonization for up to 30 days. In comparison, pre-treatment with 70% ethanol or 0.6% sodium hypochlorite was not protective against S. aureus biofilm formation after seven days. The field test demonstrated that weekly applications of the test product were more effective at reducing surface bacterial load than daily applications of a control product. CONCLUSIONS: The test product conferred greater long-term protection against bacterial growth and biofilm formation by S. aureus than ethanol and sodium hypochlorite. Even with less frequent applications, the test product maintained a high level of antimicrobial activity.

Impact of metal ions on PMS/Cl- disinfection efficacy: Enhancing or impeding microbial inactivation?

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) is an eco-friendly disinfectant gaining attention. This study examined the influence of metal ions (Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(II)) on PMS disinfection with chloride ions (Cl-) against waterborne microorganisms, encompassing both bacteria and fungal spores. The findings elucidated that metal ions augment the inactivation of bacteria in the PMS/Cl- system while concurrently impeding the inactivation of fungal spores. Specifically, the PMS/Co(II)/Cl- process increased E. coli inactivation rates by 2.25 and 2.75 times compared to PMS/Co(II) and PMS/Cl-, respectively. Conversely, PMS/Me(II)/Cl- generally exhibited a diminished inactivation capacity against the three fungal spores compared to PMS/Cl-, albeit surpassing the efficacy of PMS/Me(II). For instance, the inactivation levels of A. niger by PMS/Cl-, PMS/Cu(II)/Cl-, and PMS/Cu(II) are 4.47-log, 1.92-log, and 0.11-log, respectively. Notably, fungal spores demonstrated a substantially higher resistance to disinfectants compared to bacteria. Differences in microbial susceptibility were linked to cell wall structure, composition, antioxidant defenses, and reactive species generation, such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), sulfate radicals (SO4•-), and reactive chlorine species (RCS). This study demonstrated the novel and unique phenomenon of metal ions' dual role in modulating the PMS/Cl- disinfection process, which has not been reported before and has important implications for the field of water treatment.

Sensitivity Analysis of C. auris, S. cerevisiae, and C. cladosporioides by Irradiation with Far-UVC, UVC, and UVB.

Background: The World Health Organization has published a list of pathogenic fungi with prior-itizing groups and calls for research and development of antifungal measures, with Candida auris belonging to the group with high priority. Methods: The photosensitivity towards short wavelength ultraviolet irradiation (Far-UVC, UVC, and UVB) was investigated and compared to other yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and a mold (Cladosporium cladosporioides). The observed 1-log reduction doses were compared to literature values of other representatives of the genus Candida, but also with S. cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, and A. fumigatus. Results: For the determined 1-log reduction doses, an increase with higher wavelengths was observed. A 1-log reduction dose of 4.3 mJ/cm2 was determined for C. auris when irradiated at 222 nm, a dose of 6.1 mJ/cm2 at 254 nm and a 1-log reduction dose of 51.3 mJ/cm2 was required when irradiated with UVB. Conclusions: It was observed that S. cerevisiae is a possible surrogate for C. auris for irradiation with Far-UVC and UVB due to close 1-log reduction doses. No surrogate suitability was verified for C. cladosporioides in relation to A. niger and A. fumigatus for irradiation with a wavelength of 254 nm and for A. niger at 222 nm.

Nonadditive Cytotoxicity in Select Disinfection Byproducts and Disinfected Secondary Effluents.

Toxicity studies of water disinfection byproducts (DBPs) typically assume additive interactions. Coupling results from both the bottom-up cytotoxicity interaction approach by selecting six common DBPs and the top-down cytotoxicity fractionating the disinfected secondary effluent containing a much broader DBP selection, we demonstrated a novel effect of clear, nonadditive cytotoxicity at low chemical concentrations regardless of the number of DBP types involved. We revealed that the cytotoxicity interactions were influenced by the chemical's type, concentration factor, and mixing ratio. For the bottom-up approach, the average combination indices (CIs) were 1.61 (chloracetamide + chloroacetonitrile, antagonism), 1.03 (bromoacetamide+bromoacetonitrile, near additivity), and 0.69 (iodoacetamide + iodoacetonitrile, synergism) across the DBPs' concentration range of 10-4-10-7 M. These cytotoxicity interactions also varied with the components' mixing ratios. For the top-down approach, we obtained two fractions of DBP mixtures from the disinfected secondary effluent using solvents of different polarities. The effect of the concentration on CI values was significant, with a maximum 43.1% relative deviation in CI from LC5 to LC95. The average CI values across the sample concentration range of 1-50 × (concentration factor) varied from 1.68 (antagonism) to 0.89 (slight synergism) as the ratio of mixture A increased. These results call for further research in prioritizing the forcing DBPs in mixtures.

Disinfection byproducts in US drinking water and cancer mortality.

Trihalomethanes, the main drinking water disinfection byproducts, may be carcinogenic and are regulated to amaximum total trihalomethanes (TTHM) of 80 µg/l in the US. We aimed to determine whether total and individual trihalomethanes in drinking water across the US are associated with higher cancer mortality in 6,260 adult participants to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2008 followed for mortality until 2019 (median: 14.4 years). At baseline, the geometric mean (standard error) of TTHM in drinking water was 9.61 (0.85) µg/l. During follow-up, 873 deaths occurred, including 207 from cancer. In Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for relevant covariates, drinking water TTHM (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.16-1.82), chloroform (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.12-1.64), and bromodichloromethane (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.05-1.59) were associated with 30% to 45% higher cancer mortality. Therefore, drinking water trihalomethanes, especially chloroform and bromodichloromethane maybe risk factors for cancer mortality.

Revealing the impact of sample enrichment method on concentration and cytotoxicity of volatile disinfection byproducts in drinking water: A quantitative study for liquid-liquid extraction.

Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) combined with the N2 blow-down method is a promising tool for bioanalysis of drinking water. However, detailed information on which disinfection byproduct (DBP) classes are retained in LLE extracts is currently unavailable. In this study, the recovery of seven classes of volatile DBPs and total adsorbable organic halogens (TOX) during the LLE method, combined with three common N2 blow-down methods, for bioanalysis in real tap water was analyzed at a 2-L scale, along with their corresponding cytotoxicity. The total concentration of seven classes of volatile DBPs in drinking water in Suzhou ranged from 64.6 to 83.0 µg/L, with the majority contributed by trihalomethanes (THMs: 59.9 µg/L), haloaldehydes (HALs: 5.4 µg/L), haloacetamides (HAMs: 3.4 µg/L), and haloacetonitriles (HANs: 3.2 µg/L). During the LLE - N2 blow-down process for bioanalysis, about 69-85 % of targeted volatile DBPs and 64-75 % of TOX were lost, respectively. Seven classes of volatile DBPs accounted for 52.8-64.3 % and 23.8-61.3 % of TOX in tap water and LLE - N2 blow-down samples, respectively, suggesting that targeted aliphatic DBPs are the key contributors to TOX. Furthermore, although LLE - solvent exchange had a better recovery performance than other N2 blow-down methods, the recoveries of volatile DBPs using this method were still not ideal. For example, HALs and HAMs had a slightly better recovery (>50 %), while most volatile DBPs had a poor recovery, including iodo-trihalomethanes (I-THMs, 0 %), haloketones (28 %), THMs (26 %), halonitromethanes (33 %), and HANs (38 %). During LLE - solvent exchange, 31 % and 36 % of targeted DBPs and TOX, respectively, in real tap water can be retained, which shows better performance than non-ionic macroporous copolymers (XAD). More importantly, the water volume required in this method for cytotoxicity analysis is 2 L, which greatly reduces the burden of water sample collection, transport, and pre-treatment compared to XAD (which typically requires 5 or 10 L). In general, this paper reveals the fate of volatile DBPs during LLE - N2 blow-down and indicates that LLE - solvent exchange is a good substitute for the XAD method in bioanalysis.

New Drinking Water Genome Catalog Identifies a Globally Distributed Bacterial Genus Adapted to Disinfected Drinking Water Systems.

Genome-resolved insights into the structure and function of the drinking water microbiome can advance the effective management of drinking water quality. To enable this, we constructed and curated thousands of metagenome-assembled and isolate genomes from drinking water distribution systems globally to develop a Drinking Water Genome Catalog (DWGC). The current DWGC disproportionately represents disinfected drinking water systems due to a paucity of metagenomes from nondisinfected systems. Using the DWGC, we identify core genera of the drinking water microbiome including a genus (UBA4765) within the order Rhizobiales that is frequently detected and highly abundant in disinfected drinking water systems. We demonstrate that this genus has been widely detected but incorrectly classified in previous amplicon sequencing-based investigations of the drinking water microbiome. Further, we show that a single genome variant (genomovar) within this genus is detected in 75% of drinking water systems included in this study. We propose a name for this uncultured bacterium as "Raskinella chloraquaticus" and describe the genus as "Raskinella" (endorsed by SeqCode). Metabolic annotation and modeling-based predictions indicate that this bacterium is capable of necrotrophic growth, is able to metabolize halogenated compounds, proliferates in a biofilm-based environment, and shows clear indications of disinfection-mediated selection.

Acanthamoeba as a protective reservoir for Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a clinical environment.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a growing concern in healthcare associated infections and poses significant risk to those with serious underlying health conditions. The antimicrobial resistance traits of the pathogen and ability to form biofilms make effective mitigation and disinfection strategies difficult. Added to this challenge is the role that free-living amoebae such as Acanthamoeba play in the detection, disinfection, and transmission of P. aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa can survive intracellularly within amoebae, which has the potential to limit detectability and permit transmission into high-risk areas. Herein, we have screened for the presence of Acanthamoeba species and P. aeruginosa within a functioning general hospital in Scotland using a culture and molecular approach, noting their presence at several sites over a 4-month period, particularly within floor drains connecting patient rooms. In addition, microbiome analysis revealed amoebae harbour a unique microbial community comprised primarily of Pseudomonas species that were not readily detected using microbiome sequencing techniques on environmental swabs. Having demonstrated that both organisms were consistently present in hospital settings, we investigated the relationship between Acanthamoeba and P. aeruginosa in the laboratory, showing that i) Acanthamoeba growth rate is increased in the presence of Pseudomonas biofilms and viable Pseudomonas persist within the amoebae and ii) hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectants are significantly less effective against an isolate of P. aeruginosa in the presence of Acanthamoeba than when the bacteria are incubated alone. These findings suggest that amoebae, and other protists, can influence the detection and persistence of P. aeruginosa in high-risk areas and should be considered when implementing mitigation strategies.

Surface Cleaning with a Microfiber Cloth and Water followed by Ultraviolet-C Light Exposure Achieves Non-Inferior Disinfection of a Pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus Strain versus Use of Germicidal Wipes.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation (Surfacide, Waukesha, WI) following use of microfiber cloths (Sanny Shop LLC, Longmont, CO) soaked in water would be noninferior to surface disinfection wipes containing a quaternary ammonium compound and alcohol (PDI Healthcare, Woodcliff Lake, NJ) for the pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) sequence type 5 (ST5). METHODS: This was a randomized laboratory study of disinfection approaches for S. aureus ST5. A total of 270 polycarbonate slides loaded with ST5 were prepared for the standard surface disinfection group (N=18) and water-soaked microfiber cloths and UV-C treatment group (N=144), along with positive and negative microbiological controls. RESULTS: All 18 samples of S. aureus ST5 bacteria treated with standard chemical wipes showed complete disinfection (colony forming units (CFU) = 0). All 144 treatments with water-soaked microfiber wipes followed by UV-C exposure showed complete disinfection (CFU =0) regardless of soiling, height from the floor, or orientation to the emitters. The upper 95% exact one-sided confidence limit for any CFU >0 was 2.1%. DISCUSSION: These data affirm our hypothesis that surface wiping with a damp cloth followed by triangular UV-C irradiation delivery is noninferior to surface disinfection for S. aureus ST5 using germicidal wipes, even when UV-C is compromised by height from the floor and orientation to the emitters and surface disinfection is targeted. CONCLUSION: Removing bioburden with chemical-free microfiber cloths followed by triangular UV-C delivery is a noninferior strategy to targeted surface disinfection with chemical disinfecting wipes for the pathogenic S. aureus ST5 strain in the laboratory setting.

Pattern of Bacterial Flora and Effect of Disinfection on Fingerprinting Biometric Devices at a Tertiary Care Health Facility: An Interventional Study.

Introduction Recently, many public and private sector institutions and hospitals have installed biometric fingerprint devices for attendance purposes. This step is taking us toward modernization but biometric devices have their cons and pros; if not sterilized at regular intervals, then it may be a potent cause of transmission of various infections. Many studies have reported the presence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus (CONS), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, and others. Aim To study the pattern of bacterial flora and the effect of disinfection on fingerprinting biometric devices at a tertiary care health facility.  Materials and methods A total of 138 biometric devices were used, out of which 105 were frequently (at least 50 uses per day) used and functional. So, 105 samples were collected on day zero (baseline), of which 43 and 62 were from clinical and non-clinical groups, respectively. The devices were disinfected with isopropyl alcohol (w/v 70%) and subsequent samples were taken on day 1 (after 24 hours) and day 7. The samples were collected and transported to the microbiology lab for culture and incubation. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) employing chi-square, Cochran's Q test, and post hoc test. A p-value ≤0.05 at a 95% confidence interval was considered to be statistically significant. Results At baseline (day 0), bacterial growth was observed in 13 (38%) devices from the clinical group and 10 (20%) from the non-clinical group. After disinfection with 70% isopropyl alcohol, bacterial growth was reduced by 83% on day 1 but increased by 82% on day 7. These changes were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion The present study concluded the definite presence of bacterial flora on the biometric fingerprint devices which are prone to carry and transmit microorganisms indirectly from person to person. The surface of biometric fingerprinting devices should be disinfected daily. If not possible, it should be done on an average of every third day to control and minimize the transmission of microorganisms.

Dynamics of microbiome and resistome in a poultry burger processing line.

Traditionally, surveillance programs for food products and food processing environments have focused on targeted pathogens and resistance genes. Recent advances in high throughput sequencing allow for more comprehensive and untargeted monitoring. This study assessed the microbiome and resistome in a poultry burger processing line using culturing techniques and whole metagenomic sequencing (WMS). Samples included meat, burgers, and expired burgers, and different work surfaces. Microbiome analysis revealed spoilage microorganisms as the main microbiota, with substantial shifts observed during the shelf-life period. Core microbiota of meat and burgers included Pseudomonas spp., Psychrobacter spp., Shewanella spp. and Brochothrix spp., while expired burgers were dominated by Latilactobacillus spp. and Leuconostoc spp. Cleaning and disinfection (C&D) procedures altered the microbial composition of work surfaces, which still harbored Hafnia spp. and Acinetobacter spp. after C&D. Resistome analysis showed a low overall abundance of resistance genes, suggesting that effective interventions during processing may mitigate their transmission. However, biocide resistance genes were frequently found, indicating potential biofilm formation or inefficient C&D protocols. This study demonstrates the utility of combining culturing techniques and WMS for comprehensive of the microbiome and resistome characterization in food processing lines.

Sustainability and novel technologies to improve environmental cleaning in healthcare - Implications and considerations.

Along with emerging technologies electrolysed water (EW) systems have been proposed for cleaning and/or disinfection in clinical areas. There is evidence for the use of EW in food-handling and the dairy industry however there is lack of evidence for EW as an effective cleaning and disinfecting agent in a clinical setting. Existing publications mostly are either laboratory based or from non-clinical settings. This is in direct contrast to other approaches used in healthcare cleaning. The aim of this paper is to provide infection prevention and control professionals with a risk assessment checklist using an evaluation of electrolysed water as an example of the analysis and consideration required prior to the introduction of any new technology and, in particular, the inclusion of sustainability.

Formation, speciation, and temporal variability of DBPs in drinking water distribution systems in the context of ASR operations and extended storage periods.

As climate change induces changes in water quality and available water quantity of drinking water supply sources, the final product water quality changes in terms of trace organics including disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formed during water treatment. In this study, the seasonal variability and speciation of DBPs across nine sample sites within a drinking water distribution system serving ∼400k people over a one-year period was investigated considering the governing parameters of water quality and treatment/transport/storage of finished water. The system considered treats surface water from a river and practices aquifer storage and recovery to address seasons water availability changes. Eighty-eight (88) sample sets were collected and held for 6-months in the laboratory to simulate extended storage scenarios associated with ASR operations, and each was analyzed at 9 different timesteps for concentration and speciation of chlorinated DBPs. Samples from groundwater influenced sites exhibited significantly lower total organic carbon (TOC) compared to other sites from the river source, and also were observed to have the lowest DBP formation. Three sites exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for four total trihalomethanes (THM4) within 30-60 days of storage. Chloroform was the predominant THM4 species, even in groundwater-influenced locations, whereas di- and tri-chloroacetic acid (DCA and TCA) were the most prevalent haloacetic acids (HAA5). Extended water age at one site, coupled with low initial chlorine concentrations exhibited higher initial THM4 concentrations and flat DBP formation curves. The study results provide new insights into DBP occurrence and fate in drinking water distribution systems which consider water storage such as in ASR.