Article
Immunology
Toni Luise Meister, Yannick Brueggemann, Daniel Todt, Ronny Tao, Lisa Mueller, Jochen Steinmann, Joerg Steinmann, Joerg Timm, Ingo Drexler, Eike Steinmann
Summary: The spread of nonzoonotic monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections requires a reevaluation of hygiene measures. Evaluation of MPXV stability at different temperatures and interfering substances showed increased persistence at lower temperatures. MPXV can be efficiently inactivated by alcohol- and aldehyde-based surface disinfectants.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Sui-Lung Yim, Jessie Wing-Yi Cheung, Iris Yuk-Ching Cheng, Lewis Wai-Hong Ho, Suet-Yee Sandy Szeto, Pinky Chan, Yin-Ling Lam, Chi-Wai Kan
Summary: Healthcare workers in hospitals are at risk of infection from body fluids and bacteria. Traditional textile products provide a favorable environment for bacterial growth, increasing the risk of transmitting infectious diseases. This study found that healthcare uniforms treated with PHMB displayed durable antimicrobial properties and remained efficient after prolonged use and laundering cycles in a hospital environment. The use of PHMB-treated uniforms may reduce the transmission of infectious diseases in hospitals.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. E. Wissmann, Y. Bruggemann, D. Todt, J. Steinmann, E. Steinmann
Summary: A carrier assay based on HEV was established to evaluate its surface stability and the virucidal activity of nine surface disinfectants. The results showed that alcohol-based disinfectants were insufficient to eliminate HEV infectivity, while disinfectants based on aldehyde, peracetic acid, oxygen, and/or quaternary ammonium inactivated HEV. These findings have important implications for the recommendation of evidence-based hygiene guidelines to reduce HEV transmission.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sreymom Oy, Chan Hang Saing, Mengieng Ung, Marina Zahari, Inthavong Nouhak, Sothea Kim, Michiko Nagashima-Hayashi, Dyna Khuon, Virya Koy, Sovatha Mam, Somphou Sayasone, Vonthanak Saphonn, Siyan Yi
Summary: This study aims to develop, pilot, and assess the feasibility and acceptability of an infection prevention and control (IPC) intervention in Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic to reduce hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The study will consist of four phases, including examining IPC practices, developing interventions, piloting the interventions, and assessing their feasibility and acceptability.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Jiayao Xu, Chengyin Xu, Ruilin Chen, Yun Yin, Zengliang Wang, Ke Li, Jin Shi, Xi Chen, Jiaqi Huang, Jie Hong, Rui Yuan, Yuanhua Liu, Rui Liu, Yizhen Wang, Xin Liu, Zhijie Zhang
Summary: This review examined the variables of temperature, relative humidity, and initial virus titer, affecting the stability of SARS-CoV-2. The half-life of the virus on different contact materials ranged from 2 to 10 hours, up to 5 days, and as short as 30 minutes at 22 degrees Celsius. Increasing temperature and relative humidity within a specific range influenced the half-life period. Various disinfection precautions can be implemented based on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 on different surfaces to prevent virus transmission. However, due to the lack of real-world evidence of surface transmission, it is challenging to provide strong evidence of the efficiency of transmission from surfaces to the human body.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
V Mouajou, K. Adams, G. DeLisle, C. Quach
Summary: The hands of healthcare workers are a primary source of transmission of hospital-acquired infections. Practising hand hygiene and adhering to hand hygiene guidelines can decrease the risk of transmission. However, there is no consensus on the optimal hand hygiene compliance rate for healthcare workers. Studies suggest that lower incidence rates of hospital-acquired infections are achieved with hand hygiene compliance rates of approximately 60%. Due to flaws in study design, causality cannot be inferred, and only general trends can be discussed. High-quality evidence is needed to support the implementation of specified targets for hand hygiene compliance rates.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Nicole Tham, Timothy Fazio, Douglas Johnson, Anita Skandarajah, Ian P. Hayes
Summary: The escalation of infection prevention and control measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic did not impact the incidence of hospital acquired infections in surgical patients, indicating a plateau effect in a system with already high baseline practices.
WORLD JOURNAL OF SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hamid Ghasemi, Hessam Yazdani, Elham H. Fini, Yaghoub Mansourpanah
Summary: This study used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the adhesion of SARS-CoV-2 to surfaces such as aluminum, copper, polyethylene, copper oxide, and silicon dioxide at different temperatures. The results showed that polyethylene (PE) surface is more favorable for virus transmission.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Monique T. Barakat, Swarnadip Ghosh, Subhas Banerjee
Summary: The study assessed various approaches to minimize infection transmission costs and found that partially disposable duodenoscopes were the most favorable option from a cost utility standpoint. Fully disposable duodenoscopes minimized the potential for infection transmission and were more cost-effective than reprocessable duodenoscopes after single or double high-level disinfection, ethylene oxide sterilization, and culture and hold.
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Joji Abraham, Kim Dowling, Singarayer Florentine
Summary: Pathogen transfer and infection in the built environment are globally significant events, and the introduction of copper products can effectively retard pathogen transmission. Replacing common touch surfaces with copper in healthcare facilities is suggested to contribute to limiting transmission, thereby lowering hospital admissions and mortality rates.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
C. Sottani, G. Favorido Barraza, F. Frigerio, G. Corica, F. S. Robustelli della Cuna, D. Cottica, E. Grignani
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of UV-C air treatment and ozone treatment on hospital-acquired infections. The results showed that these treatments can effectively reduce pathogens, except for Clostridioides difficile. However, multiple approaches are needed to effectively prevent C. difficile.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
K. M. Abubeker, S. Baskar
Summary: In healthcare settings, hand hygiene is crucial in preventing disease transmission. Cutting-edge solutions and intelligent alcohol-based hand sanitizers can help mitigate healthcare-associated infections. This research introduces an Internet of Things (IoT)-powered long-range (LoRa) network that can detect, monitor, and track hand hygiene habits to reduce the spread of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Richard Shaughnessy, Mark Hernandez, Ulla Haverinen-Shaughnessy
Summary: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of enhanced classroom cleaning and disinfecting protocol on surface biocontamination and its associations with student absence due to illnesses. The results showed that enhanced cleaning resulted in a significantly lower level of biocontamination on desktops, and there was a significant association between ATP levels on classroom desks and the probability of absence due to gastrointestinal illness.
JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Agricola Joachim, Joel Manyahi, Habiba Issa, Jackline Lwoga, Frank Msafiri, Mtebe Majigo
Summary: This study aimed to determine the rate of contamination with multi-resistant gram-negative bacteria in the hospital environment. Surface swab samples were collected and cultured, and isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. The results showed a high rate of MDR bacteria contaminating hospital surfaces, emphasizing the need for stronger infection prevention control measures.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elizabeth Scaria, Nasia Safdar, Oguzhan Alagoz
Summary: This study presents an alternate approach to validating hospital agent-based models (ABMs) that focuses on replicating hospital-specific conditions and proposes a new metric for validating the social-environmental network structure of ABMs. The adapted ABM, referred to as H-ABM, successfully replicates Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) trends during 2013-2018 and demonstrates the utility of hospital-specific modeling. The study also reveals the association between high CDI burden in socio-environmental networks and increased risk of C. difficile colonization or infection, as well as the diminished impact of certain infection control interventions in the H-ABM compared to a generic model.
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Sabina Fijan, Dunja Pahor, Sonja Sostar Turk
TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL
(2017)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sabina Fijan, Dunja Sulc, Andrej Steyer
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sabina Fijan, Anita Frauwallner, Laszlo Varga, Tomaz Langerholc, Irena Rogelj, Mateja Lorber, Peter Lewis, Petra Povalej Brzan
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2019)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sabina Fijan, Anita Frauwallner, Tomaz Langerholc, Bojan Krebs, Jessica A. ter Haar (nee Younes), Adolf Heschl, Dusanka Micetic Turk, Irena Rogelj
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2019)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jann P. Foster, Hannah G. Dahlen, Sabina Fijan, Nadia Badawi, Virginia Schmied, Charlene Thornton, Caroline Smith, Kim Psaila
Summary: Probiotics show promising effects in preventing and treating infant regurgitation by reducing episodes of regurgitation and increasing the number of stools per day. However, there was no significant difference in body weight between the two groups. Probiotics could be a safe and cost-effective health strategy for both women and their babies.
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Maja Sikic-Pogacar, Dusanka Micetic Turk, Sabina Fijan
Summary: Fermented foods are well-known and consumed in North-eastern Slovenia, with a higher knowledge of fermentation among older individuals. While most participants recognized the role of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in fermentation, awareness of molds was lower. Only a small percentage of participants had experience with homemade fermented foods, but a majority were aware of the health benefits, primarily in terms of gastrointestinal health and the immune system. The study highlights the need to educate younger generations about the nutritional value and preparation of fermented foods.
Review
Microbiology
Andrej Steyer, Dusanka Micetic-Turk, Sabina Fijan
Summary: This review summarizes the latest scientific evidence on the antiviral properties of probiotics against rotavirus gastroenteric infections in children. The study found that probiotics can shorten the duration of diarrhea by enhancing immune function and modulating intestinal microbiota. However, the effectiveness of probiotics may be influenced by factors such as dosage, duration of treatment, quality, and other factors.
Article
Microbiology
Sabina Fijan, Primoz Kocbek, Andrej Steyer, Polona Maver Vodicar, Maja Strauss
Summary: The skin microbiota plays an important role in protecting the skin, and disruption of this microbiota can lead to skin infections. Probiotics and their metabolites have been found to have antimicrobial effects against skin pathogens. This study evaluated the antimicrobial effects of seven multi-strain dietary supplements and eleven single-strain microbes containing probiotics against 15 clinical wound pathogens. The results showed that the multi-strain dietary supplements were more effective against the wound pathogens compared to single-strain microbes, with lactobacilli-containing supplements and single-strain microbes being the most efficient.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sabina Fijan, Nina Kolc, Metka Hrasovec, Gro Jamtvedt, Maja Sikic Pogacar, Dusanka Micetic Turk, Uros Maver
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of single-strain probiotic lactobacilli on treating children's atopic dermatitis. The results showed that certain strains were more effective in reducing the severity of atopic dermatitis, and treatment time and patient age also played a role.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Sabina Fijan
Article
Microbiology
Maja Strauss, Dusanka Micetic Turk, Mateja Lorber, Maja Sikic Pogacar, Anton Kozelj, Ksenija Tusek Bunc, Sabina Fijan
Summary: Immunosenescence increases the risk of infections and morbidity in older people. This study found that supplementing with a multi-strain probiotic can shorten the duration of acute upper respiratory tract infections in older individuals and regulate blood cell counts.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Anton Kozelj, Maja Sikic Pogacar, Sabina Fijan, Maja Strauss, Vita Postuvan, Matej Strnad
Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine the stressors and the level of stress experienced by nurses during resuscitation. The most disturbing situations for nurses were resuscitation of young person, failure to establish an intravenous pathway, chaotic situation during resuscitation, and making decision about termination of resuscitation.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Klavdija Cucek Trifkovic, Dusanka Micetic-Turk, Sergej Kmetec, Maja Strauss, Hannah G. Dahlen, Jann P. Foster, Sabina Fijan
Summary: The mother-infant bond is influenced by maternal mental health and infant behaviors, and one of the potential ways to improve maternal mental health is through probiotic supplementation. Probiotics can manipulate the gut-brain axis and indirectly improve maternal mood by modulating the infant microbiome. However, strain-specific effectiveness should be considered, and further well-designed clinical studies are needed.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Maja Strauss, Dusanka Micetic-Turk, Maja Sikic Pogacar, Sabina Fijan
Summary: This systematic review aimed to demonstrate the indirect influence of probiotics on acute upper respiratory tract infections in older people by regulating the immune system. Some probiotic strains were found to be more effective than placebo in reducing the incidence of such infections, but not all strains were efficient, highlighting the need for more high-quality large-scale studies.
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sabina Fijan, Anita Frauwallner, Tomaz Langerholz, Bojan Krebs, Jessica Ter Haar, Adolf Heschl, Dusanka Micetic Turk, Irena Rogelj
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2020)
