Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Zheyi Han, Ethan Pappas, Adrienne Simmons, Jacqueline Fox, Curtis J. Donskey, Abhishek Deshpande
Summary: The survey revealed differences in environmental surface disinfection practices across US hospitals, with hypochlorite and quaternary ammonium compounds being the most commonly used disinfectants. High-touch surfaces in contact isolation rooms were frequently disinfected using bleach, but floors in patient rooms were not disinfected as often.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Douglas M. M. Soares, Dielle P. Procopio, Caio K. Zamuner, Bianca B. Nobrega, Monalisa R. Bettim, Gustavo de Rezende, Pedro M. Lopes, Arthur B. D. Pereira, Etelvino J. H. Bechara, Anderson G. Oliveira, Renato S. Freire, Cassius Stevani
Summary: Environmental pollutants have a negative impact on fauna, flora, and human health. Fungi play a crucial role in decomposition and can be used for environmental monitoring.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yue Tang, Jie Sun, Derong Dong, Xiushan Zhang, Ruizhong Jia, Yong Wang, Yong Chen, Jinpeng Guo, Lianqun Jin
Summary: This study compared the coliform paper assay and ATP bioluminescence method for evaluating the sanitary condition of kitchenware. The results showed that the ATP bioluminescence assay can provide real-time data and is advantageous for on-site detection in catering unit hygiene supervision.
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Magda Diab-El Schahawi, Walter Zingg, Margreet Vos, Hilary Humphreys, Lorena Lopez-Cerero, Astrid Fueszl, Jean Ralph Zahar, Elisabeth Presterl
Summary: The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to the production of ultraviolet-disinfection robots, attracting attention from hospital management. While they offer potential for immediate disinfection, careful evaluation, further design adjustments, and clinical trials are needed to integrate this novel technology into hospitals effectively.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Fang Wang, Qing Zhan, Shi-Ping Yu, Hai-Ting Feng, Ping Hu, Zi-Feng Zhong, Ting-Ting Qu
Summary: This study evaluated the quality of routine disinfection and the effectiveness of isolation measures in the wards of B19V-infected kidney transplant recipients. The results showed that routine disinfection methods were effective in eliminating B19V from object surfaces and ambient air, preventing nosocomial cross-infection.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guillaume Drillet, Claudio Gianoli, Li Gang, Aristea Zacharopoulou, Gerd Schneider, Peter Stehouwer, Vladimiro Bonamin, Robert Goldring, Lisa A. Drake
Summary: The number of ships installing ballast water management systems (BWMS) has increased dramatically since the Ballast Water Management Convention came into effect. Starting from June 2022, biological testing is required to ensure compliance with the Convention. Data from 676 tests conducted between 2019 and 2022 demonstrate significant improvement over time, with the failure rate decreasing from around 20% to about 6%. Notably, most failures occurred in the largest size class of organisms (>= 50 mu m). Surprisingly, high concentrations of living organisms in uptake water did not cause the failures, and failures detected by indicative analysis (such as adenosine triphosphate, ATP) were often not confirmed by detailed analysis (microscopy), suggesting that ATP limits may be overly cautious. Furthermore, discharges with high levels of Total Residual Oxidants (TRO) decreased over time. These findings emphasize the need for ongoing testing, particularly focusing on organisms with a size of 50 mu m or larger, to minimize environmental risks associated with organisms transported in ships' ballast water.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Manisha Biswal, Parakriti Gupta, Charu Singh, Shashi Vig, P. S. Saini
Summary: This study reports the diversity of bacterial flora in hospital water tanks and the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning method. It was found that hydrogen peroxide can effectively kill bacteria in water tanks. This study is important for improving the safety of water supplied in hospitals.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2023)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Katrina Browne, Brett G. Mitchell
Summary: Infection transmission in healthcare is a complex issue that involves the interplay between pathogens, hosts, and the environment. Environmental cleaning is one strategy to prevent transmission, and a multimodal intervention is key to reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections through the environment.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
R. Bosco, G. Cevenini, S. Gambelli, N. Nante, G. Messina
Summary: This study aimed to assess the impact of different disinfection levels and the use of a UVC device on microbial contamination in operating theatres. The results showed that the UVC device effectively improved environmental disinfection and standardized the level of environmental hygiene. There was no significant difference in microbial reduction between different disinfection levels.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohammed O. A. Mohammed
Summary: Studies have found a link between indoor air quality and illnesses caused by exposure to microorganisms. This study investigated the association between indoor air quality, surface contamination, and different cleaning procedures. The ATP bioluminescence test showed a significant correlation with bacterial count and a moderate correlation with viable settling bacterial count. After cleaning, there was a significant reduction in bacterial and fungal counts on indoor surfaces, indicating the effectiveness of the cleaning procedures.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
R. E. Thomas, B. C. Thomas, D. Lorenzetti, J. Conly
Summary: This study assessed the impact of training and workload on reducing hospital-associated infections. The findings suggest a need for detailed evaluations of training and disinfection activities for environmental service workers.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qi Shi, Zhuo Chen, Fanqin Wei, Yu Mao, Qi Xu, Kuixiao Li, Yun Lu, Hong-Ying Hu
Summary: This study identifies TF, UV254, and cATP concentration as surrogates for predicting microbial inactivation during ozone disinfection, with empirical linear correlations developed for commonly used microbial indicators. TF is considered the most efficient surrogate due to its high sensitivity, accuracy, and reliability, while cATP concentration is an effective supplement for reflecting total microbial counts. The study provides a rapid and reliable approach for evaluating and predicting ozone disinfection efficiency.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shin-Huei Kuo, Tzu-Yin Liu, Tun-Chieh Chen, Chih-Jen Yang, Yen-Hsu Chen
Summary: The study found that PVDC plastic wraps are the best choice for covering elevator buttons, with very low residual bacteria. Door-close and -open buttons were the most frequently touched sites, requiring more accurate and precise disinfection, therefore cleaning intervals of no longer than three hours may be warranted.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alejandro Avila-Sierra, Jose M. Vicaria, Manuela Lechuga, Juan F. Martinez-Gallegos, Vanessa Olivares-Arias, Andrea C. Medina-Rodriguez, Ramon Jimenez-Robles, Encarnacion Jurado-Alameda
Summary: This study focuses on the use of alkaline ozonated formulations to improve cleaning efficiency and disinfection of different bacterial biofilms on stainless steel surfaces, while also reducing the environmental impact of cleaning wastewater. Results show that higher temperature, time, and ozone concentration can enhance cleaning effectiveness and decrease environmental impact.
FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS PROCESSING
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
John M. Boyce, Nancy L. Havill, Kerri A. Guercia, Brent A. Moore
Summary: The study examined the levels of microbial burden on hospital environmental surfaces and found that factors such as site, type of ward, isolation room status, and study period significantly influenced the microbial burden. The highest mean aerobic colony counts were found on toilet seats, bedside rails, and bathroom grab bars. Additional research should focus on evaluating individual sites, ward types, cleaning practices, and isolation room status.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)