Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelli L. Barr, Rodney X. Sturdivant, Denise N. Williams, Debra Harris
Summary: The study found similar bacterial contamination levels between two fire departments and their stations, with keyboards being the most contaminated surface. E. coli was the most common bacteria detected, while C. difficile was the least detected. Contamination rates varied between fire stations. Comprehensive environmental sampling and clinical studies are needed to better understand occupational exposures of firefighters to HAIs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Saleh A. Alrebish, Hasan S. Yusufoglu, Reem F. Alotibi, Nawal S. Abdulkhalik, Nehad J. Ahmed, Amer H. Khan
Summary: Healthcare-associated infections, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections, were investigated in a retrospective study at a public hospital in Unaizah, Saudi Arabia in 2021. The rates of surgical site infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms were reported. The compliance rates for various infection prevention techniques were also assessed, emphasizing the importance of hand hygiene and personal safety equipment.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zahra Noorimotlagh, Seyyed Abbas Mirzaee, Faezeh Seif, Mojtaba Kalantar, Tayebeh Roghani, Seyed Ali Mousavi, Azam Honarmandpour
Summary: This study investigated the presence of different variants of SARS-CoV-2 on high-touch public environmental surfaces. The results emphasized the importance of touching contaminated inanimate objects and transmission through environmental surfaces. The findings can be used to establish effective protocols to prevent the indirect environmental transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the risk of infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Martin Krause, Frantisek Dolak
Summary: This study found that the microbial efficacy of antibacterial and hydrophobic nanolayers applied on high-touch objects and surfaces in nursing practice was not demonstrated, with about 1/3 of cases showing contamination by bacterial agents, including nonpathogenic and pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus. The importance of following basic rules for the use of decontaminated objects and surfaces in healthcare provision was highlighted.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ines B. Moura, Duncan Ewin, Mark H. Wilcox
Summary: This study used a bacteriophage as a representation of microbial contamination and investigated the transmission of viruses to the hospital environment after hand drying. The use of paper towels resulted in lower rates of virus contamination on hands and clothing compared to using a jet air dryer, leading to lower contamination on multiple hospital surfaces.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Kelvin Chou, Cheing-Tong Yan, Hsin- Hsiao
Summary: This study investigated postbaking mold contamination in a bakery company, revealing that baking and packaging gloves were the main source of contamination, and the slicing/packaging room had the highest air mold contamination. The data indicated the importance of comprehensive environmental monitoring for reducing mold occurrence and growth.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pengcheng Zhao, Yuguo Li
Summary: In this study, a new physical model was proposed to evaluate microbial transfer rates in finger-surface touch based on important physical factors. Experimental data were found to be more consistent with model predictions, providing new insights for future research.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
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
Environmental Sciences
Abdollah Dargahi, Farhad Jeddi, Mehdi Vosoughi, Chiman Karami, Aidin Hadisi, S. Ahamad Mokhtari, Hasan Ghobadi, Morteza Alighadri, Somayeh Biparva Haghighi, Hadi Sadeghi
Summary: Recent studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 can persist on environmental surfaces, with positive samples detected on surfaces such as door handles, light switches, and cupboards in hospitals, indicating the need for thorough disinfection protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Abubakar Isah, Mohamed Mahmoud, Muhammad Arif, Murtada Al Jawad, Abduljamiu O. Amao
Summary: Contact angle is a measurement of the wettability of solid surfaces, and the wettability of rock/oil/brine systems can be modified by using solvents for surface cleaning. This study found that different solvents used for cleaning the rock surface can have different effects on the wettability of the rock/oil/brine system.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laura Gavalda-Mestre, Dolors Ramirez-Tarruella, Carme Gutierrez-Milla, Ferran Guillamet-Roig, Rosa Orriols-Ramos, Onia Ragull Tisner, Noemi Parraga-Nino
Summary: The study found no detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus despite high bacterial loads on high-touch surfaces in public areas, indicating frequent touching but low viral contamination risk.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Josman Dantas Palmeira, Inah do Arte, Mai Muhammed Ragab Mersal, Catarina Carneiro da Mota, Helena Maria Neto Ferreira
Summary: This study evaluated the persistent contamination of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in water from Douro River, Portugal. KPC-producing Enterobacterales were detected in the water samples, indicating a potential public health threat. The results suggested that the contamination may be caused by the circulation of mobile genetic elements carrying the KPC gene.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Shubham Sharma, Swarna Jaiswal, Brendan Duffy, Amit K. Jaiswal
Summary: Foodborne pathogens can be transferred from contaminated food contact surfaces to food due to poor hygiene or biofilm formation. The ideal antimicrobial surface should prevent microbial attachment, kill microbes, or remove dead bacteria. Emerging technologies such as surface functionalization and high-intensity ultrasound show high potential for developing safe and inert food contact materials.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eugenio Valdano, Chiara Poletto, Pierre-Yves Boelle, Vittoria Colizza
Summary: Efficient prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) can be achieved through reorganizing nurse scheduling, which reduces infection risk while maintaining quality of care. A modeling study in a short-stay geriatric ward showed a 27% decrease in HAI risk through schedule reorganization, with avoidance of over 30% of nurse-nurse contacts contributing to this outcome.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Lucia Bonadonna, Rossella Briancesco, Anna Maria Coccia, Pierluigi Meloni, Giuseppina La Rosa, Umberto Moscato
Summary: Indoor air quality and contaminated surfaces in hospitals may serve as important sources for pathogen transmission, particularly for immunocompromised patients. The spread and persistence of microbial communities are crucial factors affecting health in hospital environments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lidia Morawska, Julian W. Tang, William Bahnfleth, Philomena M. Bluyssen, Atze Boerstra, Giorgio Buonanno, Junji Cao, Stephanie Dancer, Andres Floto, Francesco Franchimon, Charles Haworth, Jaap Hogeling, Christina Isaxon, Jose L. Jimenez, Jarek Kurnitski, Yuguo Li, Marcel Loomans, Guy Marks, Linsey C. Marr, Livio Mazzarella, Arsen Krikor Melikov, Shelly Miller, Donald K. Milton, William Nazaroff, Peter Nielsen, Catherine Noakes, Jordan Peccia, Xavier Querol, Chandra Sekhar, Olli Seppanen, Shin-ichi Tanabe, Raymond Tellier, Kwok Wai Tham, Pawel Wargocki, Aneta Wierzbicka, Maosheng Yao
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2020)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Marco-Felipe King, Martin Lopez-Garcia, Kalanne P. Atedoghu, Nan Zhang, Amanda M. Wilson, Martijn Weterings, Waseem Hiwar, Stephanie J. Dancer, Catherine J. Noakes, Louise A. Fletcher
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Giorgia Gon, Stephanie Dancer, Robert Dreibelbis, Wendy J. Graham, Claire Kilpatrick
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2020)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
S. J. Dancer
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2020)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
S. J. Dancer, J. W. Tang, L. C. Marr, S. Miller, L. Morawska, J. L. Jimenez
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2020)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Claire E. Adams, Stephanie J. Dancer
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2020)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
A. M. Wilson, S. E. Abney, M-F. King, M. H. Weir, M. Lopez-Garcia, J. D. Sexton, S. J. Dancer, J. Proctor, C. J. Noakes, K. A. Reynolds
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2020)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Shelly L. Miller, William W. Nazaroff, Jose L. Jimenez, Atze Boerstra, Giorgio Buonanno, Stephanie J. Dancer, Jarek Kurnitski, Linsey C. Marr, Lidia Morawska, Catherine Noakes
Summary: This study discusses a case transmission event in the Skagit Valley Chorale during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, identifying aerosol transmission as a likely main pathway and proposing ways to reduce infection risk by adjusting factors such as ventilation rate and event duration.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Amanda Ramos da Cunha, Jose Leopoldo Ferreira Antunes, Manoela Domingues Martins, Stefano Petti, Fernando Neves Hugo
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Michele Nardone, Angelo Cordone, Stefano Petti
Summary: The study finds that relatively simple infection control procedures are sufficient to control the occupational risk of COVID-19 among dental staff in non-hospital public dental healthcare settings through an investigation in Lombardy, Italy.
Editorial Material
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Amanda Ramos da Cunha, Jose Leopoldo Ferreira Antunes, Manoela Domingues Martins, Stefano Petti, Fernando Neves Hugo
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a decrease in hospitalization rates for oral and oropharyngeal cancers in Brazil, with the North region experiencing the largest decline. The reduced hospitalization rates suggest a potential postponement in care for these cancers, which may have a detrimental impact on survival.
COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Immunology
Stefano Petti
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Paolo G. Arduino, Marco Cabras, Giovanni Lodi, Stefano Petti
Summary: This meta-analysis revealed an association between HSV-1 and periodontitis, but the data on gingivitis were inconclusive. Further investigation of HSV-1 in subgingival plaque could help evaluate the risk and severity of periodontitis, and potentially contribute to its control.
JOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Gabrielle Kelly, Stefano Petti, Norman Noah
Summary: The analysis of death data from 35 countries showed that there was more deaths in some countries due to the pandemic compared to others, and the mortality rate differences were not entirely reflected in the reported Covid-19 mortality rates.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
C. M. C. Volgenant, M. A. Hoogenkamp, G. Dahlen, S. Kalfas, S. Petti, J. J. De Soet
Summary: This study assessed the prevalence of MRSA, ESBL, and VRE among dental students in four European dental schools. The results showed a low prevalence of MDRB among the students, with associations between MDRB presence and previous antibiotic use. The study did not find significant differences between students treating patients and non-treating students in MDRB carriage.
JOURNAL OF ORAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
