While airborne transmission of rhinovirus is recognized in indoor settings, its role in hospital transmission remains unclear.
We investigated an outbreak of rhinovirus in a pediatric intensive care ...unit (PICU) to assess air dispersal. We collected clinical, environmental, and air samples, and staff’s surgical masks for viral load and phylogenetic analysis. Hand hygiene compliance and the number of air changes per hour in the PICU were measured. A case-control analysis was performed to identify nosocomial rhinovirus risk factors.
Between March 31, 2023, and April 2, 2023, three patients acquired rhinovirus in a cubicle (air changes per hour: 14) of 12-bed PICU. A portable air-cleaning unit was placed promptly. Air samples (72,000 L in 6 hours) from the cohort area, and outer surfaces of staff’s masks (n = 8), were rhinovirus RNA-negative. Hand hygiene compliance showed no significant differences (31/34, 91.2% vs 33/37, 89.2%, P = 1) before and during outbreak. Only 1 environmental sample (3.8%) was positive (1.86 × 103 copies/mL). Case-control and next-generation sequencing analysis implicated an infected staff member as the source.
Our findings suggest that air dispersal of rhinovirus was not documented in the well-ventilated PICU during the outbreak. Further research is needed to better understand the dynamics of rhinovirus transmission in health care settings.
•Rhinovirus outbreak in pediatric ICU involved 3 patients in a cubicle with 14 ACH.•Air sampling and staff mask analysis indicated no detectable rhinovirus RNA.•Hand hygiene compliance remained consistent before and during the outbreak.•Only 1 environmental sample (3.8%) tested positive for rhinovirus RNA.•The outbreak was likely linked to an infected staff member.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are rampant in hospitals and residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs).
To analyse the prevalence of MRSA colonization among ...residents and staff, and degree of environmental contamination and air dispersal of MRSA in RCHEs.
Epidemiological and genetic analysis by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in 12 RCHEs in Hong Kong.
During the COVID-19 pandemic (from September to October 2021), 48.7% (380/781) of RCHE residents were found to harbour MRSA at any body site, and 8.5% (8/213) of staff were nasal MRSA carriers. Among 239 environmental samples, MRSA was found in 39.0% (16/41) of randomly selected resident rooms and 31.3% (62/198) of common areas. The common areas accessible by residents had significantly higher MRSA contamination rates than those that were not accessible by residents (37.2%, 46/121 vs. 22.1%, 17/177, P=0.028). Of 124 air samples, nine (7.3%) were MRSA-positive from four RCHEs. Air dispersal of MRSA was significantly associated with operating indoor fans in RCHEs (100%, 4/4 vs. 0%, 0/8, P=0.002). WGS of MRSA isolates collected from residents, staff and environmental and air samples showed that ST 1047 (CC1) lineage 1 constituted 43.1% (66/153) of all MRSA isolates. A distinctive predominant genetic lineage of MRSA in each RCHE was observed, suggestive of intra-RCHE transmission rather than clonal acquisition from the catchment hospital.
MRSA control in RCHEs is no less important than in hospitals. Air dispersal of MRSA may be an important mechanism of dissemination in RCHEs with operating indoor fans.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
To describe the nosocomial transmission of Air, multidrug-resistant, Acinetobacter baumannii, nosocomial, COVID-19 Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) in an open-cubicle neurology ward with low ceiling ...height, where MRAB isolates collected from air, commonly shared items, non-reachable high-level surfaces and patients were analysed epidemiologically and genetically by whole-genome sequencing. This is the first study to understand the genetic relatedness of air, environmental and clinical isolates of MRAB in the outbreak setting.
Of 11 highly care-dependent patients with 363 MRAB colonization days during COVID-19 pandemic, 10 (90.9%) and nine (81.8%) had cutaneous and gastrointestinal colonization, respectively. Of 160 environmental and air samples, 31 (19.4%) were MRAB-positive. The proportion of MRAB-contaminated commonly shared items was significantly lower in cohort than in non-cohort patient care (0/10, 0% vs 12/18, 66.7%; P<0.001). Air dispersal of MRAB was consistently detected during but not before diaper change in the cohort cubicle by 25-min air sampling (4/4,100% vs 0/4, 0%; P=0.029). The settle plate method revealed MRAB in two samples during diaper change. The proportion of MRAB-contaminated exhaust air grills was significantly higher when the cohort cubicle was occupied by six MRAB patients than when fewer than six patients were cared for in the cubicle (5/9, 55.6% vs 0/18, 0%; P=0.002). The proportion of MRAB-contaminated non-reachable high-level surfaces was also significantly higher when there were three or more MRAB patients in the cohort cubicle (8/31, 25.8% vs 0/24, 0%; P=0.016). Whole-genome sequencing revealed clonality of air, environment, and patients' isolates, suggestive of air dispersal of MRAB.
Our findings support the view that patient cohorting in enclosed cubicles with partitions and a closed door is preferred if single rooms are not available.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The environmental surveillance of air grilles in clinical areas has not been systematically analysed.
Samples were collected from frequently touched items (N = 529), air supply (N = 295) and exhaust ...(N = 184) grilles in six medical and 11 surgical wards for the cultures of multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs): meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), and isolates were selected for whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The contamination rates were correlated with the colonization pressures of the respective MDROs.
From 3rd October to 21st November 2023, 9.8% (99/1008) of the samples tested positive, with MRSA (24.2%, 24/99), CRAB (59.6%, 59/99) and CPE (2.0%, 2/99), being the only detected MDROs. The contamination rate in air exhaust grilles (26.6%, 49/184) was significantly higher than in air supply grilles (5.8%, 17/295; P<0.001). The contamination rate of air exhaust grilles with any MDRO in acute medical wards (73.7%, 14/19) was significantly higher than in surgical wards (12.5%, 4/32; P<0.001). However, there was no difference in the contamination rate of air exhaust grilles between those located inside and outside the cohort cubicles for MDROs (27.1%, 13/48 vs 28.8%, 30/104; P=0.823). Nevertheless, the weekly CRAB colonization pressure showed a significant correlation with the overall environmental contamination rate (r = 0.878; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.136–0.986; P=0.004), as well as with the contamination rate in air supply grilles (r = 0.960; 95% CI: 0.375–0.999; P<0.001) and air exhaust grilles (r = 0.850; 95% CI: 0.401–0.980; P=0.008). WGS demonstrated clonal relatedness of isolates collected from patients and air exhaust grilles.
Air grilles may serve as MDRO reservoirs. Cohort nursing in open cubicles may not completely prevent MDRO transmission through air dispersal, prompting the consideration of future hospital design.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•High viscosity Ag nanopaste voxels were congruently laser printed.•Effect of laser fluence and donor-receiver gap on voxel transfer was studied.•Demonstrated voxel transfer with areas spanning 4 ...decades (25 to 250,000μm2).•Several methods of conjoining voxel chains were explored.•Low loss coplanar waveguides using Ag voxel chains up to 3mm long were fabricated.
We explore the effect of variations in laser fluence and donor-receiver substrate distance on the laser-induced forward transfer technique for high viscosity Ag nanopaste. By transferring 50μm×50μm voxels with thicknesses between 0.8 and 8.7μm at different laser fluences, we are able to systematically determine a thickness-fluence regime for successful transfer that widens with increasing voxel thickness. We use these results to study congruent transfer of square voxels with lateral dimensions spanning 2 orders of magnitude: 5μm×5μm, 50μm×50μm, and 500μm×500μm. We conclude by linking a multitude of voxels together in 1mm and 3mm lines to fabricate the center conductor in coplanar waveguides (CPWs) with relatively low loss up to 10GHz.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Objectives
It remains uncertain whether the favorable trend of reduction in physical disabilities has become reversed in the recent-born cohorts of older adults. This study aimed to compare the rate ...of decline with time in self-reported Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) difficulties, objective measurement of gait speed and grip strength, in three birth cohorts of Chinese older adults.
Design
A prospective cohort study.
Setting and Participants
Four thousand Chinese older adults aged 65 years or above in three birth cohorts (1934–1938, 1929–1933, 1905–1928) were recruited from the community in Hong Kong.
Measurements
Grip strength, gait speed and IADL difficulties were measured between 2001 to 2017. Joint models were used to examine the trajectories of grip strength, gait speed and IADL difficulties over time, and the interaction effect of age-by-cohort (or also age2-by-cohort) was also examined.
Results
The recently born cohort (1934 – 1938) had worse grip strength and more IADL difficulties at the same age than the earlier two cohorts (1929 – 1933; 1905 – 1928). Furthermore, the most recently born cohort also followed a more rapid decline longitudinally with a greater decline observed in gait speed, grip strength and IADL difficulties for women whereas a greater decline in grip strength and IADL difficulties for men.
Conclusions
The continuous improvement of physical limitations in old age may have halted and there appears to be a reversal of this favourable trend in the recent born cohort of older adults living in Hong Kong.
A crucial challenge in three-dimensional multi-chip assemblies is to establish electrical connections between discrete devices. Here, we apply laser printing of congruent voxels of silver nanopaste ...for the fabrication of conformal and 3D multi-level interconnects. By controlling laser fluence, various 3D electrodes including freestanding tabs and side contacts over vertical walls can be directly printed without the need for sacrificial layers, chemical etching or electroplating. The electrical characteristics of the printed interconnects are similar to those currently in use by the semiconductor industry. These results are a promising step forward in the generation of customized interconnects for 3D microelectronics.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) thin films have been investigated as an alternative to indium tin oxide anodes in organic photovoltaic devices. The structural, electrical, and optical properties of ...the FTO films grown by pulsed laser deposition were studied as a function of oxygen deposition pressure. For 400 nm thick FTO films deposited at 300°C and 6.7 Pa of oxygen, an electrical resistivity of 5×10
−4
Ω-cm, sheet resistance of 12.5 Ω/
□
, average transmittance of 87% in the visible range, and optical band gap of 4.25 eV were obtained. Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells based on
poly
(
3-hexylthiophene
)/6,6-
phenyl
-C
61
-
butyric acid methyl ester
bulk heterojunctions were prepared on FTO/glass electrodes and the device performance was investigated as a function of FTO film thickness. OPV cells fabricated on the optimum FTO anodes (∼300–600 nm thick) exhibited power conversion efficiencies of ∼3%, which is comparable to the same device made on commercial ITO/glass electrodes (3.4%).
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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