Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is an increasing problem in healthcare settings. This study aimed to identify the source of a CPE outbreak that occurred in 2022, in a tertiary hospital ...in the North of Portugal, to identify exposed patients, and to assess the risk of becoming CPE-positive following hospital admission.
A multi-disciplinary investigation was conducted including descriptive, analytical, and molecular epidemiology, environmental screening, and assessment of infection control measures. Clinical and environmental isolates were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, a prospective observational cohort study was conducted to further investigate the risk factors associated with the emergence of new cases in cohorts of CPE-negative admitted patients.
We observed the presence of multispecies KPC-, IMP-, and/or NDM-producing isolates. Genetically indistinguishable clinical and environmental isolates were found on the same room/ward. The ST45 KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clone was the responsible for the outbreak. During patients’ treatment, we detected the emergence of resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam, associated with mutations in the blaKPC-3 gene (blaKPC-46, blaKPC-66 and blaKPC-124, the last variant never previously reported), suggesting a vertical evolutionary trajectory. Patients aged ≥ 75 years, hygiene/feeding-care dependent, and/or subjected to secretion aspiration were risk factors for CPE colonization after hospital admission. Additionally, cases with previous admission to the emergency department suggest that CPE dissemination may occur not only during hospitalization but also in the emergency department.
Overall, the study highlights that selection pressure with antibiotics, like ceftazidime-avibactam, is a contributing factor to the emergence of new β-lactamase variants and antibiotic resistance. It also shows that the hospital environment can be a significant source of CPE transmission, and that routine use of infection control measures and real-time molecular epidemiology investigations are essential to ensure the long-term termination of CPE outbreaks and prevent future resurgences.
Composites of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and ultra-thin graphite (UTG) with concentrations ranging from 0.5wt.% to 3wt.% were prepared using a solution compounding strategy. Substantial ...reinforcing effects with increased loadings are achieved. Compared to neat TPU, values for storage modulus and shear viscosity are enhanced by 300% and 150%, respectively, for UTG concentrations of 3wt.%. Additionally, an enhancement of thermal properties is accomplished. The crystallization temperature and thermal stability increased by 30°C and 10°C, respectively, compared to neat TPU. Furthermore, the use of oxidized UTG (UTGO) with its added functional oxygen groups suggests the presence of chemical interactions between UTG and TPU, which additionally impact on the thermal properties of the corresponding composites. Controlling the oxidation degree, thus offers further possibilities to obtain composites with tailored properties. The presented approach is straightforward, leads to homogeneous TPU-UTG composites with improved materials properties and is especially suitable for commercial UTG materials and further up-scaled production.
Ricotta is a highly perishable cheese of which shelf‐life is strongly influenced by the properties of packages in which it is stored. Four plastic packages currently in use in Italy (IT), Romania ...(RO), Slovenia (SLO), and Spain (SP) are characterized in term of structure, barrier, and antimicrobial properties, and their efficiency in the ricotta storage at 4°C is assessed. Differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicate that the IT and SP packages are made of low‐density polyethylene and the RO and SLO packages consist of polyethylene and polyamide 6. Permeability to the water vapour and oxygen transmission rate vary as follows: IT>SLO > RO > SP and SP > IT>RO > SLO, respectively. The SP package expressed the highest antimicrobial inhibition whilst the IT package the lowest. The maximum amounts of volatile compounds in cheese were reached after 3 days in the IT and SP packages and after 6 days in the SLO and RO packages. The score 2.8 for cheese overall acceptability was exceeded after 7 days in the IT, RO, and SP packages and 6 days in the SLO package. Barrier properties of packages significantly influence the shelf‐life of ricotta. Low barrier properties resulted in high level of oxygen and water vapours inside the headspace of packages ultimately favour the microbial development. The simultaneous compliance of microbiological safety level and overall acceptability score gives ricotta a shelf‐life of 3 days in the IT, RO, and SP packages and 1 day in the SLO package.
The efficiency of plastic‐based packages coming from Italy(IT), Slovenia(SLO), Spain(SP) and Romania(RO) in the storage of Ricotta cheese was investigated. The simultaneous compliance of microbiological safety level and overall acceptability score gives Ricotta a shelf‐life of 3 days in the IT, RO and SP packages and 1 day in the SLO package. The initial microbial load plays an essential role in the packages with certain barrier andantimicrobial properties which imparts a specific rate of the growth ofparticular microbial population in the cheese.
El corregimiento de San Cristóbal, ubicado en la periferia occidental de la ciudad de Medellín- Colombia, se ha visto expuesto a diversos factores de riesgo desde principios del siglo XXl, debido a ...la contaminación con hidrocarburos de sus fuentes hídricas. Esto contribuye al aumento de la vulnerabilidad, a causa de la desinformación; la ausencia de un plan de gestión del riesgo y de entes gubernamentales y privados en los Comités de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres. La metodología utilizada integra: la recopilación de información por medio de bases de datos, noticias, elaboración de encuestas y ejercicios participativos; la identificación de actores; el análisis de causas que generan amenaza a la prestación del servicio de agua potable; un análisis territorial; la elaboración de cartografía; y la implementación de medidas educativas. La aplicación de la metodología ha permitido plantear una discusión sobre las condiciones de vulnerabilidad generadas por la desarticulación con la planificación del desarrollo local y por los problemas de vigilancia y asesoramiento a la comunidad, además de proponer medidas correctivas y prospectivas para la reducción del riesgo.
Accumulated evidence points to the lipocalin apolipoprotein D (ApoD), one of the few genes consistently upregulated upon brain ageing and neurodegeneration, as an endogenous controller of the redox ...state of cellular and extracellular lipid structures. This biochemical function has downstream consequences as apparently varied as control of glycocalyx and myelin compaction, cell viability upon oxidative stress or modulation of signalling pathways. In spite of this knowledge, it is still unclear if ApoD function requires canonical receptor-mediated transductions systems. This work aims to examine ApoD-cell membrane interaction and its dependence on a proposed ApoD receptor, Basigin. Whole and fractionated membrane preparations from the brain, primary astrocytes, glial and neuronal cell lines, reveal ApoD as a very specific component of particular subtypes of detergent-resistant microdomains (DRMs). ApoD interacts in vitro with neuronal membranes and is stably associated with astrocytic membranes. ApoD associates with DRMs with specific buoyancy properties that co-fractionate with plasma or late-endosome-lysosome markers. A mass spectrometry analysis reveals that these Triton X-114 DRMs contain both plasma membrane and endosomal-lysosomal compartment lipid raft proteins. ApoD-DRM association is maintained under metabolic and acute oxidative stress conditions. However, ApoD-membrane interaction, its internalization and its lipid-antioxidant function do not require the presence of Basigin. This work supports a stable association of ApoD with membranes, independent of Basigin, and provides the basis to fully understand ApoD antioxidant neuroprotective mechanism as a mechanism taking place in specific membrane subdomains.
Modelling of ventilation is strongly dependent on the physical characteristics of the building of which precise evaluation is a complex and time consuming task. In the frame of a research project, ...two children day care centres (CDCC) have been selected in order to measure the envelope air permeability, the flow rate of mechanical ventilation systems and indoor and outdoor temperature. The data obtained was used as input to the computer code CONTAM for ventilation simulations. The results obtained were compared with direct measurements of ventilation flow from short term measurements with CO
2
tracer gas and medium term measurements with perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) gas decay method. After validation, in order to analyse the main parameters that affect ventilation, the model was used to predict the ventilation rates for a wide range of conditions. The purpose of this assessment was to find the best practices to improve natural ventilation. A simple analytical method to predict the ventilation flow rate of rooms is also presented. The method is based on the estimation of wind effect on the room through the evaluation of an average factor
and on the assessment of relevant cross section of gaps and openings combined in series or in parallel. It is shown that it may be applied with acceptable accuracy for this type of buildings when ventilation is due essentially to wind action.
The mechanisms regulating synapse numbers during development and ageing are essential for normal brain function and closely linked to brain disorders including dementias. Using Drosophila, we ...demonstrate roles of the microtubule-associated protein Tau in regulating synapse numbers, thus unravelling an important cellular requirement of normal Tau. In this context, we find that Tau displays a strong functional overlap with microtubule-binding spectraplakins, establishing new links between two different neurodegenerative factors. Tau and the spectraplakin Short Stop act upstream of a three-step regulatory cascade ensuring adequate delivery of synaptic proteins. This cascade involves microtubule stability as the initial trigger, JNK signalling as the central mediator, and kinesin-3 mediated axonal transport as the key effector. This cascade acts during development (synapse formation) and ageing (synapse maintenance) alike. Therefore, our findings suggest novel explanations for intellectual disability in Tau deficient individuals, as well as early synapse loss in dementias including Alzheimer's disease.
We report on the modification of graphene oxide (GO) with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) leading to the mechanical improvement of GO based materials. First, GO was covalently functionalised with PVA by ...esterification of carboxylic groups on GO with hydroxyl groups of PVA resulting in functionalised f-(PVA)GO. This was carried out for PVA of six different molecular weights. This functionalised graphene oxide could be formed into a paper-like material by vacuum filtration. Papers prepared from f-(PVA)GO showed significant increases in mechanical properties compared to those prepared with GO or with simple mixtures of GO and PVA. The best performance was achieved for PVA functional groups with molecular weights between 50 and 150kg/mol. Improvements in Young’s moduli of 60% and tensile strength of 400% were observed relative to GO-only paper. The improved mechanical properties are attributed to enhanced inter-flake stress transfer due to the covalently bonded PVA. Second, functionalised f-(PVA)GO was used as filler in PVA-based composites. The application of a pre-selection method allowed the use of only the largest functionalised f-(PVA)GO flakes. This resulted in substantially reinforced PVA–f-(PVA)GO composites. Both modulus and strength increased by 40% relative to the pure polymer for f-(PVA)GO loadings below 0.3 vol.%.
To take advantage of both the low density and thermal conductivity of hollow glass microspheres, and the high mechanical and electrical conductivity of carbon-based nanofillers, micro- and nanosized ...fillers can be combined into a single composite material. Here we prepared composite materials from hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) and from the same microspheres surrounded by carbon nanofibers (CNFs). By adding 10% wt. of HGM-CNFs to a high-temperature resin we can obtain a low density (0.8 g/cm3), low thermally (0.17 W/mK) and high electrically conductive (7±3×10−4S/m) composite. This novel method demonstrates the possibility to achieve an unusual combination of properties such as low thermal and high electrical conductivity which, along with their light weight and thermal stability, makes these materials promising for aerospace applications or thermoelectric devices.
This study supports the airborne dissemination of Clostridioides difficile spores. Of the sieve impaction samples collected at a swine production unit, 66.7% were positive and all belonged to the ...predominantly established clone. Spores’ density varied according to the characteristics of the animal population, suggesting the possibility of airborne transmission.
•Overall, 66.7% (4/6) of the impaction air samples were positive for C. difficile.•All air samples from the farrowing and weaning piglets' units were positive.•All C. difficile positive samples belonged to the same toxigenic RT033 clone.•Bacterial spores count correlate with animal colonization rate.•Aerial dispersion might contribute for the environmental spread of C. difficile.
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