Disinfectants are used to reduce the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms to a safe level and help to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. However, bacteria have a tremendous ...ability to respond to chemical stress caused by biocides, where overuse and improper use of disinfectants can be reflected in a reduced susceptibility of microorganisms. This review aims to describe whether mutations and thus decreased susceptibility to disinfectants occur in bacteria during disinfectant exposure. A systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted with the databases PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science. For the final analysis, 28 sources that remained of interest were included. Articles describing reduced susceptibility or the resistance of bacteria against seven different disinfectants were identified. The important deviation of the minimum inhibitory concentration was observed in multiple studies for disinfectants based on triclosan and chlorhexidine. A reduced susceptibility to disinfectants and potentially related problems with antibiotic resistance in clinically important bacterial strains are increasing. Since the use of disinfectants in the community is rising, it is clear that reasonable use of available and effective disinfectants is needed. It is necessary to develop and adopt strategies to control disinfectant resistance.
Vending machines represent one way of offering food, but they are overlooked in the efforts to improve people's eating habits. The aim of our study was to analyse the variety and nutritional values ...of beverages offered in vending machines in social and health care institution in Slovenia.
The available beverages were quantitatively assessed using traffic light profiling and the model for nutrient profiling used by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Vending machines in 188 institutions were surveyed, resulting in 3046 different beverages consisting of 162 unique product labels.
Between 51 and 54% of beverages were categorised as unhealthy with regard to sugar content. Water accounted for only 13.7% of all beverages in vending machines. About 82% of beverages in vending machines were devoted to sugar-sweetened beverages, the majority (58.9%) presented in 500-ml bottles. The average sugar content and average calories in beverages sold in vending machines are slightly lower than in beverages sold in food stores.
We suggest that regulatory guidelines should be included in the tender conditions for vending machines in health and social care institutions, to ensure healthy food and beverage choices.
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Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Healthcare Access Umar Bacha, Urška Rozman, Sonja Šostar Turk
2020
eBook
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Healthcare Access - Regional Overviews is a compilation of ten chapters consisting of case studies, research works, reviews, and expert opinions providing insight on the previous and current ...developments in the field of hygiene and infection control with practices to prevent or minimize the spread of infectious diseases. The book also addresses the status and healthcare access of the most neglected segments in less developed countries. All chapters are written by global researchers are edited by experts in the field. The information presented in this work can be replicated at different levels to accelerate timely and quality healthcare services.
Background: With the worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, an important question about virus transmission via contaminated surfaces is arising; therefore, research is needed to prove the ...persistence of viable viruses on surfaces. The purpose of the study was to determine the level of surface contamination with SARS-CoV-2 in a university clinical center. Methods: A study of environmental viral contamination in the rooms of an acute COVID department was performed. Rapid qualitative antigen tests, real-time RT-PCR, and virus isolation in cell cultures were used for virus detection. Results: None of the taken samples were antigen positive. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 10% of samples: one positive sample in an empty room after cleaning and disinfection; nine positive samples in occupied rooms. No viable virus was recovered on cell cultures. Conclusions: In our research, the rapid antigen tests did not prove to be effective for environmental samples, but we were able to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 10% of samples using the RT-PCR method. The highest proportion of PCR-positive samples was from unused items in occupied multi-bed rooms. No viable virus was detected, therefore, infection by surface transmission is unlikely, but it remains prudent to maintain strict hand and environmental hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment.
The global rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant public health threat, especially in healthcare settings, where controlling the spread of antimicrobial genes is crucial. While ...person-to-person transmission remains the primary route for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), hospital surfaces serve as key reservoirs for antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms. Regular cleaning and disinfection of these surfaces are essential. Microbial-based products for sanitizing hospital surfaces have emerged as promising tools to combat HAIs and AMR. However, a review of 32 publications found inconsistencies and potential risks. A total of 15 publications included hospital-based trials, while the rest were either in vitro or in situ assays, reviews, book chapters, or commentaries. In most of the hospital-based studies, specific strains of applied microorganisms were not identified, and the term “probiotic” was inaccurately used. These products mainly featured spores from Bacillus and Priestia genera, which was mainly hypothesized to work through competitive exclusion. Most hospital-based studies have shown that the application of microbial-based products resulted in a significant reduction in pathogens on surfaces, thereby contributing to a decrease in the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Further research is however needed to understand the effectiveness, mechanisms of action, and safety of microbial-based sanitizing agents. Strain-level identification is crucial for safety assessments, yet many reviewed products lacked this information. Consequently, there is a need for rigorous safety evaluations within existing regulatory frameworks to ensure the efficacy and safety of microbial-based cleaning products in healthcare settings.
Safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene are crucial to human health and wellbeing. These factors are a prerequisite to health since they play a crucial role in preventing the transmission of ...numerous waterborne pathogens and chemical contaminants. Another important factor that can affect people’s health is air pollution. Special attention needs to be paid to developing countries, as these factors not only affect human health but also contribute to livelihoods, school attendance, and dignity and help create resilient communities living in healthy environments. This book provides insights into different aspects of hygiene, sanitation, water, and air pollution and their potential correlation with infectious diseases and human health. It also addresses important challenges and opportunities for improvement in developing countries. These are priority areas in which the world’s leading health and humanitarian organizations, such as the WHO and UNICEF, are working intensively.
Abstract
Hospital wastewaters are highly complex effluents acting as a hotspot for antibiotic resistant bacteria. Especially, Gram-negative bacteria bearing multiple antibiotic resistant genes are ...increasingly found in hospital wastewaters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae in hospital wastewaters from one Slovenian and two Austrian hospitals, as well as the occurrence of antibiotic resistant genes encoding for VIM, KPC, NDM, CTXM and OXA beta-lactamases in isolates from hospital wastewater. The results indicated high levels of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae in ranges up to 107 cfu/mL. Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae and OXA 48-type CPE were present in ranges up to 105 cfu/mL. Out of 89 multiplied polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons, only 36 were positive for different β-lactamase gene families, among those only three isolates were identified as multiresistant. The dominant ESBL family was CTXM in 19 different isolates. This was followed by 10 OXA-48 positive isolates and 10 VIM positive isolates. KPC or NDM carbapenemases were not identified with PCR screening of the isolates. Hospital wastewaters serve as a reservoir for nearly all clinically important antibiotic resistances. The importance of evaluating such potential environmental reservoirs is especially evident when outbreak cases could not be linked to an epidemiological source.
Disinfectants are used intensively to control and prevent healthcare-associated infections. With continuous use and exposure to disinfectants, bacteria may develop reduced susceptibility. The study ...aimed to check the hygiene of devices in the physiotherapy department. For isolated bacterial strains, we aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of five different disinfectant wipe products currently in use. Microbiological environmental sampling in four various institutions in four different cities from two counties was performed, followed by CFU calculation and identification using matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization with time-of-flight analyzer mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). The sampling was performed on three different occasions: before patient use, after patient use, and after disinfection. The susceptibility of isolates to three different alcohol-based and three different quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) disinfectant wipes was examined by determining the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). We identified 27 different bacterial species from 11 different genera. Gram-positive bacteria predominated. The most abundant genera were
,
, and
. The average MIC values of alcohol-based disinfectants range between 66.61 and 148.82 g/L, and those of QAC-based disinfectants range between 2.4 and 3.5 mg/L. Distinctive strains with four-fold increases in MIC values, compared to average values, were identified. The widespread use of disinfectants can induce a reduction in the susceptibility of bacteria against disinfectants and affect the increase in the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, it is urgent to define clear criteria for defining a microorganism as resistant to disinfectants by setting epidemiological cut-off (ECOFF) values and standardizing protocols for testing the resistance of microorganisms against disinfectants.
Vending machines in health and social care facilities are often the only possible choice for a quick snack for workers and visitors, in many cases providing unhealthy dietary choices. Our study aimed ...to analyse the variety and nutritional quality of foods available in vending machines placed in social and health care institution in Slovenia. The available snacks were quantitatively assessed, using traffic light profiling. The model used for nutrient profiling was that of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Vending machines in 188 institutions were surveyed, resulting in 5625 food-items consisting of 267 unique product labels. Sweet products dominate in vending machines offers (about 70%), while nuts and seeds (8.4%), yoghurts (2.1%), fruits (1.4%) and milk (0.3%) are present in a very small proportion or are not available at all. According to FSANZ, 88.5% of all displayed food items in vending machines can be considered as lower nutritional quality or less healthy products. The authors' future activities will be focused on ensuring wider availability of healthy dietary choices and on including official guidelines in tender conditions for vending machines in health and social care institutions in Slovenia.
Chlorination is one of the most commonly used procedures for drinking waterdisinfection. The research aimed to soptimise the subsequent disinfection ofdrinking water with chlorine in the water supply ...network in the city Velenje,taking into account the applicable legislation. The gradual reduction of chlorinedosage was implemented with simultaneous monitoring of selected physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of drinking water. During the two-month period, 418 samples were taken at 22 previously defined differentsampling spots. Free chlorine values were reduced from the initial 0,18 mg/L tothe final 0,08 mg/L at the outlet, while values at some remote sampling sitesreached only 0,01 mg/L of free chlorine. Microbiological analyses of samplesshowed that the drinking water met the limit values in the regulations, despitethe low values of free chlorine. Based on the results, a modified chlorination ofdrinking water was introduced in the tested supply area, and the introduction ofa similar regime in other supply areas is being actively considered. In this way,we reduce the consumption of disinfectants and ensure the supply of qualityand healthy drinking water to consumers.
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