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Adhikari S, Anthony S, Baleinamau P, Coriakula J, Daurewa T, Devi R, Gavidi S, Horwitz P, Hunter EC, Jenkins A, Jupiter S, Lalamacuata M, Mailautoka K, Mangubhai S, Naivalu K, Naivalulevu T, Naivalulevu V, Nasim N, Naucunivanua S, Negin J, van Nimwegen P, Ratu A, Ravoka M, Tukana A, van de Vossenberg J, Wilson D, Thomas J. An assessment of latrine front-end characteristics and associated surface E. coli indicated faecal contamination in rural Fiji. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:52948-52962. [PMID: 39164561 PMCID: PMC11379791 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34668-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
In Fiji, 90% of the population has access to basic sanitation; however, there are still persistent health risks from endemic faecal-oral diseases such as typhoid fever. There is a need to assess the contribution of existing sanitation facilities in the faecal pathogen transmission pathway. This study was conducted as part of a larger planetary health study across 29 rural communities within five river catchments. This specific research aimed to characterise latrine front-ends, both infrastructure and usage behaviour, and to assess the faecal contamination levels on various frequently contacted latrine surfaces in rural Fiji. A sanitation survey, along with observation and latrine swab sampling, was conducted in households over three phases: baseline (n = 311) (Aug-Dec 2019), endline (n = 262) (Jun-Sep 2022) and an in-depth front-end study (n = 12) (Oct-Nov 2022). Of 311 households, almost all had pedestal-type latrines, predominately cistern-flush (83%), followed by pour-flush (13%), and then hole-type (pit) latrines (4%). Washable latrine floors had significantly higher E. coli densities (6.7 × 102 CFU/25 cm2) compared to non-washable floors (1.3 × 102 CFU/25 cm2) (p = 0.05), despite washable floors indicating improved latrines. The in-depth front-end analysis found that moist latrine surfaces had significantly elevated E. coli densities (1.2 × 103 CFU/25 cm2) compared to the dry ones (14.3 CFU/25 cm2) (p < 0.001), highlighting the importance of maintaining dry latrine surfaces. Latrine floors and mid-walls were the most frequently contaminated surfaces, emphasising the need to clean and disinfect these surfaces. Only 46% of the households reported always using soap for handwashing after defecation, exacerbating the risk of transmitting faecal pathogens. This study highlights that latrine cleanliness and hygiene are as crucial as latrine infrastructures for the effective disruption of faecal pathogens transmission during latrine use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabita Adhikari
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Shylett Anthony
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Ponipate Baleinamau
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Jeremaia Coriakula
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Thompson Daurewa
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Rachel Devi
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Sikeli Gavidi
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Pierre Horwitz
- Centre for People, Place, and Planet, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - Erin C Hunter
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Behavioural, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, USA
| | - Aaron Jenkins
- Centre for People, Place, and Planet, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Stacy Jupiter
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Melanesia Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Maria Lalamacuata
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Kinikoto Mailautoka
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Sangeeta Mangubhai
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Fiji Program, Suva, Fiji
- Talanoa Consulting, 42 Knollys Street, Suva, Fiji
| | - Kelera Naivalu
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Timoci Naivalulevu
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Vilisi Naivalulevu
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Nabeela Nasim
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | | | - Joel Negin
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | | | - Anaseini Ratu
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Mereia Ravoka
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Fiji Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Andrew Tukana
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Fiji Program, Suva, Fiji
| | - Jack van de Vossenberg
- Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering Department, IHE Delft Institute of Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Donald Wilson
- Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Hoodless House, Suva, Fiji
| | - Jacqueline Thomas
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia
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Li S, Cui G, Er Y, Ye P, Xue T, Zhang J(J, Liu X, Duan L, Lv F, Yao Y. Housing Environmental Factors Driving Falls Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A National Cohort Study. Innov Aging 2023; 7:igad121. [PMID: 38106373 PMCID: PMC10724174 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igad121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Housing is one of the main places where falls occur; however, few studies have examined housing environmental factors driving fall risk. This study aimed to explore the associations between housing environmental factors and falls in China. Research Design and Methods The study included data of middle-aged and older adults aged ≥45 years from 4 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We assessed 7 housing environmental factors: building materials, toilet types, household tidiness, household cooking fuels, and access to electricity, running water, and bathing facilities. Based on these, we divided housing environments into 3 types: good (0-2 poor factors), moderate (3-5 poor factors), and poor (6-7 poor factors). Falls incidence (yes or no) was self-reported during the survey period. We applied the Cox proportional hazard model to estimate the associations, adjusting for a set of covariates such as sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyles, and disease status. Results A total of 12,382 participants were analyzed, and the incidence of falls was 31.7%. According to the fully adjusted model, having a squatting toilet (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.26), household untidiness (HR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.18), and solid fuel use for cooking (HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.02-1.18) were associated with a higher risk of falls (ps < .05), compared to their counterparts. We found a linear relationship between housing environments and falls (p for trend = .001). Specifically, moderate (HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.06-1.27) and poor housing environments (HR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.08-1.34) were associated with a higher risk of falls compared to a good housing environment. Discussion and Implications Among middle-aged and older Chinese adults, a better household environment, including sitting toilets, tidy living conditions, and clean fuel use for cooking, may reduce the risk of falls. The evidence from our study suggests the need to implement age-friendly housing environments to prevent falls and disability in an aging society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojie Li
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- China Center for Health Development Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Guanghui Cui
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuliang Er
- Division of Injury Prevention and Mental Health, National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Pengpeng Ye
- Division of Injury Prevention and Mental Health, National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Xue
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng (Jim) Zhang
- Global Health Institute and the Nicholas School of Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Liu
- China Center for Health Development Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Leilei Duan
- Division of Injury Prevention and Mental Health, National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Faqin Lv
- Ultrasonic Department, The Third Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Yao
- China Center for Health Development Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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Yong SS, Lee JI, Kang DH. Bacterial composition of refrigerators in households and inactivation of airborne Staphylococcus aureus using a TiO 2-UVLED module in a 512 L aerobiology chamber. Food Microbiol 2023; 114:104274. [PMID: 37290863 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the microbiota in the air and on the surface of a refrigerator and to inactivate aerosolized Staphylococcus aureus using a TiO2-UVLED module. A total of 100 L of the air and 5000 cm2 surfaces in seven household refrigerators were collected using an air sampler and a swab, respectively. Samples were subjected to microbiota analysis as well as quantitative analyses of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria. The level of airborne aerobic bacteria was 4.26 log CFU/vol (100 L), while that of surface aerobic bacteria was 5.27 log CFU/surface (5000 cm2). PCoA based on the Bray-Curtis metric revealed that the bacterial composition differed between samples collected from refrigerators with and without a vegetable drawer. Moreover, pathogenic bacteria containing genera and order from each sample were found, such as Enterobacaterales, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Listeria, and Bacillus. Among them, Staphylococcus aureus was determined to be a core hazardous pathogen in air. Therefore, three S. aureus strains isolated from the air in refrigerators, as well as a reference strain of S. aureus (ATCC 6538P), were inactivated by a TiO2-UVLED module in a 512 L aerobiology chamber. All aerosolized S. aureus were reduced over 1.6 log CFU/vol after treatment with TiO2 under UVA (365 nm) light at 40 J/cm2. These findings suggest that TiO2-UVLED modules have the potential to be used to control airborne bacteria in household refrigerators.
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Affiliation(s)
- So-Seum Yong
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Research Institute for Agricultural and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Ik Lee
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Research Institute for Agricultural and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Hyun Kang
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Research Institute for Agricultural and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea; Institutes of Green Bio Science & Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, 25354, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Adhikari S, Hunter E, Vossenberg JVD, Thomas J. A review of latrine front-end characteristics associated with microbial infection risk; reveals a lack of pathogen density data. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 254:114261. [PMID: 37734133 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Unsafe sanitation accounts for an estimated 898,000 global deaths annually. The faecal pathogen transmission pathway is complex with several possible routes. Latrine front-end characteristics and usage behaviours are one key transmission pathway for microbial pathogens, however, there has not yet been a synthesis of the available research. This review aims to compare the microbial infection risks with latrine front-end components including any quantified microbial densities within the household latrines. This review was conducted with no restriction on the geographical location of the research. Of 118 studies reviewed, only ten (8%) have quantified the microbial density inside the household latrines compared to 109 (92%) measuring the infection risks. The reported risks were most frequent for specific bacterial (n = 34), and helminths infections (n = 32) compared to diarrhoea (n = 23), combined (n = 15), protozoan (n = 4), and viral (n = 4) infections. The infections risk decreased for using latrines lying at a higher position on the sanitation ladder (for example flush latrines) compared to those lying lower (for example pit latrines). The trend was similar for using floor materials that were easier to clean and less favourable for pathogen survival inside the latrines (for example, concrete as opposed to earth). Faecal coliforms were reported highest on the surface of the squat pan (743 CFU/cm2) of pour-flush latrines and helminths on earth floors of pit latrines (1.5 eggs and larvae per gram of soil). Irrespective of latrine type and its position on the sanitation ladder, a dirty latrine, evidenced by a visible lack of cleanliness, significantly increased the risk for all infections. This study recommends that effective microbial infection risk reduction in latrines can be gained efficiently by ensuring washable surfaces and consistent cleaning practices. Future studies should include more rigorous measurements of microbial densities in various latrine types incorporating the different front-end components and usage behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabita Adhikari
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Australia.
| | - Erin Hunter
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Behavioural, Social and Health Sciences, Clemson University, United States.
| | - Jack van de Vossenberg
- Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering Department, IHE Delft Institute of Water Education, the Netherlands.
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5
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Luo D, Huang J, Zheng X, Liu F, Li Y, Wang Y, Qian H. Spread of flushing-generated fecal aerosols in a squat toilet cubicle: Implication for infection risk. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160212. [PMID: 36395842 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Toilet flushing generates and spread fecal aerosols, potentially leading to infection transmission risk. Squat toilets are widely used in public restrooms in some Asian countries including China and India, and remain to be studied. Aerosol dispersion while flushing squat toilet in cubicle was visualized, while the aerosol concentrations were measured on different surfaces by monitoring fluorescence intensity through seeding simulated fluorescence feces. Flushing-generated fecal aerosols could spread to the breathing zone, deposit on floor, and partitions in squat toilet cubicles, and spread even beyond to the restroom lobby. A total of 0.24 % and 0.17 % of seeded fecal waste deposits on the floor and partition (lower than 0.20 m) for each flush. Aerosol concentration decays rapidly, with 86.8 ± 2.2 % reduction in the second minute after a previous flush compared to that in the first minute. Public toilet users are recommended to wait for 2 min after the early flush before entering the cubicle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danting Luo
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Engineering Research Center for Building Energy Environments & Equipments, Ministry of Education, China; Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiayu Huang
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Engineering Research Center for Building Energy Environments & Equipments, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Xiaohong Zheng
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Engineering Research Center for Building Energy Environments & Equipments, Ministry of Education, China
| | - Fan Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuguo Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China; Department of infection management, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hua Qian
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Engineering Research Center for Building Energy Environments & Equipments, Ministry of Education, China; Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, China.
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6
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Qiu Y, Zhou Y, Chang Y, Liang X, Zhang H, Lin X, Qing K, Zhou X, Luo Z. The Effects of Ventilation, Humidity, and Temperature on Bacterial Growth and Bacterial Genera Distribution. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192215345. [PMID: 36430064 PMCID: PMC9691097 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacteria are readily nourished in airtight environments with high humidity, such as storage cabinets, clothing closets, and corners, where ventilation is normally low and humidity is high. OBJECTIVES We characterized the role of humidity and ventilation in bacterial growth and genus distribution at different temperatures (26 °C and 34 °C). METHODS Fresh pork, which was used as the substrate for bacterial culture, was placed in storage cabinets. Bacterial growth and genera distribution on the surface of pork placed in a storage cabinet under different temperatures (26 °C and 34 °C); relative humidity levels (RH: 50%, 70%, 90%); and ventilation conditions (no ventilation and low, medium, and high levels of ventilation) were assessed by rDNA sequencing. RESULTS Increased ventilation and reduced humidity significantly decreased bacterial growth at 26 °C and 34 °C. The contribution of increased ventilation to the reduction in bacterial growth exceeded that of decreased humidity. Ventilation had the greatest effect on reducing bacterial growth compared to the unventilated conditions at 70% RH. At 34 °C, medium and high levels of ventilation were required to reduce bacterial growth. High temperatures greatly increased bacterial growth, but ventilation could reduce the degree of this increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Qiu
- Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (Z.L.)
| | - Yanfen Chang
- Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Xinyue Liang
- Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Center for the Built Environment, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 2506, USA
| | - Xiaorui Lin
- China Vanke Co., Ltd., Changsha 410000, China
| | - Ke Qing
- China Vanke Co., Ltd., Changsha 410000, China
| | - Xiaojie Zhou
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Ziqiang Luo
- Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (Z.L.)
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7
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Al-Omari AW, Ramadan Matter I, Hussein Almola A. Molecular study of Enterobacteriaceae bacterium isolated from dishwashers. BIONATURA 2022. [DOI: 10.21931/rb/2022.07.03.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Enterobacteriaceae family is considered one of the medically essential families in which there is a continuous change in classification, and new species are added to it. In this study, we obtained a novel strain registered in the NCBI under Enterobacteriaceae bacterium strain PRL 4-2, with the accession number MW540823, and the isolate considered unclassified Enterobacteriaceae. The isolate was obtained from dishwashers, which is a mine for many new species and strains due to the unique environmental conditions of this habitat, fluctuation in temperature, use of high temperatures, utilization of cleaning materials as well as humidity and the presence of organic materials, especially in case of neglect of cleaning. The isolate was characterized by its slow growth on culture media and its ability to form biofilms and possess some virulence factors. Its resistance to antibiotics was also studied, as it showed resistance to the antibiotics used in this study. The oddness for this strain is that it showed a different diagnosis when using VITEK (The VITEK 2 system has everything healthcare laboratories need for fast, accurate microbial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing.) compared to diagnosis using 16S rRNA. As for the taxonomic tree, the closest species was Enterobacter sp. Strain 188. This study supplements a few other studies of this novel species, isolated from different environments. These researches can be integrated to give an itinerary for other studies on the new species and their different capabilities.
Keywords. Enterobacteriaceae bacterium, dishwasher, Enterobacteriaceae bacterium PRL-2, Enterobacter sp., biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha W. Al-Omari
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
| | | | - Alaa Hussein Almola
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
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8
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Nasim N, El-Zein A, Thomas J. A review of rural and peri-urban sanitation infrastructure in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific: Highlighting regional inequalities and limited data. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 244:113992. [PMID: 35752101 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Rural and peri-urban communities in developing countries rely on sanitation systems which are often unsafely managed. One of the major barriers to assess safely managed sanitation is a lack of data about the existing sanitation infrastructure and levels of containment safety. The aim was to review rural and peri-urban on-site sanitation studies in order to understand different infrastructure types, associated management practices and any impacts on human health. The scope was limited to South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions in order to better identify regional inequalities. Among the 155 reviewed articles, 73 studies (47%) linked sanitation infrastructure to poor human health. Nearly all articles reported latrine ownership (n = 149, 96%) while sanitation infrastructure types were covered less frequently (n = 104, 67%). In particular, there was a lack of published literature describing back-end characteristics (dimension and materials) (n = 12, 8%) and/or management practices (n = 4, 3%). This stems from a limited application of research methodologies that characterise sanitation infrastructure and faecal sludge management (containment, emptying and on-site treatment). Inequality between regions was prevalent with three quarters of the studies on latrine back-end infrastructure from Bangladesh and India in South-East Asia. A strategic research approach is needed to address the current knowledge gaps regarding sanitation infrastructure and safe faecal sludge management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabeela Nasim
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Australia.
| | - Abbas El-Zein
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Australia.
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9
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Majee S, Chowdhury AR, Pinto R, Chattopadhyay A, Agharkar AN, Chakravortty D, Basu S. Spatiotemporal evaporating droplet dynamics on fomites enhances long term bacterial pathogenesis. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1173. [PMID: 34625643 PMCID: PMC8501104 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02711-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Naturally drying bacterial droplets on inanimate surfaces representing fomites are the most consequential mode for transmitting infection through oro-fecal route. We provide a multiscale holistic approach to understand flow dynamics induced bacterial pattern formation on fomites leading to pathogenesis. The most virulent gut pathogen, Salmonella Typhimurium (STM), typically found in contaminated food and water, is used as model system in the current study. Evaporation-induced flow in sessile droplets facilitates the transport of STM, forming spatio-temporally varying bacterial deposition patterns based on droplet medium's nutrient scale. Mechanical and low moisture stress in the drying process reduced bacterial viability but interestingly induced hyper-proliferation of STM in macrophages, thereby augmenting virulence in fomites. In vivo studies of fomites in mice confirm that STM maintains enhanced virulence. This work demonstrates that stressed bacterial deposit morphologies formed over small timescale (minutes) on organic and inorganic surfaces, plays a significant role in enhancing fomite's pathogenesis over hours and days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreeparna Majee
- grid.34980.360000 0001 0482 5067Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India
| | - Atish Roy Chowdhury
- grid.34980.360000 0001 0482 5067Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India
| | - Roven Pinto
- grid.34980.360000 0001 0482 5067Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India
| | - Ankur Chattopadhyay
- grid.34980.360000 0001 0482 5067Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India
| | - Amey Nitin Agharkar
- grid.34980.360000 0001 0482 5067Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India
| | - Dipshikha Chakravortty
- grid.34980.360000 0001 0482 5067Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India
| | - Saptarshi Basu
- grid.34980.360000 0001 0482 5067Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India ,grid.34980.360000 0001 0482 5067Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012 India
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10
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Cunliffe AJ, Askew PD, Stephan I, Iredale G, Cosemans P, Simmons LM, Verran J, Redfern J. How Do We Determine the Efficacy of an Antibacterial Surface? A Review of Standardised Antibacterial Material Testing Methods. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1069. [PMID: 34572650 PMCID: PMC8472414 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Materials that confer antimicrobial activity, be that by innate property, leaching of biocides or design features (e.g., non-adhesive materials) continue to gain popularity to combat the increasing and varied threats from microorganisms, e.g., replacing inert surfaces in hospitals with copper. To understand how efficacious these materials are at controlling microorganisms, data is usually collected via a standardised test method. However, standardised test methods vary, and often the characteristics and methodological choices can make it difficult to infer that any perceived antimicrobial activity demonstrated in the laboratory can be confidently assumed to an end-use setting. This review provides a critical analysis of standardised methodology used in academia and industry, and demonstrates how many key methodological choices (e.g., temperature, humidity/moisture, airflow, surface topography) may impact efficacy assessment, highlighting the need to carefully consider intended antimicrobial end-use of any product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Cunliffe
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK;
| | - Peter D. Askew
- (Industrial Microbiological Services Ltd.) IMSL, Pale Lane, Hartley Whitney, Hants RG27 8DH, UK; (P.D.A.); (G.I.)
| | - Ina Stephan
- (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung) BAM, Unter den Eichen 87, 12205 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Gillian Iredale
- (Industrial Microbiological Services Ltd.) IMSL, Pale Lane, Hartley Whitney, Hants RG27 8DH, UK; (P.D.A.); (G.I.)
| | | | - Lisa M. Simmons
- Department of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK;
| | - Joanna Verran
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK;
| | - James Redfern
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK;
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11
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Isawumi A, Donkor JK, Mosi L. In vitro inhibitory effects of commercial antiseptics and disinfectants on foodborne and environmental bacterial strains. AAS Open Res 2021. [DOI: 10.12688/aasopenres.13154.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Antibacterial agents, including disinfectants and antiseptics are commonly used to reduce bacterial loads. As they have a broad-spectrum of activity against bacteria, function either as bactericidal or bacteriostatic agents. While bacterial antimicrobial resistance is increasing, disinfectants and antiseptics are still relevant antibacterial agents. Methods: This study investigated the in vitro inhibitory effects of commonly used antiseptics and disinfectants. Using standard disc diffusion methods, selected common household antibacterial agents were tested on resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from hospital environment and foodborne Escherichia coli and Bacillus species. Results: The study showed that the selected antibacterial agents were effective against the antibiotic resistant bacteria with appreciable zone of inhibition relative to the standard controls used. Conclusions: Though bacteria are consistently developing resistance to available antibiotics, disinfectants still inhibit bacterial growth and survival with considerable public health importance.
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12
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Sun S, Han J. Open defecation and squat toilets, an overlooked risk of fecal transmission of COVID-19 and other pathogens in developing communities. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2021; 19:787-795. [PMID: 33281530 PMCID: PMC7700112 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-020-01143-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 has infected over 46 million people in 219 countries and territories. Following evidence of viral loadings and infectivity of feces of infected individuals, public health authorities have suggested to take precautions on the transmission of COVID-19 via fecal-associated routes. Recent discussions on fecal transmission of COVID-19 have mainly focused on municipal sewage. Yet, a widely neglected aspect in containing the virus is that a major part of the population in developing regions do not have access to private, clean sanitary facilities. Therefore, we hypothesize that open defecation and the prevalent use of squat toilets are additional risk factors in those communities. Here, we review fecal transmission of COVID-19, the practices of open defecation, and the resultant routes of transmission of fecal pathogens. Also, we highlight the open design of common squat toilets and the potential exposure to fecal droplets and residues. We observed that at least 20 countries reporting more than 10,000 confirmed infections have 5-26% of their population practicing open defecation. We illustrate the potential routes of transmission of COVID-19 and other fecal pathogens via human feces in communities practicing open defecation. Here, poor hand hygiene, contaminated shoes and objects, mechanical vectors, and outdoor human activities can all contribute to fecal transmission. Other risk factors include squat pans with lidless designs and open flushing mechanisms, in-cubicle open waste bins, and the lack of water-sealing U-traps in squat toilets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyi Sun
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
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13
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Isawumi A, Donkor JK, Mosi L. In vitro inhibitory effects of commercial antiseptics and disinfectants on foodborne and environmental bacterial strains. AAS Open Res 2020. [DOI: 10.12688/aasopenres.13154.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Antibacterial agents, including disinfectants and antiseptics are commonly used to reduce bacterial loads. As they have a broad-spectrum of activity against bacteria, function either as a bactericidal or bacteriostatic. While bacterial antimicrobial resistance is increasing, disinfectants and antiseptics are still relevant antibacterial agents. Methods: This study investigated the in vitro inhibitory effects of commonly used antiseptics and disinfectants. Using standard disc diffusion methods, selected common household antibacterial agents were tested on resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from hospital environment and foodborne Escherichia coli and Bacillus species. Results: The study showed that the selected antibacterial agents were effective against the antibiotic resistant bacteria with appreciable zone of inhibition relative to the standard controls used. Conclusions: Though bacteria are consistently developing resistance to available antibiotics, disinfectants still inhibit bacterial growth and survival with considerable public health importance.
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14
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Maillard JY, Bloomfield SF, Courvalin P, Essack SY, Gandra S, Gerba CP, Rubino JR, Scott EA. Reducing antibiotic prescribing and addressing the global problem of antibiotic resistance by targeted hygiene in the home and everyday life settings: A position paper. Am J Infect Control 2020; 48:1090-1099. [PMID: 32311380 PMCID: PMC7165117 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to threaten global health. Although global and national AMR action plans are in place, infection prevention and control is primarily discussed in the context of health care facilities with home and everyday life settings barely addressed. As seen with the recent global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, everyday hygiene measures can play an important role in containing the threat from infectious microorganisms. This position paper has been developed following a meeting of global experts in London, 2019. It presents evidence that home and community settings are important for infection transmission and also the acquisition and spread of AMR. It also demonstrates that the targeted hygiene approach offers a framework for maximizing protection against colonization and infections, thereby reducing antibiotic prescribing and minimizing selection pressure for the development of antibiotic resistance. If combined with the provision of clean water and sanitation, targeted hygiene can reduce the circulation of resistant bacteria in homes and communities, regardless of a country's Human Development Index (overall social and economic development). Achieving a reduction of AMR strains in health care settings requires a mirrored reduction in the community. The authors call upon national and international policy makers, health agencies, and health care professionals to further recognize the importance of targeted hygiene in the home and everyday life settings for preventing and controlling infection, in a unified quest to tackle AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Yves Maillard
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, Somerset, UK.
| | | | | | - Sabiha Y Essack
- Antimicrobial Research Unit, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Sumanth Gandra
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Charles P Gerba
- Departments of Soil, Water and Environmental Science and Environmental Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Joseph R Rubino
- Research & Development, Home Hygiene, Lysol/Harpic, Reckitt Benckiser LLC., One Philips Parkway, Montvale, NJ, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Scott
- College of Natural, Behavioral and Health Sciences, Simmons University, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Novak Babič M, Gostinčar C, Gunde-Cimerman N. Microorganisms populating the water-related indoor biome. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:6443-6462. [PMID: 32533304 PMCID: PMC7347518 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10719-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Modernisation of our households created novel opportunities for microbial growth and thus changed the array of microorganisms we come in contact with. While many studies have investigated microorganisms in the air and dust, tap water, another major input of microbial propagules, has received far less attention. The quality of drinking water in developed world is strictly regulated to prevent immediate danger to human health. However, fungi, algae, protists and bacteria of less immediate concern are usually not screened for. These organisms can thus use water as a vector of transmission into the households, especially if they are resistant to various water treatment procedures. Good tolerance of unfavourable abiotic conditions is also important for survival once microbes enter the household. Limitation of water availability, high or low temperatures, application of antimicrobial chemicals and other measures are taken to prevent indoor microbial overgrowth. These conditions, together with a large number of novel chemicals in our homes, shape the diversity and abundance of indoor microbiota through constant selection of the most resilient species, resulting in a substantial overlap in diversity of indoor and natural extreme environments. At least in fungi, extremotolerance has been linked to human pathogenicity, explaining why many species found in novel indoor habitats (such as dishwasher) are notable opportunistic pathogens. As a result, microorganisms that often enter our households with water and are then enriched in novel indoor habitats might have a hitherto underestimated impact on the well-being of the increasingly indoor-bound human population. KEY POINTS: Domestic environment harbours a large diversity of microorganisms. Microbiota of water-related indoor habitats mainly originates from tap water. Bathrooms, kitchens and household appliances select for polyextremotolerant species. Many household-related microorganisms are human opportunistic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Novak Babič
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Cene Gostinčar
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Lars Bolund Institute of Regenerative Medicine, BGI-Qingdao, Qingdao, 266555, China
| | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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16
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El‐Liethy MA, Hemdan BA, El‐Taweel GE. Prevalence of
E. coli
,
Salmonella
, and
Listeria
spp. as potential pathogens: A comparative study for biofilm of sink drain environment. J Food Saf 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jfs.12816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Azab El‐Liethy
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Water Pollution Research DepartmentNational Research Centre Giza Egypt
| | - Bahaa A. Hemdan
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Water Pollution Research DepartmentNational Research Centre Giza Egypt
| | - Gamila E. El‐Taweel
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Water Pollution Research DepartmentNational Research Centre Giza Egypt
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17
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Zupančič J, Turk M, Črnigoj M, Ambrožič Avguštin J, Gunde-Cimerman N. The dishwasher rubber seal acts as a reservoir of bacteria in the home environment. BMC Microbiol 2019; 19:300. [PMID: 31856722 PMCID: PMC6924085 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-019-1674-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In modern lifestyles, people make their everyday tasks easier by using household appliances, for example dishwashers. Previous studies showed massive contamination of dishwasher rubber seals with fungi, thus bacterial community, able to survive under harsh conditions, remain undetermined. Methods Bacteria that colonise the extreme environment of household dishwasher rubber seals were investigated using cultivation-dependent and metagenomic approaches. All bacterial isolates were tested for resistance to seven selected antibiotics. Same time bacterial diversity of tap water, connected to the dishwashers was investigated. Results All 30 dishwashers investigated were colonised by various bacteria. Cultivation approaches resulted in 632 bacterial isolates in total, belonging to four phyla, eight classes, 40 genera and 74 species. The majority were Gram-positive, as solely Firmicutes (dominated by the Bacillus cereus group) and Actinobacteria. Gammaproteobacteria were primarily represented by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Metagenomic assessment of the bacterial biodiversity of the dishwasher rubber seals confirmed the predominance of Gram-positive bacteria, as primarily Actinobacteria, followed by Proteobacteria dominated by Gammaproteobacteria, and by pathogenic species such as Escherichia sp., Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas sp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Enterobacter sp.. Metagenomic assessment of bacterial biodiversity in the tap water connected to dishwashers revealed predominance of Gram-negative bacteria, in particular Proteobacteria, mainly represented by Tepidimonas sp.. Actinobacteria showed low numbers while no Firmicutes were detected in the tap water. The bacterial diversity of tap water was also lower, 23 genera compared to 39 genera on dishwasher rubber seals. Only 13 out of 49 genera identified by metagenomics approach was found in both environments, of those Gordonia was enriched while half of 13 genera were depleted in dishwashers compared to tap water. Conclusions These data indicate that colonisation of dishwasher rubber seals probably depends primarily on the bacterial input from the dirty vessels, and much less on the bacteria in the tap water. Based on the antibiotic resistance data, the dishwasher rubber seal bacterial isolates do not represent a serious threat for the spread of antibiotic resistance into the household environment. Nevertheless dishwashers cannot be ignored as potential sources of human infections, in particular for immuno-compromised individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerneja Zupančič
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Martina Turk
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Črnigoj
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Ljubljana, Slovenia
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18
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Hemdan BA, El-Liethy MA, ElMahdy MEI, El-Taweel GE. Metagenomics analysis of bacterial structure communities within natural biofilm. Heliyon 2019; 5:e02271. [PMID: 31485510 PMCID: PMC6716113 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial profiles of natural household biofilm have not been widely investigated. The majorities of these bacterial lineages are not cultivable. Thus, this study aims (i) to enumerate some potential bacterial lineages using culture based method within biofilm samples and confirmed using Biolog GEN III and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). (ii) To investigate the bacterial profiles of communities in two biofilm samples using next generation sequencing (NGS). Forty biofilm samples were cultured and colonies of each selected prevailing potential lineages (E. coli, Salmonella entrica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) were selected for confirmation. From obtained results, the counts of the tested bacterial lineages in kitchen biofilm samples were greater than those in bathroom samples. Precision of PCR was higher than Biolog GEN III to confirm the bacterial isolates. Using NGS analysis, the results revealed that a total of 110,554 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained for two biofilm samples, representing kitchen and bathroom biofilm samples. The numbers of phyla in the kitchen biofilm sample (35 OTUs) was higher than that in bathroom sample (18 OTUs). A total of 435 genera were observed in the bathroom biofilm sample compared to only 256 in the kitchen sample. Evidences have shown that the empirical gadgets for biofilm investigation are becoming convenient and affordable. Many distinct bacterial lineages observed in biofilm are one of the most significant issues that threaten human health and lead to disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahaa A Hemdan
- Environmental Microbiology Lab., Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Azab El-Liethy
- Environmental Microbiology Lab., Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622, Giza, Egypt
| | - M E I ElMahdy
- Environmental Virology Lab., Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt
| | - Gamila E El-Taweel
- Environmental Microbiology Lab., Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622, Giza, Egypt
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19
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Food Hygiene/Microbiological Safety in the Typical Household Kitchen: Some Basic ‘Must Knows’ for the General Public. JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.22207/jpam.13.2.06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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20
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Fang M, Mirutse G, Guo L, Ma X. Role of socioeconomic status and housing conditions in geriatric depression in rural China: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e024046. [PMID: 31110082 PMCID: PMC6530296 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The primary aim of this study was to describe the socioeconomic status (SES), housing conditions and depression of the elderly in rural China, as well as to examine the associations between depression and SES and housing conditions using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). DESIGN This is a cross-sectional study. SETTING A nationally representative sample of elderly in rural China. PARTICIPANTS A total of 4585 elderly adults in 2015 in rural China. OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence and risk factors of depression among rural elderly. RESULTS Among the participants in this study, approximately 46.15% (2116/4585) reported depressive symptoms (10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CESD-10] score >10) in rural China. The results revealed significant associations between higher scores on CESD-10 (indicating more symptoms of depression) and lowest personal annual income (OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.290 to 2.060), polluting cooking fuel (OR=1.16, 95% CI 1.018 to 1.321), toilet without seat (OR=1.273, 95% CI 1.056 to 1.535), as well as having no bath facility (OR=1.172, 95% CI 1.025 to 1.341) after adjustment for confounders. CONCLUSION Elderly in rural China experienced severe depressive symptoms. Lowest personal annual income, polluting cooking fuel, toilet without seat and having no bath facility were significantly associated with more depressive symptoms. Caution needs to be taken in generalising the findings of this study to the rest of the population in China since its highly selected sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingwang Fang
- West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Ling Guo
- Department of Health Management, Chongqing Nursing Vocational College, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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21
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Sibanyoni JJ, Tabit FT. An assessment of the hygiene status and incidence of foodborne pathogens on food contact surfaces in the food preparation facilities of schools. Food Control 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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22
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Merino N, Zhang S, Tomita M, Suzuki H. Comparative genomics of Bacteria commonly identified in the built environment. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:92. [PMID: 30691394 PMCID: PMC6350394 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5389-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The microbial community of the built environment (BE) can impact the lives of people and has been studied for a variety of indoor, outdoor, underground, and extreme locations. Thus far, these microorganisms have mainly been investigated by culture-based methods or amplicon sequencing. However, both methods have limitations, complicating multi-study comparisons and limiting the knowledge gained regarding in-situ microbial lifestyles. A greater understanding of BE microorganisms can be achieved through basic information derived from the complete genome. Here, we investigate the level of diversity and genomic features (genome size, GC content, replication strand skew, and codon usage bias) from complete genomes of bacteria commonly identified in the BE, providing a first step towards understanding these bacterial lifestyles. RESULTS Here, we selected bacterial genera commonly identified in the BE (or "Common BE genomes") and compared them against other prokaryotic genera ("Other genomes"). The "Common BE genomes" were identified in various climates and in indoor, outdoor, underground, or extreme built environments. The diversity level of the 16S rRNA varied greatly between genera. The genome size, GC content and GC skew strength of the "Common BE genomes" were statistically larger than those of the "Other genomes" but were not practically significant. In contrast, the strength of selected codon usage bias (S value) was statistically higher with a large effect size in the "Common BE genomes" compared to the "Other genomes." CONCLUSION Of the four genomic features tested, the S value could play a more important role in understanding the lifestyles of bacteria living in the BE. This parameter could be indicative of bacterial growth rates, gene expression, and other factors, potentially affected by BE growth conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, and nutrients). However, further experimental evidence, species-level BE studies, and classification by BE location is needed to define the relationship between genomic features and the lifestyles of BE bacteria more robustly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Merino
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan.,Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Stauffer Hall of Science, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Shu Zhang
- Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan.,Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0641, USA
| | - Masaru Tomita
- Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0882, Japan.,Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-0035, Japan
| | - Haruo Suzuki
- Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0882, Japan. .,Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-0035, Japan.
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23
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Bacterial Contamination on Latrine Surfaces in Community and Household Latrines in Kathmandu, Nepal. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16020257. [PMID: 30658441 PMCID: PMC6352220 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16020257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A lack of sanitation infrastructure is a major contributor to the global burden of diarrheal disease, particularly in low-income countries. Access to basic sanitation was identified as part of the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, current definitions of “basic” sanitation infrastructure exclude community or shared sanitation, due to concerns around safety, equity, and cleanliness. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare bacterial contamination on community and household latrine surfaces in Kathmandu, Nepal. One hundred and nineteen swab samples were collected from two community and five household latrines sites. Community latrine samples were taken before and after daily cleaning, while household samples were collected at midday, to reflect normal conditions. Concentrations of total coliforms and Escherichia coli were measured using membrane filtration methods. Results found almost no differences between bacterial contamination on latrine surfaces in community and household latrines, with the exception of latrine slabs/seats that were more contaminated in the community latrines under dirty conditions. The study also identified surfaces with higher levels of contamination. Findings demonstrated that well-maintained community latrines may be as clean, or cleaner, than household latrines and support the use of community latrines for improving access to sanitation infrastructure in a low-income country setting.
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24
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Caron Y, Hong R, Gauthier L, Laillou A, Wieringa FT, Berger J, Poirot E. Stunting, Beyond Acute Diarrhoea: Giardia Duodenalis, in Cambodia. Nutrients 2018; 10:E1420. [PMID: 30282952 PMCID: PMC6213534 DOI: 10.3390/nu10101420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The adverse outcomes of malnutrition on the development of a child are well acknowledged as are the broad variety of contextual factors that may impact child nutritional status. Adequate nutrient intake and the adoption of appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene measures are largely documented for their positive influence on health. Improved sanitation and protection from human feces can significantly lower the incidence of diarrhea and environmental enteropathy. However, the impact of excessive exposure to animal feces on child health is less well documented. OBJECTIVES This study tests the hypothesis that there is a positive association between exposure to animal feces, morbidity and anthropometric outcomes in children under 5 years of age, in Cambodia. It aims to improve insights that can contribute to discerning high-impact policies that promote children can develop to their full potential. METHODS Data for this study was drawn from the third follow-up round of the MyHealth project cohort study that is conducted in six districts of three Cambodian provinces (Phnom Penh, Kratie and Ratanak Kiri). The analysis included a sample of 639 children under 5 years of age. RESULTS The presence of livestock and more particularly, pigs near the main household dwelling was found a risk factor associated with Giardia duodenalis infection (23%). Giardia duodenalis infection was found to be a protective factor for acute diarrhea, yet, associated with stunting in the univariate model. CONCLUSIONS Preventive measures that protect from extensive exposure to animal feces may be most effective to prevent infection with Giardia duodenalis and consequent stunting, thereby improving the potential for a healthy development in young Cambodian children. The results support the need for cross-sector policy measures that reinforce comprehensive early childhood interventions towards improving nutritional status as part of a wider set of child welfare and development measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Caron
- Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Laboratory of Medical Biology, 5 Boulevard Monivong, P.O. Box 983, Phnom Penh 12100, Cambodia.
| | - Rathmony Hong
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Integrated Early Childhood Development, Exchange Square, 5th Floor, No. 19&20, Street 106, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh 12100, Cambodia.
| | | | - Arnaud Laillou
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Integrated Early Childhood Development, Exchange Square, 5th Floor, No. 19&20, Street 106, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh 12100, Cambodia.
| | - Frank T Wieringa
- Institute of Research for Development (IRD), UMR Nutripass IRD-UM2-UM1, 3400 Montpellier, France.
| | - Jacques Berger
- Institute of Research for Development (IRD), UMR Nutripass IRD-UM2-UM1, 3400 Montpellier, France.
| | - Etienne Poirot
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Integrated Early Childhood Development, Exchange Square, 5th Floor, No. 19&20, Street 106, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh 12100, Cambodia.
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25
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Phenotyping using semi-automated BIOLOG and conventional PCR for identification of Bacillus isolated from biofilm of sink drainage pipes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chnaes.2018.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Julian TR, Vithanage HSK, Chua ML, Kuroda M, Pitol AK, Nguyen PHL, Canales RA, Fujii S, Harada H. High time-resolution simulation of E. coli on hands reveals large variation in microbial exposures amongst Vietnamese farmers using human excreta for agriculture. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 635:120-131. [PMID: 29660716 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Infectious disease transmission is frequently mediated by the environment, where people's movements through and interactions with the environment dictate risks of infection and/or illness. Capturing these interactions, and quantifying their importance, offers important insights into effective interventions. In this study, we capture high time-resolution activity data for twenty-five Vietnamese farmers during collection and land application of human excreta for agriculture. Although human excreta use improves productivity, the use increases risks of enteric infections for both farmers and end users. In our study, the activity data are integrated with environmental microbial sampling data into a stochastic-mechanistic simulation of E. coli contamination on hands and E. coli ingested. Results from the study include frequent and variable contact rates for farmers' hands (from 34 to 1344 objects contacted per hour per hand), including highly variable hand-to-mouth contact rates (from 0 to 9 contacts per hour per hand). The frequency of hand-to-mouth contacts was substantially lower than the widely-used frequency previously reported for U.S. Office Workers. Environmental microbial contamination data highlighted ubiquitous E. coli contamination in the environment, including excreta, hands, toilet pit, handheld tools, soils, surfaces, and water. Results from the simulation suggest dynamic changes in E. coli contamination on hands, and wide variation in hand contamination and E. coli ingested amongst the farmers studied. Sensitivity analysis suggests that E. coli contamination on hands and ingested doses are most influenced by contamination of handheld tools, excreta, and the toilet pit as well as by frequency of hand-to-mouth contacts. The study findings are especially relevant given the context: no farmers reported adequate storage time of human excreta, and personal protective mask availability did not prevent hand-to-mouth contacts. Integrating high time-resolution activity data into exposure assessments highlights variation in exposures amongst farmers, and offers greater insight into effective interventions and their potential impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Julian
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, P.O. Box, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Hasitha S K Vithanage
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, 2601 Delft, The Netherlands; Sri Lanka National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka
| | - Min Li Chua
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku 606-8501, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Matasaka Kuroda
- Graduate School of Engineering, Katsura Campus, Kyoto University, Nisikyo-ku, 615-8510, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ana K Pitol
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, School of Architecture, Civil, and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École Polytechnique FÉdÉrale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pham Hong Lien Nguyen
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Viet Nam
| | - Robert A Canales
- Community, Environment & Policy Department, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Avenue, Campus PO Box 245210, Drachman Hall A229, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Shigeo Fujii
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku 606-8501, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hidenori Harada
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku 606-8501, Kyoto, Japan; Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku 603-8047, Kyoto, Japan.
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Microbial Diversity and Putative Opportunistic Pathogens in Dishwasher Biofilm Communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.02755-17. [PMID: 29330184 PMCID: PMC5812945 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02755-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme habitats are not only limited to natural environments, but also exist in manmade systems, for instance, household appliances such as dishwashers. Limiting factors, such as high temperatures, high and low pHs, high NaCl concentrations, presence of detergents, and shear force from water during washing cycles, define microbial survival in this extreme system. Fungal and bacterial diversity in biofilms isolated from rubber seals of 24 different household dishwashers was investigated using next-generation sequencing. Bacterial genera such as Pseudomonas, Escherichia, and Acinetobacter, known to include opportunistic pathogens, were represented in most samples. The most frequently encountered fungal genera in these samples belonged to Candida, Cryptococcus, and Rhodotorula, also known to include opportunistic pathogenic representatives. This study showed how specific conditions of the dishwashers impact the abundance of microbial groups and investigated the interkingdom and intrakingdom interactions that shape these biofilms. The age, usage frequency, and hardness of incoming tap water of dishwashers had significant impact on bacterial and fungal community compositions. Representatives of Candida spp. were found at the highest prevalence (100%) in all dishwashers and are assumed to be one of the first colonizers in recently purchased dishwashers. Pairwise correlations in tested microbiomes showed that certain bacterial groups cooccur, as did the fungal groups. In mixed bacterial-fungal biofilms, early adhesion, contact, and interactions were vital in the process of biofilm formation, where mixed complexes of bacteria and fungi could provide a preliminary biogenic structure for the establishment of these biofilms. IMPORTANCE Worldwide demand for household appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, is increasing, as is the number of immunocompromised individuals. The harsh conditions in household dishwashers should prevent the growth of most microorganisms. However, our research shows that persisting polyextremotolerant groups of microorganisms in household appliances are well established under these unfavorable conditions and supported by the biofilm mode of growth. The significance of our research is in identifying the microbial composition of biofilms formed on dishwasher rubber seals, how diverse abiotic conditions affect microbiota, and which key microbial members were represented in early colonization and contamination of dishwashers, as these appliances can present a source of domestic cross-contamination that leads to broader medical impacts.
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Dobbler PCT, Laureano ÁM, Sarzi DS, Cañón ERP, Metz GF, de Freitas AS, Takagaki BM, D Oliveira CB, Pylro VS, Copetti AC, Victoria F, Redmile-Gordon M, Morais DK, Roesch LFW. Differences in bacterial composition between men's and women's restrooms and other common areas within a public building. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2017; 111:551-561. [PMID: 29127623 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-017-0976-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Humans distribute a wide range of microorganisms around building interiors, and some of these are potentially pathogenic. Recent research established that humans are the main drivers of the indoor microbiome and up to now significant literature has been produced about this topic. Here we analyzed differences in bacterial composition between men's and women's restrooms and other common areas within the same public building. Bacterial DNA samples were collected from restrooms and halls of a three-floor building from the Federal University of Pampa, RS, Brazil. The bacterial community was characterized by amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and sequencing. Throughout all samples, the most abundant phylum was Proteobacteria, followed by Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Beta diversity metrics showed that the structure of the bacterial communities were different among the areas and floors tested, however, only 6-9% of the variation in bacterial communities was explained by the area and floors sampled. A few microorganisms showed significantly differential abundance between men's and women's restrooms, but in general, the bacterial communities from both places were very similar. Finally, significant differences among the microbial community profile from different floors were reported, suggesting that the type of use and occupant demographic within the building may directly influence bacterial dispersion and establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Caroline Thiago Dobbler
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Álvaro Macedo Laureano
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Deise Schroder Sarzi
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Ehidy Rocio Peña Cañón
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Geferson Fernando Metz
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Anderson Santos de Freitas
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Midori Takagaki
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Barbosa D Oliveira
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Victor Satler Pylro
- Soil Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Soil Science, Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo - ESALQ/USP, Av Pádua Dias, 11 CP 09, Piracicaba, São Paulo, 13400-970, Brazil
| | - André Carlos Copetti
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Filipe Victoria
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Marc Redmile-Gordon
- Department of Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Daniel Kumazawa Morais
- Biosystems Informatics and Genomics Group, René Rachou Research Center, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fernando Wurdig Roesch
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Avenida Antônio Trilha 1847, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul, 97300-000, Brazil.
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Surface Sampling Collection and Culture Methods for Escherichia coli in Household Environments with High Fecal Contamination. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14080947. [PMID: 28829392 PMCID: PMC5580649 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14080947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Empiric quantification of environmental fecal contamination is an important step toward understanding the impact that water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions have on reducing enteric infections. There is a need to standardize the methods used for surface sampling in field studies that examine fecal contamination in low-income settings. The dry cloth method presented in this manuscript improves upon the more commonly used swabbing technique that has been shown in the literature to have a low sampling efficiency. The recovery efficiency of a dry electrostatic cloth sampling method was evaluated using Escherichia coli and then applied to household surfaces in Iquitos, Peru, where there is high fecal contamination and enteric infection. Side-by-side measurements were taken from various floor locations within a household at the same time over a three-month period to compare for consistency of quantification of E. coli bacteria. The dry cloth sampling method in the laboratory setting showed 105% (95% Confidence Interval: 98%, 113%) E. coli recovery efficiency off of the cloths. The field application demonstrated strong agreement of side-by-side results (Pearson correlation coefficient for dirt surfaces was 0.83 (p < 0.0001) and 0.91 (p < 0.0001) for cement surfaces) and moderate agreement for results between entrance and kitchen samples (Pearson (0.53, p < 0.0001) and weighted Kappa statistic (0.54, p < 0.0001)). Our findings suggest that this method can be utilized in households with high bacterial loads using either continuous (quantitative) or categorical (semi-quantitative) data. The standardization of this low-cost, dry electrostatic cloth sampling method can be used to measure differences between households in intervention and non-intervention arms of randomized trials.
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Hoseinzadeh E, Taha P, Sepahvand A, Sousa S. Indoor air fungus bioaerosols and comfort index in day care child centers. TOXIN REV 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/15569543.2016.1274329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edris Hoseinzadeh
- Young Researchers & Elite Club, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran,
| | - Parisa Taha
- Department of Nutrition, Health Center of Sabaroo, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
| | - Asghar Sepahvand
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran, and
| | - Sofia Sousa
- LEPABE – Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
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Julian TR. Environmental transmission of diarrheal pathogens in low and middle income countries. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2016; 18:944-955. [PMID: 27384220 DOI: 10.1039/c6em00222f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Every year, more than half a million children die due to diarrheal diseases. Recent studies have identified the most important etiologies of diarrheal disease are enterotoxigenic and enteropathogenic E. coli, Shigella spp., rotavirus, norovirus and Cryptosporidium spp. These etiologies are unsurprisingly characterized by a combination of high shedding, high infectivity, and transmissibility through multiple environmental reservoirs. The relative importance of the transmission routes is likely site-specific. So the impact of interventions, which typically target only one or two environmental reservoirs, is likely also site-specific. The factors influencing the transmission routes most important for diarrheal disease are complex, including - at a minimum - etiology of endemic disease; and water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure and practices. The site-specific nature - and complexity of transmission - helps explain the observed variation in impacts of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions. It may also render efforts to estimate or quantify global means for interventions' impacts irrelevant. The theme of this Perspective is that greater reductions in diarrheal disease transmission in LMICs can be achieved by designing interventions to interrupt the most important environmental transmission pathways. Intervention choice should be informed by site-specific conditions, most notably: diarrheal etiology and existing water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure and practices. The theme is discussed through the lens of the characteristics of the most important diarrheal diseases (shedding, infectivity, growth, and persistence) and the general characteristics of environmental reservoirs (exposure pathways and fecal contamination). The discussion highlights when interventions - and combinations of interventions - will be most effective at reducing diarrheal disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Julian
- Pathogens and Human Health, Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Research Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Eawag, BU-F08, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
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Exum NG, Olórtegui MP, Yori PP, Davis MF, Heaney CD, Kosek M, Schwab KJ. Floors and Toilets: Association of Floors and Sanitation Practices with Fecal Contamination in Peruvian Amazon Peri-Urban Households. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:7373-7381. [PMID: 27338564 PMCID: PMC6400218 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Over two billion people worldwide lack access to an improved sanitation facility that adequately retains or treats feces. This results in the potential for fecal material containing enteric pathogens to contaminate the environment, including household floors. This study aimed to assess how floor type and sanitation practices impacted the concentration of fecal contamination on household floors. We sampled 189 floor surfaces within 63 households in a peri-urban community in Iquitos, Peru. All samples were analyzed for colony forming units (CFUs) of E. coli, and households were evaluated for their water, sanitation, and hygiene characteristics. Results of multivariate linear regression indicated that households with improved sanitation and cement floors in the kitchen area had reduced fecal contamination to those with unimproved sanitation and dirt floors (Beta: -1.18 log10 E. coli CFU/900 cm(2); 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.77, -0.60). Households that did not versus did share their sanitation facility also had less contaminated kitchen floors (Beta: -0.65 log10 E. coli CFU/900 cm(2); 95% CI: -1.15, -0.16). These findings suggest that the sanitation facilities of a home may impact the microbial load found on floors, contributing to the potential for household floors to serve as an indirect route of fecal pathogen transmission to children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie G. Exum
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA
| | - Maribel Paredes Olórtegui
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Asociación Benéfica Proyectos de Informática, Salud, Medicina, y Agricultura (A.B. PRISMA), Iquitos, Peru
| | - Pablo Peñataro Yori
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Asociación Benéfica Proyectos de Informática, Salud, Medicina, y Agricultura (A.B. PRISMA), Iquitos, Peru
| | - Meghan F. Davis
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA
| | - Christopher D. Heaney
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA
| | - Margaret Kosek
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Asociación Benéfica Proyectos de Informática, Salud, Medicina, y Agricultura (A.B. PRISMA), Iquitos, Peru
| | - Kellogg J. Schwab
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179, USA
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Shibata T, Wilson JL, Watson LM, Nikitin IV, La Ane R, Maidin A. Life in a landfill slum, children's health, and the Millennium Development Goals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 536:408-418. [PMID: 26231771 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
People living in slums can be considered left behind with regard to national successes in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the living and working conditions of waste pickers and their children in a landfill slum located in the largest city in eastern Indonesia. A total of 113 people from the landfill slum and 1184 people from the general population participated in face-to-face interviews. Municipal solid waste (MSW) was analyzed for metals, metalloids and fecal indicator bacteria. Ambient air quality including particulate matter was measured in the landfill. Households in the landfill slum were 5.73 (p=0.04) times more likely to be below the international poverty line (MDG 1: Poverty) and 15.6 times (p<0.01) more likely to have no one in the household possessing a primary education (MDG 2: Universal Education), and 107 times (p<0.01) more likely not to have improved sanitation facilities (MDG 7: Environmental Sustainability) when compared to the general population. Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death in children under five in Indonesia. Young children living in the landfill slum were 2.87 times (p=0.02) more likely to develop diarrhea than their general population counterparts. Other survey results and environmental measurements suggest that landfill slum children have additional adverse health effects (e.g. infections and poisoning). Poverty underlies several MDG issues that directly or indirectly affect child health. Therefore, eradicating extreme poverty will continue to be the most critical challenge for the MDGs beyond 2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyuki Shibata
- Public Health Program, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA; Institute of the Study for Environment, Sustainability, and Energy, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA; Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
| | - James L Wilson
- Institute of the Study for Environment, Sustainability, and Energy, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA; Department of Geography, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - Lindsey M Watson
- Public Health Program, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - Ivan V Nikitin
- Public Health Program, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - Ruslan La Ane
- Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Alimin Maidin
- Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
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Julian TR, Pickering AJ. A Pilot Study on Integrating Videography and Environmental Microbial Sampling to Model Fecal Bacterial Exposures in Peri-Urban Tanzania. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136158. [PMID: 26295964 PMCID: PMC4546663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Diarrheal diseases are a leading cause of under-five mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. Quantitative exposure modeling provides opportunities to investigate the relative importance of fecal-oral transmission routes (e.g. hands, water, food) responsible for diarrheal disease. Modeling, however, requires accurate descriptions of individuals' interactions with the environment (i.e., activity data). Such activity data are largely lacking for people in low-income settings. In the present study, we collected activity data and microbiological sampling data to develop a quantitative microbial exposure model for two female caretakers in peri-urban Tanzania. Activity data were combined with microbiological data of contacted surfaces and fomites (e.g. broom handle, soil, clothing) to develop example exposure profiles describing second-by-second estimates of fecal indicator bacteria (E. coli and enterococci) concentrations on the caretaker's hands. The study demonstrates the application and utility of video activity data to quantify exposure factors for people in low-income countries and apply these factors to understand fecal contamination exposure pathways. This study provides both a methodological approach for the design and implementation of larger studies, and preliminary data suggesting contacts with dirt and sand may be important mechanisms of hand contamination. Increasing the scale of activity data collection and modeling to investigate individual-level exposure profiles within target populations for specific exposure scenarios would provide opportunities to identify the relative importance of fecal-oral disease transmission routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R. Julian
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Amy J. Pickering
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
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Lopez GU, Kitajima M, Sherchan SP, Sexton JD, Sifuentes LY, Gerba CP, Reynolds KA. Impact of disinfectant wipes on the risk of Campylobacter jejuni infection during raw chicken preparation in domestic kitchens. J Appl Microbiol 2015; 119:245-52. [PMID: 25939813 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Revised: 04/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS In the present study, we conducted a quantitative microbial risk assessment forecasting the exposure to Campylobacter jejuni contaminated surfaces during preparation of chicken fillets and how using a disinfectant-wipe intervention to clean a contaminated work area decreases the risk of infection following the preparation of raw chicken fillet in a domestic kitchen. METHODS AND RESULTS Using a Monte Carlo simulation of the risk of transferring Camp. jejuni strain A3249, from various surfaces to hands and subsequently transferring it to the mouth was forecasted. The use of a disinfectant-wipe intervention to disinfect contaminated surface area was also assessed. Several assumptions were used as input parameters in the classical Beta-Poisson model to determine the risk of infection. The disinfectant-wipe intervention reduced the risk of Camp. jejuni infection by 2-3 orders on all fomites. CONCLUSIONS The use of disinfectant wipes after the preparation of raw chicken meat reduces the risk of Camp. jejuni infections. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This risk assessment shows that the use of disinfectant wipes to decontaminate surface areas after chicken preparation reduces the annual risk of Camp. jejuni infections up to 99·2%, reducing the risk from 2 : 10 to 2 : 1000.
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Affiliation(s)
- G U Lopez
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M Kitajima
- Center for Environmental Sensing and Modeling, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - S P Sherchan
- Department of Public Health, California State University-Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA
| | - J D Sexton
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - L Y Sifuentes
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C P Gerba
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - K A Reynolds
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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36
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Exley JLR, Liseka B, Cumming O, Ensink JHJ. The sanitation ladder, what constitutes an improved form of sanitation? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:1086-94. [PMID: 25513885 DOI: 10.1021/es503945x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess whether the MDG classifications and JMP sanitation ladder corresponded to hygienic proxies. Latrines were purposefully sampled in urban and rural Tanzania. Three hygienic proxies were measured: E. coli on points of hand contact, helminth at point of foot contact, and number of flies. Additionally, samples were collected from comparable surfaces in the household, and a questionnaire on management and use, combined with a visual inspection of the latrine's design was conducted. In total, 341 latrines were sampled. The MDG classifications "improved" vs "unimproved" did not describe the observed differences in E. coli concentrations. Disaggregating the data into the JMP sanitation ladder, on average "shared" facilities were the least contaminated: 9.2 vs 17.7 ("improved") and 137 E. coli/100 mL ("unimproved") (p = 0.04, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis suggests that both the presence of a slab and sharing a facility is protective against faecal-oral exposure (OR 0.18 95% CI 0.10, 0.34 and OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.29, 0.92). The findings do not support the current assumption that shared facilities of an adequate technology should be classified for MDG purposes as "unimproved".
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine L R Exley
- Environmental Health Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT, London, United Kingdom
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37
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Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Escherichia coli isolates from feces, hands, and soils in rural Bangladesh via the Colilert Quanti-Tray System. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 81:1735-43. [PMID: 25548044 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03214-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased awareness of the role of environmental matrices in enteric disease transmission has resulted in the need for rapid, field-based methods for fecal indicator bacteria and pathogen detection. Evidence of the specificity of β-glucuronidase-based assays for detection of Escherichia coli from environmental matrices relevant to enteric pathogen transmission in developing countries, such as hands, soils, and surfaces, is limited. In this study, we quantify the false-positive rate of a β-glucuronidase-based E. coli detection assay (Colilert) for two environmental reservoirs in Bangladeshi households (hands and soils) and three fecal composite sources (cattle, chicken, and humans). We investigate whether or not the isolation source of E. coli influences phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Phenotypic characteristics include results of biochemical assays provided by the API-20E test; genotypic characteristics include the Clermont phylogroup and the presence of enteric and/or environmental indicator genes sfmH, rfaI, and fucK. Our findings demonstrate no statistically significant difference in the false-positive rate of Colilert for environmental compared to enteric samples. E. coli isolates from all source types are genetically diverse, representing six of the seven phylogroups, and there is no difference in relative frequency of phylogroups between enteric and environmental samples. We conclude that Colilert, and likely other β-glucuronidase-based assays, is appropriate for detection of E. coli on hands and in soils with low false-positive rates. Furthermore, E. coli isolated from hands and soils in Bangladeshi households are diverse and indistinguishable from cattle, chicken, and human fecal isolates, using traditional biochemical assays and phylogrouping.
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Caruso BA, Freeman MC, Garn JV, Dreibelbis R, Saboori S, Muga R, Rheingans R. Assessing the impact of a school-based latrine cleaning and handwashing program on pupil absence in Nyanza Province, Kenya: a cluster-randomized trial. Trop Med Int Health 2014; 19:1185-97. [PMID: 25055716 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Improving school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions reduces pupil absence and illness. However, these benefits may depend on the conditions of the latrines and availability of consumables. We sought to determine whether a low-cost, policy-relevant, environmental-level latrine cleaning intervention could improve latrine cleanliness, increase its use and reduce absenteeism. METHODS In a three-arm, cluster-randomized trial we assessed absence via periodical roll-call among 17 564 pupils in 60 schools that had previously received WASH improvements as part of the SWASH+ project. Latrine conditions and use were also assessed using structured observation. Latrine cleanliness increased significantly during the post-intervention period among schools receiving the latrine cleaning package compared to controls, as did handwashing with soap. We found no difference in latrine use and absence across arms. CONCLUSIONS The additive impact of cleaning may not have been strong enough to impact absence above and beyond reductions attributable to the original WASH infrastructure improvements and basic hygiene education the schools previously received. Improving latrine conditions is important for the dignity and well-being of pupils, and investments and strategies are necessary to ensure that school toilets are clean and pupil-friendly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany A Caruso
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Global Safe Water at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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39
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Julian TR, Trumble JM, Schwab KJ. Evaluating efficacy of field-generated electrochemical oxidants on disinfection of fomites using bacteriophage MS2 and mouse norovirus MNV-1 as pathogenic virus surrogates. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2014; 6:145-155. [PMID: 24562764 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-014-9136-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Surface disinfection, as part of environmental hygiene practices, is an efficient barrier to gastroenteritis transmission. However, surface disinfectants may be difficult to obtain in remote, resource-limited, or disaster relief settings. Electrochemical oxidants (ECO) are chlorine-based disinfectants that can be generated using battery power to electrolyze brine (NaCl) solutions. Electrolysis generates a mixed-oxidant solution that contains both chlorine (HOCl, OCl(-)) and reactive oxygen species (e.g., ·OH, O3, H2O2, and ·O2-) capable of inactivating pathogens. One onsite generator of ECO is the Smart Electrochlorinator 200 (SE-200, Cascade Designs, Inc.). In a laboratory study, we assessed ECO surface disinfection efficacy for two gastrointestinal virus surrogates: bacteriophage MS2 and murine norovirus MNV-1. We quantified both infectivity and nucleic acid inactivation using culture-dependent and independent assays. At free available chlorine concentrations of 2,500 ppm and a contact time of 30 s, ECO inactivation of infective MS2 bacteriophage exceeded 7 log10 compared to MNV-1 disinfection of approximately 2 log10. Genomic RNA inactivation was less than infective virus inactivation: MS2 RNA inactivation was approximately 5 log10 compared to MNV-1 RNA inactivation of approximately 1.5 log10. The results are similar to inactivation efficacy of household bleach when used at similar free available chlorine concentrations. Our work demonstrates the potential of ECO solutions, generated onsite, to be used for surface disinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Julian
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
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40
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Evaluation of a disinfectant wipe intervention on fomite-to-finger microbial transfer. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:3113-8. [PMID: 24610856 DOI: 10.1128/aem.04235-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inanimate surfaces, or fomites, can serve as routes of transmission of enteric and respiratory pathogens. No previous studies have evaluated the impact of surface disinfection on the level of pathogen transfer from fomites to fingers. Thus, the present study investigated the change in microbial transfer from contaminated fomites to fingers following disinfecting wipe use. Escherichia coli (10(8) to 10(9) CFU/ml), Staphylococcus aureus (10(9) CFU/ml), Bacillus thuringiensis spores (10(7) to 10(8) CFU/ml), and poliovirus 1 (10(8) PFU/ml) were seeded on ceramic tile, laminate, and granite in 10-μl drops and allowed to dry for 30 min at a relative humidity of 15 to 32%. The seeded fomites were treated with a disinfectant wipe and allowed to dry for an additional 10 min. Fomite-to-finger transfer trials were conducted to measure concentrations of transferred microorganisms on the fingers after the disinfectant wipe intervention. The mean log10 reduction of the test microorganisms on fomites by the disinfectant wipe treatment varied from 1.9 to 5.0, depending on the microorganism and the fomite. Microbial transfer from disinfectant-wipe-treated fomites was lower (up to <0.1% on average) than from nontreated surfaces (up to 36.3% on average, reported in our previous study) for all types of microorganisms and fomites. This is the first study quantifying microbial transfer from contaminated fomites to fingers after the use of disinfectant wipe intervention. The data generated in the present study can be used in quantitative microbial risk assessment models to predict the effect of disinfectant wipes in reducing microbial exposure.
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41
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Jeon YS, Chun J, Kim BS. Identification of household bacterial community and analysis of species shared with human microbiome. Curr Microbiol 2013; 67:557-63. [PMID: 23743600 PMCID: PMC3790245 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-013-0401-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Microbial populations in indoor environments, where we live and eat, are important for public health. Various bacterial species reside in the kitchen, and refrigerators, the major means of food storage within kitchens, can be a direct source of food borne illness. Therefore, the monitoring of microbiota in the refrigerator is important for food safety. We investigated and compared bacterial communities that reside in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator and on the seat of the toilet, which is recognized as highly colonized by microorganisms, in ten houses using high-throughput sequencing. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were predominant in refrigerator and toilet samples. However, Proteobacteria was more abundant in the refrigerator, and Firmicutes was more abundant in the toilet. These household bacterial communities were compared with those of human skin and gut to identify potential sources of household bacteria. Bacterial communities from refrigerators and toilets shared more species in common with human skin than gut. Opportunistic pathogens, including Propionibacterium acnes, Bacteroides vulgatus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, were identified as species shared with human skin and gut microbiota. This approach can provide a general background of the household microbiota and a potential method of source-tracking for public health purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon-Seong Jeon
- ChunLab, Inc., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongsik Chun
- ChunLab, Inc., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Soo Kim
- ChunLab, Inc., Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Julian TR, MacDonald LH, Guo Y, Marks SJ, Kosek M, Yori PP, Pinedo SR, Schwab KJ. Fecal indicator bacteria contamination of fomites and household demand for surface disinfection products: a case study from Peru. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013; 89:869-72. [PMID: 24019431 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-mediated disease transmission is understudied in developing countries, particularly in light of the evidence that surface concentrations of fecal bacteria typically exceed concentrations in developed countries by 10- to 100-fold. In this study, we examined fecal indicator bacterial contamination of dinner plates at 21 households in four peri-urban communities in the Peruvian Amazon. We also used surveys to estimate household use of and demand for surface disinfectants at 280 households. Despite detecting total coliform, enterococci, and Escherichia coli on 86%, 43%, and 24% of plates sampled, respectively, less than one-third of households were regularly using bleach to disinfect surfaces. Among non-users of bleach, only 3.2% of respondents reported a new demand for bleach, defined as a high likelihood of using bleach within the next year. This study highlights the potential for marketing approaches to increase use of and demand for surface disinfectants to improve domestic hygiene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R Julian
- Johns Hopkins Global Water Program and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Asociación Benéfica PRISMA, Unidad de Investigaciones Biomédica, Iquitos, Maynas, Peru
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43
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Transfer efficiency of bacteria and viruses from porous and nonporous fomites to fingers under different relative humidity conditions. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:5728-34. [PMID: 23851098 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01030-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fomites can serve as routes of transmission for both enteric and respiratory pathogens. The present study examined the effect of low and high relative humidity on fomite-to-finger transfer efficiency of five model organisms from several common inanimate surfaces (fomites). Nine fomites representing porous and nonporous surfaces of different compositions were studied. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus thuringiensis, MS2 coliphage, and poliovirus 1 were placed on fomites in 10-μl drops and allowed to dry for 30 min under low (15% to 32%) or high (40% to 65%) relative humidity. Fomite-to-finger transfers were performed using 1.0 kg/cm(2) of pressure for 10 s. Transfer efficiencies were greater under high relative humidity for both porous and nonporous surfaces. Most organisms on average had greater transfer efficiencies under high relative humidity than under low relative humidity. Nonporous surfaces had a greater transfer efficiency (up to 57%) than porous surfaces (<6.8%) under low relative humidity, as well as under high relative humidity (nonporous, up to 79.5%; porous, <13.4%). Transfer efficiency also varied with fomite material and organism type. The data generated can be used in quantitative microbial risk assessment models to assess the risk of infection from fomite-transmitted human pathogens and the relative levels of exposure to different types of fomites and microorganisms.
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Dunn RR, Fierer N, Henley JB, Leff JW, Menninger HL. Home life: factors structuring the bacterial diversity found within and between homes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64133. [PMID: 23717552 PMCID: PMC3661444 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Most of our time is spent indoors where we are exposed to a wide array of different microorganisms living on surfaces and in the air of our homes. Despite their ubiquity and abundance, we have a limited understanding of the microbial diversity found within homes and how the composition and diversity of microbial communities change across different locations within the home. Here we examined the diversity of bacterial communities found in nine distinct locations within each of forty homes in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina, USA, using high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. We found that each of the sampled locations harbored bacterial communities that were distinct from one another with surfaces that are regularly cleaned typically harboring lower levels of diversity than surfaces that are cleaned infrequently. These location-specific differences in bacterial communities could be directly related to usage patterns and differences in the likely sources of bacteria dispersed onto these locations. Finally, we examined whether the variability across homes in bacterial diversity could be attributed to outdoor environmental factors, indoor habitat structure, or the occupants of the home. We found that the presence of dogs had a significant effect on bacterial community composition in multiple locations within homes as the homes occupied by dogs harbored more diverse communities and higher relative abundances of dog-associated bacterial taxa. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between the types of bacteria deposited on surfaces outside the home and those found inside the home, highlighting that microbes from outside the home can have a direct effect on the microbial communities living on surfaces within our homes. Together this work provides the first comprehensive analysis of the microbial communities found in the home and the factors that shape the structure of these communities both within and between homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert R Dunn
- Department of Biology and Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.
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45
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Dunn RR, Fierer N, Henley JB, Leff JW, Menninger HL. Home life: factors structuring the bacterial diversity found within and between homes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64133. [PMID: 23717552 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064133.s005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Most of our time is spent indoors where we are exposed to a wide array of different microorganisms living on surfaces and in the air of our homes. Despite their ubiquity and abundance, we have a limited understanding of the microbial diversity found within homes and how the composition and diversity of microbial communities change across different locations within the home. Here we examined the diversity of bacterial communities found in nine distinct locations within each of forty homes in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina, USA, using high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. We found that each of the sampled locations harbored bacterial communities that were distinct from one another with surfaces that are regularly cleaned typically harboring lower levels of diversity than surfaces that are cleaned infrequently. These location-specific differences in bacterial communities could be directly related to usage patterns and differences in the likely sources of bacteria dispersed onto these locations. Finally, we examined whether the variability across homes in bacterial diversity could be attributed to outdoor environmental factors, indoor habitat structure, or the occupants of the home. We found that the presence of dogs had a significant effect on bacterial community composition in multiple locations within homes as the homes occupied by dogs harbored more diverse communities and higher relative abundances of dog-associated bacterial taxa. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between the types of bacteria deposited on surfaces outside the home and those found inside the home, highlighting that microbes from outside the home can have a direct effect on the microbial communities living on surfaces within our homes. Together this work provides the first comprehensive analysis of the microbial communities found in the home and the factors that shape the structure of these communities both within and between homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert R Dunn
- Department of Biology and Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.
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46
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Choi HY, Kwon WT, Lee WS, Lee H. Research on Bacterial Distribution of Public Lavatory. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.5668/jehs.2012.38.6.520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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47
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Flores GE, Bates ST, Caporaso JG, Lauber CL, Leff JW, Knight R, Fierer N. Diversity, distribution and sources of bacteria in residential kitchens. Environ Microbiol 2012; 15:588-96. [PMID: 23171378 PMCID: PMC5100818 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Revised: 09/26/2012] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria readily colonize kitchen surfaces, and the exchange of microbes between humans and the kitchen environment can impact human health. However, we have a limited understanding of the overall diversity of these communities, how they differ across surfaces and sources of bacteria to kitchen surfaces. Here we used high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to explore biogeographical patterns of bacteria across > 80 surfaces within the kitchens of each of four households. In total, 34 bacterial and two archaeal phyla were identified, with most sequences belonging to the Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Genera known to contain common food-borne pathogens were low in abundance but broadly distributed throughout the kitchens, with different taxa exhibiting distinct distribution patterns. The most diverse communities were associated with infrequently cleaned surfaces such as fans above stoves, refrigerator/freezer door seals and floors. In contrast, the least diverse communities were observed in and around sinks, which were dominated by biofilm-forming Gram-negative lineages. Community composition was influenced by conditions on individual surfaces, usage patterns and dispersal from source environments. Human skin was the primary source of bacteria across all kitchen surfaces, with contributions from food and faucet water dominating in a few specific locations. This study demonstrates that diverse bacterial communities are widely distributed in residential kitchens and that the composition of these communities is often predictable. These results also illustrate the ease with which human- and food-associated bacteria can be transferred in residential settings to kitchen surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto E Flores
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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48
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Flores GE, Bates ST, Knights D, Lauber CL, Stombaugh J, Knight R, Fierer N. Microbial biogeography of public restroom surfaces. PLoS One 2011; 6:e28132. [PMID: 22132229 PMCID: PMC3223236 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We spend the majority of our lives indoors where we are constantly exposed to bacteria residing on surfaces. However, the diversity of these surface-associated communities is largely unknown. We explored the biogeographical patterns exhibited by bacteria across ten surfaces within each of twelve public restrooms. Using high-throughput barcoded pyrosequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene, we identified 19 bacterial phyla across all surfaces. Most sequences belonged to four phyla: Actinobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The communities clustered into three general categories: those found on surfaces associated with toilets, those on the restroom floor, and those found on surfaces routinely touched with hands. On toilet surfaces, gut-associated taxa were more prevalent, suggesting fecal contamination of these surfaces. Floor surfaces were the most diverse of all communities and contained several taxa commonly found in soils. Skin-associated bacteria, especially the Propionibacteriaceae, dominated surfaces routinely touched with our hands. Certain taxa were more common in female than in male restrooms as vagina-associated Lactobacillaceae were widely distributed in female restrooms, likely from urine contamination. Use of the SourceTracker algorithm confirmed many of our taxonomic observations as human skin was the primary source of bacteria on restroom surfaces. Overall, these results demonstrate that restroom surfaces host relatively diverse microbial communities dominated by human-associated bacteria with clear linkages between communities on or in different body sites and those communities found on restroom surfaces. More generally, this work is relevant to the public health field as we show that human-associated microbes are commonly found on restroom surfaces suggesting that bacterial pathogens could readily be transmitted between individuals by the touching of surfaces. Furthermore, we demonstrate that we can use high-throughput analyses of bacterial communities to determine sources of bacteria on indoor surfaces, an approach which could be used to track pathogen transmission and test the efficacy of hygiene practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto E. Flores
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Scott T. Bates
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Dan Knights
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Christian L. Lauber
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Jesse Stombaugh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Rob Knight
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Noah Fierer
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
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