Successful Removal of Clostridioides Difficile Spores and Pathogenic Bacteria From a Launderable Barrier Using a Commercial Laundry Process

Background: To properly clean and disinfect hospital mattresses, bed manufacturers recommend a 3- to 6-step process to remove all pathogenic bacteria. An alternative is to use a removable barrier on the mattress, which is laundered after each use. The current study was to determine efficacy of a commercial laundry process in eliminating Clostridioides difficile (C diff) spores, Mycobacterium terrae (M terrae), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P aeruginosa), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K pneumoniae), and Escherichia coli (E coli) from a barrier. Methods: A test barrier received 3 unique microbial suspensions in separate locations, each suspension having a known quantity of specific microorganisms: C diff spores, M terrae, and a mixed suspension of MRSA, S aureus, P aeruginosa, K pneumoniae, and E coli. A wash load contained the test barrier and 11 additional ballast barriers. Various soils were spread onto the barriers to simulate heavy soiling that may occur in a wash load: Each barrier received a small amount of mixed soil, 50% received urine, 25% received blood, and 25% received a large amount of additional mixed soil. The load was laundered using 71°C (160°F) water, detergent, and chlorine bleach, with final drying at 71°C (160°F). After laundering, remaining colony-forming units (CFUs) of each microorganism were counted at the applied locations. Each test was replicated 3 times. Industry-accepted methods were used to produce suspensions, apply inoculum, and recover organisms after laundering. Results: Before laundering, test barriers contained at least 7.0 log10 cfu/mL of each microorganism distributed over 103 cm2. After laundering, in all cases, no residual CFUs were detected over the test area, resulting in greater than 6.0 log10 reductions for every organism. ( P < .05). Conclusions: Under extreme test conditions including the presence of soil, the laundry process removed all detectable pathogenic bacteria and spores from the barrier.

What’s on your keyboard? A systematic review of the contamination of peripheral computer devices in healthcare settings

ObjectiveTo determine the extent and type of microbial contamination of computer peripheral devices used in healthcare settings, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce contamination of these devices and establish the risk of patient and healthcare worker infection from contaminated devices.DesignSystematic reviewMethodsWe searched four online databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase and Scopus for articles reporting primary data collection on contamination of computer-related equipment (including keyboards, mice, laptops and tablets) and/or studies demonstrating the effectiveness of a disinfection technique. Pooling of contamination rates was conducted where possible, and narrative synthesis was used to describe the rates of device contamination, types of bacterial and viral contamination, effectiveness of interventions and any associations between device contamination and human infections.ResultsOf the 4432 records identified, a total of 75 studies involving 2804 computer devices were included. Of these, 50 studies reported contamination of computer-related hardware, and 25 also measured the effects of a decontamination intervention. The overall proportion of contamination ranged from 24% to 100%. The most common microbial contaminants were skin commensals, but also included potential pathogens including methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus,Clostridiumdifficile, vancomycin-resistantenterococci andEscherichia coli. Interventions demonstrating effective decontamination included wipes/pads using isopropyl alcohol, quaternary ammonium, chlorhexidine or dipotassium peroxodisulfate, ultraviolet light emitting devices, enhanced cleaning protocols and chlorine/bleach products. However, results were inconsistent, and there was insufficient data to demonstrate comparative effectiveness. We found little evidence on the link between device contamination and patient/healthcare worker colonisation or infection.ConclusionsComputer keyboards and peripheral devices are frequently contaminated; however, our findings do not allow us to draw firm conclusions about their relative impact on the transmission of pathogens or nosocomial infection. Additional studies measuring the incidence of healthcare-acquired infections from computer hardware, the relative risk they pose to healthcare and evidence for effective and practical cleaning methods are needed.

Disinfectant Performance of a Chlorine Regenerable Antibacterial Microfiber Fabric as a Reusable Wiper

Rechargeable disinfectant performance of a microfiber fabric grafted with a halamine precursor, 3-allyl-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (ADMH), was tested in an actual use situation in a university student dining hall. The precursor was successfully incorporated onto the surfaces of polyester fibers by using a radical graft polymerization process through a commercial finishing facility. The N–H bonds of ADMH moieties on the fibers can be converted to biocidal N–Cl bonds, when the fabrics are washed in a diluted chlorine bleach containing 3000 ppm available chlorine, providing a refreshable disinfectant function. By wiping the surfaces of 30 tables (equivalent to 18 m2) with wet chlorinated fabrics, both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in concentrations of 105 CFU/mL were totally killed in a contact time of 3 min. The disinfectant properties of the fabrics were still superior after 10 times successive machine washes (equivalent to fifty household machine washes), and rechargeable after wiping 30 tables before each recharge. Recharging conditions, such as temperature, time, active chlorine concentration and pH value of sodium hypochlorite solution, as well as the addition of a detergent, were studied. The product has the potential to improve public safety against biological contaminations and the transmission of diseases.

PEMANFAATAN BETADINE SEBAGAI INDIKATOR UJI KLORIN PADA BERAS BERPEMUTIH

Klorin merupakan salah satu penggunaan Bahan Makanan Tambahan yang dilarang. Menurut Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia No.033/Menkes/Per/IX/2012, bahwa klorin tidak tercatat sebagai Bahan Tambahan Pangan (BTP) dalam kelompok pemutihan dan pematang tepung. Klorin digunakan sebagai pemutih beras yang dimaksudkan agar beras memiliki kualitas super dengan harga yang tinggi. Masyarakat akan kesulitan membedakan beras yang mengandung klorin atau tidak sehingga perlu dilakukan uji sederhana yang dapat dilakukan oleh masyarakat luas. Povidon iodine atau dikenal dengan betadine yang merupakan bahan antiseptik luka merupakan salah satu alternatif digunakan untuk identifikasi secara kualitatif kandungan klorin baik pada makanan maupun air. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui apakah betadine dapat digunakan sebagai alternatif untuk identifikasi klorin pada sampel beras bermerk maupun non merk. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa betadine dapat digunakan sebagai indikator identifikasi klorin pada sampel beras yang dijual di pasaran. Sepuluh sampel beras yang diidentifikasi dua diantaranya terindikasi positif mengandung pemutih klorin. Sampel beras positif mengandung klorin jika setelah penambahan dengan betadine menghasilkan warna putih keruh. Uji penegasan dilakukan dengan menambahkan larutan amilum dan KI 10% pada sampel beras dan menghasilkan warna biru kehitaman. Kata kunci : beras, pemutih, klor, betadine ABSTRACT Chlorine is one of the prohibited uses of Foodstuffs. According to the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No.033 / Menkes / Per / IX / 2012, that chlorine is not recorded as a Food Additives (BTP) in the bleaching and flour milling group. Chlorine is used as rice bleach which is intended to have a super quality rice at a high price. The community will find it difficult to distinguish whether or not rice contains chlorine or not, so a simple test can be carried out by the community. Povidon iodine, also known as betadine, which is an antiseptic wound, is one alternative used to qualitative identify chlorine content in food and water. The purpose of this study was to determine whether betadine can be used as an alternative for identification of chlorine in samples of branded and non-branded rice. The results showed that betadine could be used as an indicator of chlorine identification in rice samples sold in the market. Ten rice samples were identified, two of which were indicated to be positive for chlorine bleach. The rice sample is positive for chlorine if after adding it with betadine it produces a cloudy white color. The affirmation test was carried out by adding a solution of starch and 10% KI to the rice sample and producing a blackish blue color. Key words: rice, bleach, chlorine, betadine

Evaluating the effectiveness of cleaning with detergent soap alone verses detergent soap followed by sanitizer on reducing aerobic microorganism numbers that are present on food contact surfaces

Background: Cross-contamination is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness which poses a massive burden to an individual’s health and to the healthcare system. One way to prevent cross-contamination is through the elimination of pathogens from surfaces by properly washing with a detergent soap followed by sanitizing with a sanitizer. However, as found from a previous research study, not all restaurants in British Columbia wash and sanitize their food contact surfaces. Thus, this study aims to compare the cleaning effectiveness between using detergent soap alone verses using detergent soap followed by sanitizer. Methods: Aerobic organisms were introduced to a cutting board by cutting alfalfa sprouts and then the surface was cleaned with Dawn Detergent soap and sanitized with 200ppm of chlorine bleach sanitizing solution. 3M™ Quick Swabs were used to sample the aerobic organisms (colony forming units) prior to and after each method of cleaning. The swabs were then transferred to 3M™ Petrifilm Plates, incubated at room temperature for 4 days, and then enumerated. Results: The results show that there is a statistically significant greater microbial reduction through cleaning with detergent soap followed by sanitizer (mean log microbial reduction of 4.10) as compared to cleaning with detergent soap alone (mean log microbial reduction of 3.53). The p-value obtained is 0.003843 when α=0.05. The power was determined to be 92%. Conclusions: This study was able to conclude that cleaning with detergent soap followed by sanitizer is 0.57 log (mean log microbial reduction of 4.10 - mean log microbial reduction of 3.53) more effective at cleaning than using detergent soap alone. However, the specific log microbial reduction value for the detergent soap followed by sanitizer achieved in this study is lower than what is found in the previous studies (Gilbert, 1970; Sores et al., 2012; Rossvoll et al., 2015). A possible reason for this discrepancy may be due to the presence of soil and food debris on the surface which may have had interfered with the sanitizing ability of the chlorine bleach (Lee et al., 2007).

“STOP: Can You Drink That Water?” Microbiology, Chemistry, & Advocacy in an Inquiry-Based Water Quality Curriculum for 8th Graders

For many middle school students, connections between their lives and concepts like chemical reactivity, microbial contamination, and experimental sampling are not obvious. They may also feel that, even if there were connections, understanding the monitoring and quality of natural resources is something for grown-ups and beyond their responsibility. This curriculum highlights connections. Students characterize bacteria in a local untreated water source and investigate the mechanism, effectiveness, and byproducts of chlorine bleach as a water treatment. Working in groups, they use different growth and treatment conditions to characterize samples, thus collectively obtaining a more complete description of the system. The North Carolina 8th Grade Standard Course of Study Objectives were used during curricular development, and alignment to Next Generation Science Standards performance expectations is provided. Teacher-guided discussions, demonstrations, experimentation, and database investigation engage students as they develop informed and critical opinions about water quality and water treatment methods. The final activity connects scientific investigation to advocacy and civic engagement.

ANALISIS KADAR KLORIN PADA TEH CELUP BERDASARKAN WAKTU SEDUHAN

Background: Tea is the most widely consumed beverages by all levels of society because in addition to economical, tea is also thought to provide health benefits. Compounds that contribute to the health of the body such as tannins, catechins, flavanols and cafein. Along with its development era community prefers tea bag as it is easy and practical use. Without realizing it, the longer the brewed tea bag in the water substance called chlorine bleach paper contained in tea bags rather the bag of tea bags will also be dissolved. Method: This research includes the study of laboratory experiments. Object in this study is 4 (four) brand of tea bag and then examined in a Laboratory Ambon Pattimura University Biology Education using thiosulfate titration methode. Result: Anova and Tukey test results indicate that there are differences in the levels of chlorine-based treatment duration and type of tea steeping. The study test showed was obtained at the highest levels of chlorine treatment A1P4 (0,413 ppm) and A4P1 treatment resulted in the lowest levels of chlorine (0,058 ppm). Conclusion: There are differences in the levels of chlorine in various brands of tea bag is Sariwangi tea, sosro tea, poci tea and tong tji tea for time 2 minutes, 4 minutes, 6 minutes and 8 minutes.