Suchergebnisse

Abstract
In hospital wastewater treatment plants, some bacteria and heavy metals are accumulated by direct or indirect sedimentation, which may influence the characteristics of bacteria antibiotic resistance. In the research, three kinds of hospital wastewater sludges were collected for subsequently analysis. A BD Phoenix-100 automated interpretation system was used to identify the bacteria species and antibiotic resistance. The metal compositions were analyzed by using ICP-OES.
The results showed that most of the identified bacteria were gram positive coccus, i.e., Streptococcus agalactiae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus hominis. The sludge was found to contain high concentration of metals and most of them exceeded the national Water Quality Standards, for instance: Aluminum was averaged 4300 (mg/kg), Chromium 25 (mg/kg), Copper 70(mg/kg), Iron 6140(mg/kg), Nickel 16(mg/kg), Lead 29(mg/kg), and Zinc 618(mg/kg). Bacillus cereus was found to resist antibiotic agents such as AM, FOX, and P; Streptococcus agalactiae was found to resist to FA and GM; Enterococcus faecalis was found to resist to FOX, CC, FA, GM, P, QDA, and SXT; Staphylococcus hominis was found to resist to AM, FOX, OX, P, and SXT. Bacteria increase antibiotic resistance through cross-resistance or co-resistance mechanisms when encountered the environmental stress.
From previous studies, when bacteria expose to excessive concentrations of heavy metals will stimulate the bacteria mutation and force bacteria to alter their genetic to survive, contributing to an increase the antibiotics resistance. Employees who work in wastewater treatment plants are recommended to wear respirators to avoid exposure to suspended sludge aerosols.

Abstract
Smartphones is becoming an indispensable device, which is easily to carry and frequently to be used. Because of the convenience, it goes through various areas with the user, not only at home but also in the public. However, the environment may full of various microorganisms, the bacteria may colonize on the surface of the smartphone via fingers and becoming a vehicle for spreading.
This study swabbed the smartphone touchscreens from both hospital staffs (group A) and community workers (group B), the BD Phoenix-100 were used to identify the bacteria species and their characteristics of antibiotics-resistant. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to evaluate the behaviour of each recruited participant.
A total of 472 isolates from 196 samples were counted, 97% were Gram-positive bacteria. Staphylococcus (46%), Micrococcus (12%), Dermacoccus and Streptococcus (both 6%) were the predominant isolates in group A; and Staphylococcus (50%), Micrococcus and Bacillus (both 8%) and Streptococcus (6%) were detected in group B. Eighty-five % of sampled bacteria on all participant's smartphone revealed antibiotic-resistant and 55% of antibiotic-resistant bacteria were multidrug resistant bacteria. In both groups, 80-90% sampled bacteria exhibited the character of antibiotic resistance if they never use the alcohol to disinfect the contamination of smartphone surface (p =0.002).
The staffs who working in the hospital did not use alcohol to disinfect their phones had higher rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria than community ones (p =0.003). Regular hand-washing and daily disinfection of smartphones shall be recommended, especially in healthcare-related institutions, and may consider add into their hygiene guideline.

Abstract
The bacterial size, biodiversity, human-associated bacteria (HAB) and antibiotic-resistance of bioaerosols were evaluated and compare at ambient atmosphere and outdoor night market in summer in Taiwan. The air condition in night market is usually very hot and humid in summer night and the night markets are always very crowded. A six-stage viable Andersen cascade impactor was used to collect bioaerosols and to determine their size distributions in both ambient atmosphere and outdoor night market. The sampling time was 10 minutes and the bioaerosol sampling in night market was following the walking tourists.
The results showed the average number concentration of bacteria and fungus in the night market was 198 and 267 CFU/m3, respectively. The geometric standard deviation (GSD)and geometric mean diameter (GMD) of bacteria was in the range of 1.86~2.19 and 3.18~5.7 µm, respectively. Moreover, the GSD and GMD of fungus was around 1.83~1.97 and 1.92~4.16 µm, correspondingly. The statistics results revealed that the number of tourists positively affected the concentration of bioaerosol; and the temperature and relative humidity at the time of sampling also associated to the increasing concentration of bioaerosol. The bacterial species identification revealed most of the sampled airborne bacteria were Gram-positive bacteria. Staphylococcus spp. was detected in all sampling size distributions in most of the sampling rounds and their sizes varied widely from 0.65 to >7.0 µm. In the study, the rate of bacteria antibiotic resistance and multidrug resistance in night markets with a larger number of tourists are higher than those in the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract
Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is gradually being widely used in many working environments. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) were used to protect against bioaerosol transmission. However, according to the fit-testing requirements of the US 29 CFR, It only applies to tight-fitting PAPRs, but not applies to loose-fitting hooded PAPRs.
The study was to test commercially available loose-fitting hooded PAPRs by using quantitative testing method. In the experimental chamber (2.0*2.0*2.1 m3), a 3M Air-Mate PAPR with S-757 high-end lined hood (Versaflo) was used to perform the fit-testing. A TSI Portacount was used to test the real-time fit factor (FF) of the volunteer male and female subjects. Positive pressure air supply was maintained in the hood, 10 steps of ISO-16900 standard exercises were performed for 20 minutes.
The results showed that when male subjects were standing still and not talking (the 10th exercise), the test achieved the highest FF value as averaged 54849; and when doing the 8th exercise (walk, speaking), the averaged FF was the lowest one, which was averaged 621. The highest FF of female subjects was averaged 776 when doing the 5th exercise (hands and knees, head rotation), and the lowest FF was averaged 184 when doing the 10th exercise (standing still). Most of the FF values of male subjects were higher than that of female subjects (up to averaged 297 times), which might be because of the head shape, hairstyle, or wearing glasses of the subjects.

Abstract
The bacterial size, biodiversity, human-associated bacteria (HAB) and antibiotic-resistance of bioaerosols were evaluated at three kindergartens in Taiwan in winter and spring. Kindergartens A, B, and C were in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas, respectively. A six-stage viable Andersen cascade impactor was used to collect bioaerosols and to determine their size distributions. A BD Phoenix-100 automated interpretation system was used to identify the airborne bacteria species and their antibiotic resistance.
The results revealed that 1,425 colonies (97.6%) of the sampled airborne bacteria contained 63 species in 29 genera, and 56.6-86.4 % were HABs. About 84.8 % of selected airborne bacteria revealed antibiotic-resistance to at least one antibiotic agent. Staphylococcus spp. was detected in all sampling rounds in the three kindergartens, with a range of abundance between 2.0 and 70.0%. They resisted to 16.9-25.0% of tested antibiotic agents and their sizes varied widely from 1.1 to >7.0 µm. The urban-area kindergarten yielded higher bacteria antibiotic-resistant rate and multidrug resistance than did the lower urbanization level kindergartens. The statistical results revealed that the kindergarten in the rural area, with a higher temperature, a lower relative humidity, and a lower CO2 concentration than the others, tended to have the largest biodiversities (P < 0.05). Moreover, bioaerosol aerodynamic size was statistically correlated with Shannon (P = 0.001) and inverse Simpson (P = 0.002) diversities.
Airborne HAB, especially belonged to Firmicute, that coagulated with human flakes and had high multidrug resistance rate might increase indoor transmission under poor ventilation in kindergarten.

Abstract
The association of bacteria specie, concentration and size distribution during, after work shifting and after guest-visiting were evaluated in intensive care units (ICUs). Two six-stage viable Andersen cascade impactors were used to collect airborne bacteria and fungi separately in ICUs. Their concentrations and size distributions were determined after culturing. A BD Phoenix-100 automated interpretation system was used to identify the sampled bacteria species. The fungi species were identified by trained medical laboratory technologist.
The results showed that during the work shifting, 33.33% of the sampled bacteria was Pantoea agglomerans. Tatumella ptyseos was about 25%, Rodentibacter pneumotropicus was 16.66%, and Pasteurella multocida was 4.166%. However, after work shifting, 28.57% of the sampled bacteria was Tatumella ptyseos. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was 28.57%, and Actinobacillus lignieresii was 14.29%. After guest-visiting, 75% of the sampled bacteria was Bacillus licheniformis and Pseudomonas fluorescens was about 25%. The total airborne bacteria concentrations in the three periods were 56.77, 16.49, and 9.42 CFU/m3, respectively.
The taxonomic results of the airborne fungi in the three periods were Penicillium oxalicum, Trichophuton spp., Aspergillus niger, and Microsporum (all accounting for 16.66%); Penicillium oxalicum (50%), and Scopulariovsis brevicaulis (50%); and Aspergillus niger (33.33%) and Penicillium oxalicum (33.33%), respectively. The total concentrations of airborne fungi in the three periods were 14.13, 4.71, and 7.07 CFU/m3, correspondingly. The population of medical workers during the work shifting was much higher than those at other periods. Increasing the air change rate per hour during work shifting is recommended to decrease the risk of patient infection.

Abstract
The antibiotic-resistance of bioaerosols and bacteria from patients' mouth were evaluated in surgical and medical intensive care units (ICUs). A six-stage viable Andersen cascade impactor was used to collect bioaerosols. The sterilized cotton swabs were used to collect oral samples from four randomly selected patient's mouths. Antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST) were performed using a BD Phoenix-100 automated interpretation system. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the antimicrobial agents for these bacteria isolates were determined using the BD Phoenix-100 instrument.
A total of 199 bacterial isolates were tested for the AST, of which 92.8% were Gram-positive bacteria. The dominated bacteria was Staphylococcus spp. (71.3%), and the others were Micrococcus spp. (15%), Burkholderia spp. (3 %) and Bacillus spp. (2%). According to the AST, 75.9% of sampled airborne bacteria in medical and surgical ICUs were recognized as antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The results of oral samples showed that a total of 3 over 6 bacteria species revealed multidrug resistant to antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to resist 9 type of antibiotics, such as AM, SAM (Penicillin), CZ, CTX, CRO (cephalosporins), ET (carbapenem), MINO (Tetracycline TCs), TGCs (glycylcycline), and TMP-SMX (co-trimoxazole). Burkholderia cepacia and Ralstonia pickettii were found to resist 5 antibiotics: AM, SAM (Penicillin), CZ (cephalosporins), CL (Polypeptide), and ETPs (carbapenems).
The presence of antibiotic resistance in ICUs poses a potential risk to the health of medical staff and patients. Therefore, it is recommended that the ventilation design of ICUs should be evaluated to ensure the effectiveness of nosocomial control.

Abstract
The characteristics of bacteria taxonomy, biodiversity, and human-associated bacteria (HAB) in patients' mouths and indoor air were evaluated and compared in surgical and medical intensive care units (ICUs). A six-stage viable Andersen cascade impactor was used to collect bioaerosols and to determine their size distributions. The sterilized cotton swabs were used to collect oral samples from four randomly selected patient's mouths. A BD Phoenix-100 automated interpretation system was used to identify the sampled bacteria species.
The results was showed Tatumella ptyseos, Staphylococcus scouri, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Moellerella wisconsensis, and Enterococcus faecalis were isolated from oral samples. Mannheimia spp. (28.5%), Staphylococcus spp. (19%), and Burkholderia spp. were the dominated bacteria which were isolated from the air samples. The proportion of HAB concentration in the oral sample was 6.3%, while the HAB concentration in the air was 19%. The low HAB rate indicated most of the cultured bacteria (non HAB) were possibly from the outside environment during work shifting or guest-visiting. Fifteen species of bacteria were collected in the air, and 2 species of them matched the bacteria collected from oral samples. The source of bacteria cultured from the patient's mouth might be related to the distribution of bacteria in the air. However, the airborne bacteria might also come from the patient's cough droplets. The phenomenon deserves further research in the future.
It is recommended that the patient's mouth should be cleaned regularly with sterilized cotton swabs or covered with sterilized gauze to reduce infection.

Abstract

Aims
We investigated the mental and physical health (MPH) effects of workplace violence (WPV) on Taiwan hospital security guards during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three hospitals in Taiwan from July, 2021 to June, 2022. All security guards in the selected hospitals were asked to complete a semi-structured 'violence questionnaire' addressing type (physical, psychological, verbal violence, and sexual harassment) and 12-item Chinese Health Questionnaire (Taiwan version) (CHQ-12).


Results
A total of 110 hospital guards out of 120 completed the questionnaire. In all, 46% indicated they had experienced some form of WPV, 42% had experienced verbal violence (VV), 31% had experienced physical violence (PHV) 14% had experienced psychological violence (PSV) and 6% had experienced sexual harassment (SH). The CHQ-12 scores of victims and others were 3.5±2.4 and 2.1±1.1, respectively (p<.001). The correlation coefficients between WPV and MPH were.29 (p<.01),.27, (p<.01),.39 (p<.001).12 (p=.23) and.29 (p<.01) for VV, PHV, PSV, SH and any type of WPV, respectively.


Conclusions
Hospital security guards in Taiwan who experienced WPV during the COVID-19 pandemic had higher CHQ-12 scores indicating poor MPH than those who had not experienced WPV. WPV would significantly affect MPH, except for SH.