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Pellegrino R, Villani S, Spagnolo D, Carofalo I, Carrino N, Calcagnile M, Alifano P, Madaghiele M, Demitri C, Nitti P. Development of PVA Electrospun Nanofibers for Fabrication of Bacteriological Swabs. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1404. [PMID: 37998003 PMCID: PMC10669574 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the enormous demand for swabs for clinical use has promoted their relevance and, consequently, brought the environmental issues due to their single use and lack of biodegradability to the attention of the healthcare industry. Swabs consist of a stick that facilitates their easy handling and manoeuvrability even in complex districts and an absorbent tip designed to uptake and release biological samples. In this study, we focused on the fabrication of an innovative biodegradable poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofiber swab tip using the electrospinning technique. The innovative swab tip obtained showed comparable uptake and release capacity of protein and bacterial species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) with those of the commercial foam-type swab. In this way, the obtained swab can be attractive and suitable to fit into this panorama due to its low-cost process, easy scalability, and good uptake and release capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Pellegrino
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (S.V.); (N.C.); (M.M.); (C.D.)
| | - Stefania Villani
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (S.V.); (N.C.); (M.M.); (C.D.)
| | - Daniela Spagnolo
- Microbiotech s.r.l., Via A. Tamborino s.n.c., 73024 Maglie, Italy; (D.S.); (I.C.)
| | - Irene Carofalo
- Microbiotech s.r.l., Via A. Tamborino s.n.c., 73024 Maglie, Italy; (D.S.); (I.C.)
| | - Nico Carrino
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (S.V.); (N.C.); (M.M.); (C.D.)
| | - Matteo Calcagnile
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (M.C.); (P.A.)
| | - Pietro Alifano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (M.C.); (P.A.)
| | - Marta Madaghiele
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (S.V.); (N.C.); (M.M.); (C.D.)
| | - Christian Demitri
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (S.V.); (N.C.); (M.M.); (C.D.)
| | - Paola Nitti
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (S.V.); (N.C.); (M.M.); (C.D.)
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Jones SL, Gibson KE. Temperature, Time, and Type, Oh My! Key Environmental Factors Impacting the Recovery of Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Tulane Virus from Surfaces. J Food Prot 2022; 85:1157-1165. [PMID: 35588461 DOI: 10.4315/jfp-22-057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Environmental monitoring (EM) programs are designed to detect the presence of pathogens in food manufacturing environments, with the goal of preventing microbial contamination of food. Nevertheless, limited knowledge exists regarding the influence of environmental conditions on microbial recovery during EM. This study uses a commercially available polyurethane foam EM tool to determine the influence of environmental factors on the recovery of foodborne pathogens. The specific objectives of this study were to determine if environmental conditions and surface composition impact the recovery of sought-after microorganisms found in food processing environments. These data are compared across (i) microorganism type, (ii) surface type, (iii) environmental temperature and relative humidity (RH), and (iv) exposure time. Two bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium) and one human norovirus surrogate (Tulane virus) were inoculated onto three nonporous surfaces (polypropylene, stainless steel, and neoprene). Surfaces were held in an environmental chamber for 24 or 72 h at 30°C with 30% RH, 6°C with 85% RH, and 30°C with 85% RH. Data indicate that microbial recovery from environmental surfaces significantly (P ≤ 0.05) varies by microorganism type, environmental conditions, and exposure time. For instance, all microorganisms were significantly different from each other, with the greatest mean log reduction being Tulane virus and the lesser reduction being L. monocytogenes at 4.94 ± 1.75 log PFU per surface and 2.54 ± 0.91 log CFU per surface, respectively. Overall, these data can be used to improve the effectiveness of EM programs and underscores the need to better comprehend how EM test results are impacted by food manufacturing environmental conditions. HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Jones
- Department of Food Science, Center for Food Safety, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, 1371 West Altheimer Drive, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72704, USA
| | - Kristen E Gibson
- Department of Food Science, Center for Food Safety, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, 1371 West Altheimer Drive, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72704, USA
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Phi 6 recovery from inoculated fingerpads based on elution buffer and methodology. J Virol Methods 2022; 299:114307. [PMID: 34606796 PMCID: PMC9757907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Phi 6 (Φ6) bacteriophage is a proposed surrogate to study pathogenic enveloped viruses including SARS-CoV-2-the causative agent of COVID-19-based on structural similarities, BSL-1 status, and ease of use. To determine the role of virus-contaminated hands in disease transmission, an enhanced understanding of buffer and method performance for Φ6 recovery needs to be determined. Four buffer types and three methodologies were investigated for the recovery of Φ6 from human fingerpads over a 30 min duration. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), PBS + 0.1 % Tween, 0.1 M glycine + 3% beef extract, and viral transport medium were evaluated as buffers for recovery of Φ6 via a dish, modified glove juice, and vigorous swabbing method. Φ6 concentrations on fingerpads were determined at 0-, 5-, 10-, and 30-min post-inoculation. While there were observed differences in virus recovery across buffer and method types depending on the time point, log PFU recovery based on buffer type or methodology was not significantly different at any time point (P > 0.05). The results presented in this study will allow for future work on Φ6 persistence, transfer between hands and surfaces, and efficacy of hand hygiene methods to be performed using a well-characterized and validated recovery method.
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Horve PF, Dietz L, Northcutt D, Stenson J, Van Den Wymelenberg K. Evaluation of a bioaerosol sampler for indoor environmental surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257689. [PMID: 34780482 PMCID: PMC8592464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The worldwide spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has ubiquitously impacted many aspects of life. As vaccines continue to be manufactured and administered, limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2 will rely more heavily on the early identification of contagious individuals occupying reopened and increasingly populated indoor environments. In this study, we investigated the utility of an impaction-based bioaerosol sampling system with multiple nucleic acid collection media. Heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 was utilized to perform bench-scale, short-range aerosol, and room-scale aerosol experiments. Through bench-scale experiments, AerosolSense Capture Media (ACM) and nylon flocked swabs were identified as the highest utility media. In room-scale aerosol experiments, consistent detection of aerosol SARS-CoV-2 was achieved at an estimated aerosol concentration equal to or greater than 0.089 genome copies per liter of room air (gc/L) when air was sampled for eight hours or more at less than one air change per hour (ACH). Shorter sampling periods (75 minutes) yielded consistent detection at ~31.8 gc/L of room air and intermittent detection down to ~0.318 gc/L at (at both 1 and 6 ACH). These results support further exploration in real-world testing scenarios and suggest the utility of indoor aerosol surveillance as an effective risk mitigation strategy in occupied buildings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Finn Horve
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Leslie Dietz
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Dale Northcutt
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Jason Stenson
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
| | - Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg
- Biology and the Built Environment Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States of America
- Institute for Health and the Built Environment, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, United States of America
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Overbey KN, Zachos NC, Coulter C, Jacangelo J, Schwab KJ. Recovery of Infectious Human Norovirus GII.4 Sydney From Fomites via Replication in Human Intestinal Enteroids. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:693090. [PMID: 34307195 PMCID: PMC8294327 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.693090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Contamination of fomites by human norovirus (HuNoV) can initiate and prolong outbreaks. Fomite swabbing is necessary to predict HuNoV exposure and target interventions. Historically, swab recovered HuNoV has been measured by molecular methods that detect viral RNA but not infectious HuNoV. The recent development of HuNoV cultivation in human intestinal enteroids (HIEs) enables detection of infectious HuNoV. It is unknown if the swabbing process and swab matrix will allow for cultivation of fomite recovered HuNoV. We used HIEs to culture swab-recovered HuNoV GII.4 Sydney from experimentally infected surfaces—a hospital bed tray (N = 32), door handle (N = 10), and sanitizer dispenser (N = 11). Each surface was swabbed with macrofoam swabs premoistened in PBS plus 0.02% Tween80. Swab eluate was tested for infectious HuNoV by cultivation in HIE monolayers. Infectious HuNoV can be recovered from surfaces inoculated with at least 105 HuNoV genome equivalents/3 cm2. In total, 57% (N = 53) of recovered swabs contained infectious HuNoV detected by HIEs. No difference in percent positive swabs was observed between the three surfaces at p = 0.2. We demonstrate that fomite swabbing can be combined with the HIE method to cultivate high titer infectious HuNoV from the environment, filling a significant gap in HuNoV detection. Currently, high titers of HuNoV are required to measure growth in HIEs and the HIE system precludes absolute quantification of infectious viruses. However, the HIE system can provide a binary indication of infectious HuNoV which enhances existing detection methods. Identification of infectious HuNoVs from swabs can increase monitoring accuracy, enhance risk estimates, and help prevent outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie N Overbey
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Nicholas C Zachos
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Caroline Coulter
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joseph Jacangelo
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Stantec, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Kellogg J Schwab
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Benson NU, Fred-Ahmadu OH, Bassey DE, Atayero AA. COVID-19 pandemic and emerging plastic-based personal protective equipment waste pollution and management in Africa. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2021; 9:105222. [PMID: 33614408 PMCID: PMC7881289 DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2021.105222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The threat of plastic waste pollution in African countries is increasing exponentially since the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus infection as a pandemic. Fundamental to this growing threat are multiple factors, including the increased public consumption for single-use plastics, limited or non-existence of adequate plastic waste management infrastructures, and urbanisation. Plastics-based personal protective equipment including millions of surgical masks, medical gowns, face shields, safety glasses, protective aprons, sanitiser containers, plastics shoes, and gloves have been widely used for the reduction of exposure risk to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This paper estimates and elucidates the growing plethora of plastic wastes in African countries in the context of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral fingerprint indicates that face masks were characterised by natural and artificial fibres including polyester fibres, polypropylene, natural latex resin. Our estimate suggests that over 12 billion medical and fabric face masks are discarded monthly, giving the likelihood that an equivalent of about 105,000 tonnes of face masks per month could be disposed into the environment by Africans. In general, 15 out of 57 African countries are significant plastic waste contributors with Nigeria (15%), Ethiopia (8.6%), Egypt (7.6%), DR Congo (6.7%), Tanzania (4.5%), and South Africa (4.4%) topping the list. Therefore, this expert insight is an attempt to draw the attention of governments, healthcare agencies, and the public to the potential risks of SARS-CoV-2-generated plastics (COVID plastic wastes), and the environmental impacts that could exacerbate the existing plastic pollution epidemic after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nsikak U Benson
- Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Unit, Department of Chemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Omowunmi H Fred-Ahmadu
- Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Unit, Department of Chemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
| | | | - Aderemi A Atayero
- Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
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Jones SL, Gibson KE. Factors impacting microbial release from environmental monitoring tools. Int J Food Microbiol 2021; 347:109198. [PMID: 33894462 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The U.S. FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule underlines the importance of an effective environmental monitoring (EM) program. EM is used to determine harborage sites of microorganisms on processing equipment, assess effectiveness of sanitation programs, and prevent transmission of foodborne pathogens. This study characterizes commercially-available polyurethane foam (PUF) and cellulose (CELL) EM tools for their efficacy in the release of foodborne pathogens from their sponge matrices. Specifically, the objectives of this study were to 1) compare the ability of EM tools to release microorganisms into a recovery eluent, 2) characterize EM tool performance at decreasing inoculum concentrations, and 3) assess the impact of various operators during the processing of EM samples. Two bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium) and one human norovirus surrogate (Tulane virus [TV]) were compared at decreasing inoculum levels utilizing two elution techniques (mechanical stomacher, manually by operator), and across six operators. Data indicated that EM tool material composition impacted the release of microorganisms (p = 0.0001), where the PUF EM tool released TV more readily than the CELL EM tool. Conversely, the decreasing inoculum levels did not statistically differ in the release of microorganisms from the EM tool matrices. In addition, no significant difference was found between the machine stomacher and manual elution by human operator or between operators. Overall, the study provides a detailed characterization of two commercially-available EM tools, and the differences identified in this study can be used to improve the effectiveness of EM programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Jones
- University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Department of Food Science, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USA
| | - Kristen E Gibson
- University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Department of Food Science, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USA.
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Benson NU, Bassey DE, Palanisami T. COVID pollution: impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global plastic waste footprint. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06343. [PMID: 33655084 PMCID: PMC7896824 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastic products have played significant roles in protecting people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread use of personal protective gear created a massive disruption in the supply chain and waste disposal system. Millions of discarded single-use plastics (masks, gloves, aprons, and bottles of sanitizers) have been added to the terrestrial environment and could cause a surge in plastics washing up the ocean coastlines and littering the seabed. This paper attempts to assess the environmental footprints of the global plastic wastes generated during COVID-19 and analyze the potential impacts associated with plastic pollution. The amount of plastic wastes generated worldwide since the outbreak is estimated at 1.6 million tonnes/day. We estimate that approximately 3.4 billion single-use facemasks/face shields are discarded daily as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, globally. Our comprehensive data analysis does indicate that COVID-19 will reverse the momentum of years-long global battle to reduce plastic waste pollution. As governments are looking to turbo-charge the economy by supporting businesses weather the pandemic, there is an opportunity to rebuild new industries that can innovate new reusable or non-plastic PPEs. The unanticipated occurrence of a pandemic of this scale has resulted in unmanageable levels of biomedical plastic wastes. This expert insight attempts to raise awareness for the adoption of dynamic waste management strategies targeted at reducing environmental contamination by plastics generated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nsikak U. Benson
- Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Unit, Department of Chemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
| | | | - Thavamani Palanisami
- Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
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