Characterisation of microbial communities and quantification of antibiotic resistance genes in Italian wastewater treatment plants using 16S rRNA sequencing and digital PCR.

The spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in humans, animals and environment is a growing threat to public health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are crucial in mitigating the risk of environmental contamination by effectively removing contaminants before discharge. However, the persistence of ARB and ARGs even after treatment is a challenge for the management of water system.

The Addition of Co into CuO-ZnO Oxides Triggers High Antibacterial Activity and Low Cytotoxicity.

In the present work, a simple two-step method is proposed for mixed oxide synthesis aimed at the achievement of antibacterial nanomaterials. In particular, Cu, Zn and Co have been selected to achieve single-, double- and triple-cation oxides. The synthesized samples are characterized by XRD, IR, SEM and EDX, indicating the formation of either crystalline or amorphous hydrocarbonate precursors.

Survival of different microbial strains in pure and diluted tattoo inks.

Several microorganisms can be found in tattoo inks injected into the skin, despite the ink matrix being considered inhospitable to microbial growth. Studies on the microbial quality of tattoo inks have reported the presence of microorganisms in most of the samples. This study aimed to assess the survival of environmental and human microbial species, selected on the specific criteria, in tattoo inks.

An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis associated with drinking water in north-eastern Italy, August 2019: microbiological and environmental investigations.

is a leading global cause of waterborne disease, with many reported outbreaks related to main water supplies. In August 2019, an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis involving 80 cases occurred among 114 vacationers in a small municipality located in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, north-eastern Italy. After excluding a potential food-borne outbreak, the epidemiological investigation focussed on the hypothesis of a waterborne outbreak.

Microbial Air Quality in Healthcare Facilities.

There is increasing evidence that indoor air quality and contaminated surfaces provide an important potential source for transmission of pathogens in hospitals. Airborne hospital microorganisms are apparently harmless to healthy people. Nevertheless, healthcare settings are characterized by different environmental critical conditions and high infective risk, mainly due to the compromised immunologic conditions of the patients that make them more vulnerable to infections.

Behavior of and in Water from Filter Jugs.

Careless use conditions of filter jugs were applied to simulate and evaluate the behavior of two ubiquitous aquatic bacterial species, and . According to a reference protocol, nine different jugs of popular brands sold in the Italian market were used for the test. Separately, a suspension of the two bacteria was spiked in water used for filling the jugs.

Face masks. Technical, technological and functional characteristics and hygienic-sanitary aspects related to the use of filtering mask in the community.

Introduction: The health emergency caused by the spread of SARS-COV-2 virus has required the adoption of passive measures against contagion, such as social distancing. The use of filtering masks, of the different types available on the market, such as surgical and facial filtering masks (FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3), is also recommended.

Objectives: The aim of this paper, within the Italian and European regulatory reference framework, is to suggest a rational application of existing methodologies that enable to know and assess the features and/or make a face mask intended to be used by the community.

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment as support for bathing waters profiling.

Profiling bathing waters supported by Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) is key to the WHO's recommendations for the 2020/2021 revision of the European Bathing Water Directive. We developed an area-specific QMRA model on four pathogens, using fecal indicator concentrations (E. coli, enterococci) for calculating pathogen loads.

Enteric viruses, somatic coliphages and Vibrio species in marine bathing and non-bathing waters in Italy.

Microbial safety of recreational waters is a significant public health issue. In this study we assessed the occurrence and quantity of enteric viruses in bathing and non-bathing waters in Italy, in parallel with microbial faecal indicators, somatic coliphages and Vibrio spp. Enteric viruses (aichivirus, norovirus and enterovirus) were detected in 55% of bathing water samples, including samples with bacterial indicator concentrations compliant with the European bathing water Directive.

A study on the microbial quality of sealed products for feminine hygiene.

Introduction: Sanitary tampons have been in existence for over 60 years. Their use may present certain health risks, potentially associated with an abnormal change of microbial flora in the vagina (e.g.

[Some considerations on revision of legislation Hygiene-sanitary for the management of swimming pools for swimming-pool use and the National Consultation of the Ministry of Health].

After over a decade the Italian regulation on hygiene and surveillance in swimming pools is under revision based on WHO guidelines and current laws from other European countries. The Ministry of Health is proposing an update of the Annex 1 that contains physical, chemical and microbiological indicators for monitoring swimming pool hygiene. The authors review current regulations and the new proposal for updating surveillance.

First detection of papillomaviruses and polyomaviruses in swimming pool waters: unrecognized recreational water-related pathogens?

Aims: Viral outbreaks associated with swimming pools have been described worldwide. The objective of this study was to examine the extent of viral contamination in indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Methods And Results: Pools were examined for the presence of human enteric viruses (adenovirus, norovirus and enterovirus) and nonenteric viruses (papillomavirus and polyomavirus-BK, JC, KI, WU and Merkel cell).

An Italian investigation on non-tuberculous mycobacteria in an urban water supply.

Background: Atypical or non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are considered opportunistic pathogenic bacteria. They are natural inhabitants of a broad variety of environmental reservoirs, including natural and treated waters. Due to the lack of Italian studies on these microorganisms in drinking water, an investigation was carried out on their occurrence and on species present in a municipal water distribution system in Rome.

[Comparison of cultural methods for the recovery of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the UNI EN ISO 16266 reference method and the alternative method Pseudalert®].

Background: For the water analysis, for Pseudomonas aeruginosa a presumptive positive result can be achieved in 40- 48 hours using the traditional membrane filtration technique followed by an additional 24-48 hour confirmation stage. Conversely, the Pseudalert Quanti-Tray™ method can give confirmed results after 24-28 hours. In this case, actively growing strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa show a confirmed positive result when a specific enzyme cleaving the substrate in the reagent produces a blue fluorescence under 365 nm ultraviolet light.

[World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for coastal and fresh waters: Italian translation by the Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health (SItI) Working Group "Movement Sciences for Health"].

The Working Group "Movement Sciences for Health" of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health has promoted the Italian translation of the WHO Guidelines for Safe Recreational Water Environments, relating to coastal and freshwater environments. In this article the authors briefly summarize the main areas covered in the guidelines, namely drowning and injury, exposure to cold, heat and sunlight, water quality, contamination of beach sand, exposure to algae and their products, aesthetic issues, exposure to chemical and physical agents, dangerous aquatic organisms, monitoring and assessment hazards and risks.

Zootechnical wastewater reuse: constructed wetland as a challenge for protozoan parasite removal.

Samples of soil, well water, and wastewater from a zootechnical farm, water after phytodepuration and maize plants (Zea mays) grown on soils irrigated with these different kinds of water were analysed for indicator bacteria and the protozoa Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Protozoa and bacterial indicators, except coliforms, were not recovered from well water samples. In the effluent from the zootechnical farm, high parasitological concentrations were observed, whilst water after the phytodepuration process showed a concentration reduction of two orders of magnitude.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria and microbial populations in drinking water distribution systems.

Data on the occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), in parallel with those obtained for bacterial indicators and amoebae, are presented with the aim to collect information on the spread of NTM in drinking water distribution systems in Italy. Samples were collected from taps of hospitals and households in Central and Southern Italy. The concentration values obtained for the more traditional microbial parameters complied with the mandatory requirements for drinking water.

Microbial characterization of water and biofilms in drinking water distribution systems at sport facilities.

The present study investigated the in situ microbial indicators' occurrence in water and biofilm in drinking water distribution systems of sport facilities such as gyms. The presence of Legionella, such as a potential pathogen, was also verified. Water and biofilm were contemporaneously collected and microbiologically analyzed.

Assessment of microbiological and parasitological quality of composted wastes: health implications and hygienic measures.

Feedstock and compost samples were collected from twenty composting plants and analysed from the microbiological point of view. Faecal indicator organisms were determined in order to evaluate the efficacy of processes for the removal of pathogenic micro-organisms with similar survival characteristics and to verify their suitability as appropriate markers of microbial quality of composted products. In addition to the classical bacterial indicators, selected organisms, such as Salmonella, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Clostridium spores and helminth ova, were investigated.

Occurrence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Italian water supplies.

A total of 21 samples: raw water (RW) samples; water samples after coagulation with aluminium sulfate (clarified water: CW); and water after chlorination (treated water: TW) from a water purification plant that treats river surface water from the neighbourhood of Foggia (Italy), were analysed for the presence of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts. Bacteriological indicator of faecal contamination (total and faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci,), total bacterial count at 22 and 36 degrees C and physicochemical parameters (turbidity, temperature, pH) were evaluated. Cryptosporidium oocysts were not found in any samples examined, while Giardia cysts were found only in RW samples, with the maximal concentration of 8 cysts/100 l.

Detection and genotypic characterization of Giardia cysts in water samples.

Water samples were collected from a wastewater treatment plant and from two lakes in the vicinity of Rome (Italy) for detection and genotypic characterization of Giardia. All wastewater samples and all but two of the lake samples were scored by immunofluorescence as positive for Giardia. In addition, Giardia cysts were detected, by nested PCR, in all of the examined samples.

[Microbial indicators and fresh water quality assessment].

Traditionally, the microbiological quality of waters has been measured by the analysis of indicator microorganisms. The article reviews the sanitary significance of traditional indicators of faecal contamination (total coliforms, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci) and points out their limits. For some characteristics Escherichia coli may be considered a more useful indicator then faecal coliforms and recently it has been included in all recent laws regarding fresh, marine and drinking water.

Peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite effectiveness in reducing resistant stages of microorganisms.

A comparative study on the efficacy of peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite in inactivating resistant stages of microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Cl. perfingens was carried out. Furthermore the evaluation of the potential reciprocal correlation among the concentrations of the organisms was performed.

An Italian study on Cryptosporidium and Giardia in wastewater, fresh water and treated water.

Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts has been isolated from waters worldwide. In Italy, studies on these parasites in the environment are still limited due to absence of epidemiological evidence and difficulty of adequate methodologies of sampling and analysis. The new Drinking Water Directive 98/83/CE states that Cryptosporidium has to be determined in water intended for human consumption if Clostridium perfringens is detected.