Hygienic evaluation of the Resourcify GmbH concept for recovering raw materials from recyclable medical devices after surgery.

In addition to emissions harmful to the environment, a significant amount of waste is generated in hospitals. In recognition of the fact that medical devices (MDs) contain valuable raw materials, such as rare earth elements, other metals, and high-quality plastics, a recycling concept has been developed. The project was examined for safety and feasibility from a hygiene point of view with sustainability in mind in order to create a reference solution for other areas as applicable.

Virucidal activity of a plant-oil-based oral rinse against respiratory viruses.

Background: Respiratory viruses have been reported to infect the salivary glands and the throat, which are potential reservoirs for virus replication and transmission. Therefore, strategies to reduce the amount of infective virus particles in the oral mucous membranes could lower the risk of transmission.

Methods: The viral inactivation capacity of a plant-oil-based oral rinse (Salviathymol®) was evaluated in comparison with chlorhexidine (Chlorhexamed® FORTE) using a quantitative suspension test according to EN 14476.

A standardized wound infection model for antimicrobial testing of wound dressings in vitro.

To investigate the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents against wound infections, experiments using either 2D cultures with planktonic microorganisms or animal infection models are frequently carried out. However, the transferability of the results to human skin is limited by the lack of complexity of the 2D models or by the poor translation of the results from animal models. Hence, there is a need for wound infection models capable of assessing antimicrobial agents.

A comprehensive approach for evaluating the virucidal performance of domestic laundry detergents under practical conditions.

Aims: We aimed to develop a method to assess the virucidal performance of domestic laundry in a lab-scale washing machine (Rotawash) based on EN 17658.

Methods And Results: For method development, virus recovery was investigated after drying on cotton carriers for three test viruses murine norovirus (MNV), modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA), and bovine coronavirus (BCoV), followed by washing simulations in flasks and Rotawash. MNV and MVA demonstrated sufficient recovery from carriers after drying and washing (up to 40°C and 60 min).

Evaluation of temperature, drying time and other determinants for the recovery of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens in disinfectant efficacy testing.

Background: In the clinical setting, surface disinfection is an important measure to reduce the risk of cross transmission of micro-organisms and the risk of nosocomial infections. Standardized methods can be used to evaluate disinfection procedures, as well as the effectiveness of the active ingredients used for disinfection. However, despite standardization, the results of such methodologies are still determined by several factors, and incorrect results may lead to invalid assumptions about the effectiveness of a disinfectant, posing significant health risks for patients and health personnel.

Superiority of manual disinfection using pre-soaked wipes over automatic UV-C radiation without prior cleaning.

Background: The efficacy of ultraviolet C (UV-C) radiation against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms has been demonstrated in several studies, but differences in the specific doses and the extent of microbial reduction were found. Furthermore, the conditions of laboratory tests differ greatly from reality, such that efficacy achieved in tests may not necessarily be assumed in reality. Consequently, it is important to investigate the effectiveness of UV-C in representative field trials.

Evolving the EN 1500 test method for alcohol-based hand rub closer to clinical reality by reducing the organic load on hands and enabling product to be applied to dry hands.

Background: The methods currently used in Europe and North America to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of hand hygiene products have some limitations (e.g. selection of test organism, method of contamination), and none of the methods allow prediction of actual clinical efficacy.

Impact of concentration, temperature and pH on the virucidal activity of alcohols against human adenovirus.

Background: Adenoviruses belong to the stable nonenveloped viruses playing an important role in healthcare-associated infections mainly causing respiratory infections and epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. Hand disinfection with alcoholic preparations is therefore one of the most important measures to prevent such viral infections in hospitals and other medical settings.

Methods: The inactivation of adenovirus type 5 by ethanol, 1- and 2-propanol, and 2 commercially available hand disinfectants was examined at different concentrations, temperatures, and pH-values.

Pulsed low-intensity laser treatment stimulates wound healing without enhancing biofilm development in vitro.

Objectives: Treating infected or chronic wounds burdened with biofilms still is a major challenge in medical care. Healing-stimulating factors lose their efficacy due to bacterial degradation, and antimicrobial substances negatively affect dermal cells. Therefore, alternative treatment approaches like the pulsed low intensity laser therapy (LILT) require consideration.

Hepatitis E virus is highly resistant to alcohol-based disinfectants.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide and is mainly transmitted via the fecal-oral route or through consumption of contaminated food products. Due to the lack of efficient cell culture systems for the propagation of HEV, limited data regarding its sensitivity to chemical disinfectants are available. Consequently, preventive and evidence-based hygienic guidelines on HEV disinfection are lacking.

Evaluation of the substitution of poliomyelitis virus for testing virucidal activities of instrument and surface disinfection.

The Global Polio Eradication initiative has the goal to eradicate poliomyelitis worldwide. This means that poliomyelitisvirus type 1 strain LSc 2ab (PV-1) can no longer be used for the evaluation of virucidal activity of chemical disinfectants. This study evaluated murine parvovirus ATCC VR 1346 (minute virus of mice) as suitable surrogate for PV-1 when testing virucidal activity of biocides in instrument and surface disinfectants.

Virucidal activity of nasal sprays against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.

The highest viral loads of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 are detectable in the oral cavity, so a potential reduction of infectious virus by nasal and oral sprays could reduce transmission. Therefore, the inactivation capacity of nine nasal and oral sprays was evaluated according to EN 14476. One nasal spray based on sodium hypochlorite and one oral spray containing essential oils reduced viral titres by two to three orders of magnitude.

A realistic transfer method reveals low risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via contaminated euro coins and banknotes.

The current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has created a significant threat to global health. While respiratory aerosols or droplets are considered as the main route of human-to-human transmission, secretions expelled by infected individuals can also contaminate surfaces and objects, potentially creating the risk of fomite-based transmission. Consequently, frequently touched objects such as paper currency and coins have been suspected as potential transmission vehicle.

Virucidal efficacy of an ozone-generating system for automated room disinfection.

Besides conventional prevention measures, no-touch technologies based on gaseous systems have been introduced in hospital hygiene for room disinfection. The whole-room disinfectant device Sterisafe Pro, which creates ozone as a biocidal agent, was tested for its virucidal efficacy based on Association Française de Normalisation Standard NF T 72-281:2014. All test virus titres were reduced after 150 and 300 min of decontamination, with mean reduction factors ranging from 2.

Activity of Antimicrobial Wound Dressings on Wound Biofilm.

The treatment of acute and chronic infected wounds with residing biofilm still poses a major challenge in medical care. Interactions of antimicrobial dressings with bacterial load, biofilm matrix and the overall protein-rich wound microenvironment remain insufficiently studied. This analysis aimed to extend the investigation on the efficacy of a variety of antimicrobial dressings using an biofilm model (lhBIOM) mimicking the specific biofilm-environment in human wounds.

An automated room disinfection system using ozone is highly active against surrogates for SARS-CoV-2.

Background: The presence of coronaviruses on surfaces in the patient environment is a potential source of indirect transmission. Manual cleaning and disinfection measures do not always achieve sufficient removal of surface contamination. This increases the importance of automated solutions in the context of final disinfection of rooms in the hospital setting.

Biofilm reduction potential of 0.02% polyhexanide irrigation solution in several types of urethral catheters.

Background: Long-term use of urethral catheters is associated with high risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) and blockage. Microbial biofilms are a common cause of catheter blockage, reducing their lifetime and significantly increasing morbidity of UTIs. A 0.

Comparative analysis of biofilm models to determine the efficacy of antimicrobials.

Biofilms are one of the greatest challenges in today's treatment of chronic wounds. While antimicrobials kill platonic bacteria within seconds, they are rarely able to harm biofilms. In order to identify effective substances for antibacterial therapy, cost-efficient, standardized and reproducible models that aim to mimic the clinical situation are required.

Improved method for tuberculocidal and mycobactericidal activity testing of disinfectants based on the European Standard EN 14348.

Safe measurements to prevent the transmission of (multidrug-resistant) mycobacteria such as disinfection are essential in healthcare settings. In Europe chemical disinfectants are tested for their tuberculocidal and mycobactericidal efficacy by the internationally accepted test procedure described in EN 14348. However, especially for amine-based disinfectants, invalid results may occur by this procedure due to insufficient neutralization.

Comparison of the in-vitro efficacy of different mouthwash solutions targeting SARS-CoV-2 based on the European Standard EN 14476.

The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is triggering a global health emergency alert. Until vaccination becomes available, a bundle of effective preventive measures is desperately needed. Recent research is indicating the relevance of aerosols in the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Virucidal efficacy of glutaraldehyde for instrument disinfection.

Glutaraldehyde (GDA) is an active ingredient in many instrument disinfectants and is effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. In the past, the virus-inactivating properties of these products were mainly claimed based on quantitative suspension tests with different test viruses. Recently, however, a European Norm EN 17111:2018 has been published which allows examination of instrument disinfectants in a surface carrier test, simulating practical conditions.