Potential indicators of virus transport and removal during soil aquifer treatment of treated wastewater effluent.

Increased water demands have led to a notable interest in the use of treated wastewater for reuse. Typically, this results from the implementation of advanced treatment of final effluent from wastewater treatment plants prior to reuse for potable or non-potable purposes. Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) is a natural treatment process in which water from sources of varying quality is infiltrated into the soil to further improve its quality.

Removal of fecal indicator bacteria and antibiotic resistant genes in constructed wetlands.

Wastewater discharge evidently increased bacterial diversity in the receiving waterbodies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a constructed wetland in reducing fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs). We determined the prevalence and attenuation of fecal indicator bacteria including Escherichia coli and enterococci, along with ARGs, and human-associated Bacteroidales (HF183) markers by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method.

Distribution of Bacteria in Dental Offices and the Impact of Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfecting Wipes.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the occurrence of heterotrophic plate count bacteria (HPCs), fecal bacterial indicators, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on hard, nonporous surfaces (fomites) commonly found in dental offices, and to assess the impact of a hygienic disinfection intervention on the reduction of these bacteria in the office setting. Samples of various fomites were collected from dental offices located in Arizona (6) and Illinois (4) and assayed for HPCs, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and MRSA in order to establish baseline bacterial levels. Dental office personnel were then provided with disposable disinfectant wipes containing hydrogen peroxide to use in the office, and the surfaces were subsequently resampled to assess their impact on the specified bacterial populations.

Bacterial contamination of computer touch screens.

The goal of this study was to determine the occurrence of opportunistic bacterial pathogens on the surfaces of computer touch screens used in hospitals and grocery stores. Opportunistic pathogenic bacteria were isolated on touch screens in hospitals; Clostridium difficile and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and in grocery stores; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Enteric bacteria were more common on grocery store touch screens than on hospital computer touch screens.

Wide-spectrum activity of a silver-impregnated fabric.

Fabrics, such as clothing, drapes, pillowcases, and bedsheets are potential sources of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. We found fabrics (ie, professional clothing, pillowcases, and lab coats) treated with a silver-impregnated material to be effective in significantly reducing a wide spectrum of ordinary and drug-resistant microorganisms, including Salmonella, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, Trichphyton mentagrophytes, and norovirus. Fabrics impregnated with antimicrobial agents help provide an additional barrier to the transport or reservoir of pathogens in health care environments.

Evaluation of a disinfectant wipe intervention on fomite-to-finger microbial transfer.

Inanimate surfaces, or fomites, can serve as routes of transmission of enteric and respiratory pathogens. No previous studies have evaluated the impact of surface disinfection on the level of pathogen transfer from fomites to fingers. Thus, the present study investigated the change in microbial transfer from contaminated fomites to fingers following disinfecting wipe use.

Transfer efficiency of bacteria and viruses from porous and nonporous fomites to fingers under different relative humidity conditions.

Fomites can serve as routes of transmission for both enteric and respiratory pathogens. The present study examined the effect of low and high relative humidity on fomite-to-finger transfer efficiency of five model organisms from several common inanimate surfaces (fomites). Nine fomites representing porous and nonporous surfaces of different compositions were studied.