Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as Potential Mechanical Vectors of Pathogenic Bacteria in a Public Hospital in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil

Abstract Studies related to ants found in hospital environments have aroused interest in their role as mechanical vectors of pathogenic microorganisms. The objective of the current research was to determine the species composition and bacterial contamination of ant species found in a public hospital in the eastern Amazonian region. Ants were captured using bait containing honey and sterilized sardines in 15 locations within the Macapá Emergency Hospital, Amapá. Ants were identified morphologically using specific keys. Bacteria were first inoculed in a Brain Heart Infusion broth and then plated on 5% Agar with blood or MacConkey media. Bacterial species were identified through biochemical procedures. In total, 9,687 ants were collected, with 69.8% from the dry season and 30.2% from the rainy season. Nine species of ants were identified belonging to three subfamilies: the Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus 1758) being the most common, comprising 39.2% of the total specimens. Only one ant species was found in each bait, facilitating microbiological analyses. In total, 92 bacteria isolates were identified comprising 12 species. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Schroeter 1872 (Pseudomonadales: Pseudomonadaceae) was pathogenic bacteria, most frequently isolated, comprising 10.9% of the positive samples. The most contaminated ant in the study was M. pharaonis with 38.3%. It was the dominant ant species in this hospital environment. Its wide prevalence, forage day and night of this vector in hospital facilitated bacterial contamination. The presence of bacteria on ants may be associated with the dissemination of pathogens which cause hospital infections, making pest control a necessity in these institutions.

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Epidemiology of bacterial contamination of inert hospital surfaces and equipment in critical and non-critical care units: a Brazilian multicenter study

10.1101/793034 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Dayane Otero Rodrigues ◽

Laís da Paixão Peixoto ◽

Erica Tatiane Mourão Barros ◽

Julianne Rodrigues Guimarães ◽

Bruna Clemente Gontijo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Medical Equipment ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Brain Heart Infusion ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Hospital Environment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Inert Surfaces

AbstractThe hospital environment is an important reservoir of microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant pathogens, which can cause in-patient contamination and healthcare-related infections. The objective of this study was to analyze the epidemiology of bacterial contamination (contaminated sites, pathogen species and their antimicrobial susceptibility, and tracking of multidrug-resistant microorganisms - MDR) of inert hospital surfaces and medical equipment in two public hospitals in Northern Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study with 243 samples (n = 208, from Hospital A; and n = 35, from Hospital B) collected by friction with swabs moistened in Brain Heart Infusion from inert surfaces and equipment. The samples were cultivated and bacterial species were identified by the classical approach and tested for their susceptibility through agar diffusion assay according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Most inert surfaces and equipment analyzed presented bacterial contamination (95.5%). Staphylococcus aureus was the main pathogen of clinical significance detected both in Hospital A (61.8%) and B (68.6%). Hospital A showed higher rates of isolated MDR bacteria than Hospital B, especially in the Adult Intensive Care Unit, which included methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (52.7%), Enterobacteria resistant to 4th generation cephalosporins (19.4%), and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.78%). The failures in the prevention and control of infections in the two hospitals analyzed reinforce the need for a revised protocol for cleaning and disinfection of inert surfaces and medical equipment, and for regulation of antibiotic dispensing, mainly in the AICU of Hospital A, which was found to be a reservoir of MDR pathogens. This study is innovative because it is the pioneer in Western Bahia that describes the epidemiology of contamination of hospital surfaces, opportuning futures studies in this field.

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Assessment of Bacterial Contamination of Orthodontic Arch wire

Journal of Baghdad College of Dentistry ◽

10.26477/jbcd.v31i1.2578 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 48-51

Author(s):

Suha S Hassan ◽

Nidhal H. Ghaib ◽

Batool H Al-Ghurabi

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Microbial Contamination ◽

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Brain Heart Infusion ◽

Control Groups ◽

Dental Practitioners ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Bacillus Spp ◽

Droplet Transmission

Background: The microorganisms can impend the life of health care professional and particularly the dental practitioners. They can be transmitted by different ways like airborne and droplet transmission. The current study was carried out to identify whether the arch wires that received from the manufactures are free from microbial contamination and to determine the bacterial species attached to the arch wires. Materials and Methods: This study involved eighty samples, consisted of two types of arch wires (nitinol and stainless-steel) from four companies (3M, G&H, Jiscop, OrthoTechnology). These wires inserted in a plane tube that contains 10 -ml of (Tris [tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane] and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) tris-EDTA and brain heart infusion (BHI) broth. A 0.1 ml was withdrawn from the tube and spread on agar plates. The control groups consist of 16 plane tube (8 tubes with tris-EDTA and other 8 tubes with (BHI). Results: Microbial sampling yielded growth from 5 of the 80 arch wires. The predominant bacteria that isolated were Bacillus spp. No growth was recovered from 75 of the samples and from controls. The bacteria were isolated by BHI reagent and no growth was observed by tris-EDTA reagent with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The Bacillus spp. found only in the G&H and Jiscop companies, however, no statistically significant difference was found among them (P>0.05). With regard to the presence and distribution of bacteria according to the types of wires, the present results clarified that cases of contamination with Bacillus spp. were found in the nitinol arch wires with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusions: The results of the current study revealed low count of bacterial contamination in the two types of companies (G&H and Jiscop). Not all materials that received from the manufactures are free from contamination and an effective sterilization regimen is needed to avoid cross-contamination.

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Bacterial Contamination of Hospital Physicians' Stethoscopes

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/501686 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 20 (9) ◽

pp. 626-628 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Louis Bernard ◽

Anne Kereveur ◽

Dominique Durand ◽

Jeanne Gonot ◽

Fred Goldstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Hospital ◽

Nosocomial Infections ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Bacterial Load ◽

Clinical Use ◽

Bacterial Survival ◽

Liquid Soap ◽

Kinetics Of

AbstractBecause stethoscopes might be potential vectors of nosocomial infections, this study, conducted in a 450-bed general hospital, was devised to evaluate the bacterial contamination of stethoscopes; bacterial survival on stethoscope membranes; the kinetics of the bacterial load on stethoscope membranes during clinical use; and the efficacy of 70% alcohol or liquid soap for membrane disinfection. Among the 355 stethoscopes tested, 234 carried ≥2 different bacterial species; 31 carried potentially pathogenic bacteria. Although some bacteria deposited onto membranes could survive 6 to 18 hours, none survived after disinfection.

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Isolation of Pathogenic Bacteria from some Male Barbershops in the City of Nasiriyah

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance ◽

10.25258/ijpqa.10.2.4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (02) ◽

Author(s):

Fadil G. Alswedi ◽

Amany S H Jaber

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Epidermidis ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Bacterial Isolates ◽

Bacterial Isolation ◽

Potential Pathogen ◽

Colonial Morphology ◽

Spread Of Infection ◽

The City

A study was conducted to evaluate bacterial contamination in hairdressing and beauty salons in Thi-Qar at Alnasiriyah city. Samples were collected from ten different salons. The samples were collected from scissors,comb, razor, dryer, sink, and table tools. The isolates obtained were examined and identified using microscopic examination, colonial morphology and biochemical characteristics. Six bacterial species were isolated and identified. The bacterial isolates include Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus spp, Micrococcus Spp,Enterococusspp and Enterobacter. Isolated from some men's salons and shaving tools and the highest frequency of bacteria was in the salon of Nawras by 15%, Salon Ahmed by 12.5% , more bacterial isolation of shaving tools,sink,razor and the presence of this potential pathogen is an indication that hairdressing salons could be contributing to the spread of infection.

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Bacterial Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Inanimate Surfaces and Equipment in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2021/5519847 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-25

Author(s):

Teklehaimanot Kiros ◽

Shewaneh Damtie ◽

Tahir Eyayu ◽

Tegenaw Tiruneh ◽

Wasihun Hailemichael ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Bacterial Pathogens ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Hospital Environment ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Resistance Patterns

Background. Hospital-acquired infections have remained a serious cause of mortality, morbidity, and extended hospitalization. Bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces of the hospital environment and equipment is considered a major contributing factor to the development of several nosocomial infections worldwide. The hospital environment and many devices are an important reservoir of many clinically important bacterial agents including multidrug-resistant pathogens. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis are aimed at investigating bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns of inanimate surfaces and equipment in Ethiopia. Methods. An exhaustive literature search was carried out using the major electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Wiley online library to identify potentially relevant studies without date restriction. Original articles which address the research question were identified, screened, and included using the PRISMA flow diagram. Data extraction was prepared in Microsoft Excel, and data quality was assessed by using 9-point Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Then, data were exported to STATA 16.0 software for analyses of pooled estimation of outcome measures. Estimation of outcome measures at a 95% confidence interval was performed using DerSimonian-Laird’s random-effects model. Finally, results were presented via text, figures, and tables. Results. A total of 18 studies with 3058 bacterial isolates recovered from 3423 swab specimens were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces and equipment was found 70% (95% CI: 59, 82). Among the Gram-negative bacterial species, the prevalence of ampicillin-resistant K. pneumoniae was the highest 80% (95% CI: 78, 92) followed by Citrobacter species 78% (95% CI: 57, 83). Conclusion. This study has shown a high prevalence of bacterial contamination of inanimate surfaces and equipment in Ethiopia.

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Bacteria on Medical Professionals’ White Coats in a University Hospital

Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology ◽

10.1155/2020/5957284 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Shyam Kumar Mishra ◽

Sabindra Maharjan ◽

Santosh Kumar Yadav ◽

Niranjan Prasad Sah ◽

Sangita Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Horizontal Transmission ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

University Hospital ◽

Hospital Environment ◽

World Health ◽

Total Bacterial Count ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci

The transient contamination of medical professional’s attires including white coats is one of the major vehicles for the horizontal transmission of microorganisms in the hospital environment. This study was carried out to determine the degree of contamination by bacterial agents on the white coats in a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. Sterilized uniforms with fabric patches of 10 cm × 15 cm size attached to the right and left pockets were distributed to 12 nurses of six different wards of a teaching hospital at the beginning of their work shift. Worn coats were collected at the end of the shifts and the patches were subjected for total bacterial count and identification of selected bacterial pathogens, as prioritized by the World Health Organization (WHO). Fifty percent of the sampled swatches were found to be contaminated by pathogenic bacteria. The average colony growth per square inch of the patch was 524 and 857 during first and second workdays, respectively, indicating an increase of 63.6% in colony counts. The pathogens detected on patches were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter sp. Additional bacteria identified included Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). The nurses working in the maternity department had their white coats highly contaminated with bacteria. On the other hand, the least bacterial contamination was recorded from the nurses of the surgery ward. One S. aureus isolate from the maternity ward was resistant to methicillin. This study showed that pathogens belonging to the WHO list of critical priority and high priority have been isolated from white coats of nurses, thus posing the risk of transmission to patients. White coats must be worn, maintained, and washed properly to reduce bacterial contamination load and to prevent cross-contamination of potential superbugs. The practice of wearing white coats outside the healthcare zone should be strictly discouraged.

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Short Communication: Serratia rubidaea as contaminant in laboratory environment

Nusantara Bioscience ◽

10.13057/nusbiosci/n130107 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dewi Peti Virgianti

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Short Communication ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

16S Rdna Gene ◽

Laboratory Environment ◽

Phylogenetic Characterization ◽

Related Information ◽

Positive Results ◽

Serratia Rubidaea

Abstract. Virgianti DP. 2020. Short Communication: Serratia rubidaea as contaminant in laboratory environment. Nusantara Bioscience 13: 47-51. There have been many cases of bacterial contamination in the laboratory. The bacterial genera identified as contaminants are Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Shigella and Serratia. These bacteria are classified as non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacteria that can interfere with the test and potentially develop false-positive results. The present research has shown that red-colored contaminant bacteria develop in unused sterile media in our laboratory. Based on related information, Serratia marcescens is a red bacterial species that have been reported as a contaminant in the laboratory. The purpose of this study was to identifiy contaminant bacteria at the molecular level. Based on the phylogenetic characterization using the 16S rDNA gene region, this red contaminant bacterium was identified as Serratia rubidaea.

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Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria from Public Libraries via Proteomics Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16060912 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 912 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ryan Jung ◽

Minzae Kim ◽

Bhoomi Bhatt ◽

Jong Choi ◽

Jung Roh

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Public Libraries ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Brain Heart Infusion ◽

Luria Broth ◽

Analysis Tool ◽

Potential Health ◽

Bacterial Populations ◽

Human Contact

Hazardous organisms may thrive on surfaces that are often exposed to human contact, including children’s library books. In this study, swab samples were taken from 42 children’s books collected from four public libraries in Texas and California. Samples were then cultivated in brain–heart infusion (BHI) medium and then in Luria broth (LB) medium containing either ampicillin or kanamycin. All 42 samples (100%) were positive for bacterial growth in normal BHI medium. Furthermore, 35 samples (83.3%) and 20 samples (47.6%) in total were positive in LB medium containing ampicillin or kanamycin, respectively. Bacterial populations were then identified in samples using an Orbitrap Fusion™ Tribrid ™ mass spectrometer, a state-of-the-art proteomic analysis tool. Identified bacterial species grown in ampicillin included Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Serratia, Streptococcus, Escherichia, Salmonella, and Enterococcus. In contrast, identified bacteria grown in kanamycin included Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus. The presences of pathogenic bacteria species were also confirmed. The results of this study warrant follow up studies to assess the potential health risks of identified pathogens. This study demonstrates the utility of proteomics in identifying environmental pathogenic bacteria for specific public health risk evaluations.

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820. Impact of pulsed xenon ultraviolet (PX-UV) light disinfection for reduction of pathogens on high touch surfaces following hospitalization

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.1009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S452-S453

Author(s):

Joud N Jarrah ◽

Oscar I Martinez ◽

Susmita jain ◽

Piyali Chatterjee ◽

Hosoon Choi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Uv Light ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Veterans Affairs ◽

Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽

Bacterial Burden ◽

Colony Forming Units ◽

Additional Reduction ◽

Research Grant

Abstract Background Ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection following a manual terminal cleaning process for hospital rooms has been proposed as an additional method to reduce the bacterial burden on surfaces. The impact of UV light disinfection and the level of interdependence between the modalities remains unclear. Methods Samples were collected from 5 high touch surfaces from 10 patients room following discharge prior to manual disinfection, following manual disinfection, and following pulsed xenon UV disinfection using Rodac contact plates (total 150 samples). Colonies were identified using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The bacterial colony counts were recorded and analyzed as pathogenic or commensal organisms (based on CDC criteria) to assess the efficacy of the disinfection process. Results Average colony counts for the rooms prior to disinfection, post disinfection, and post UV light were 185.8 CFU +/- SD 280, 43 CFU +/- 121, and 20 CFU +/- 36.7 respectively. The average drop in colony-forming units of the five high touch areas in patient’s rooms can be seen in table 1. Twelve commensal bacterial species were isolated: Bacillus species (sp.), Corynebacterium sp., Enhydrobacter sp., Kocuria sp., Lysinibacillus sp., Macrococcus sp., Micrococcus sp., Paenibacillus sp., Pantoea sp., Psychrobacter sp., Siccibacter sp., Coagulase negative staphylococcus. Seven pathogenic bacteria were isolated: Acinetobacter sp., Brucella sp., Proteus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia sp., Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Reductions in the predominant bacterial species following disinfection modality are noted in table 2. Table 1: Colony forming units (CFUs) average Pre-disinfection (Pre-Dis), Post Disinfection (Post-Dis), and Post PX-UV Light (PX-UV). Table 2: Sub-analysis of commensal and pathogen isolation Pre-Disinfection (Pre-Dis), Post-Disinfection (Post-Dis), and Post PX-UV light (PX-UV). Conclusion A combination of manual disinfection and UV has shown a notable additional reduction in overall bacterial contamination of the patient rooms, including the majority of high touch areas as compared with manual disinfection alone. No additional reduction in commensal bacteria isolates was noted after UV light, however a further decrease in pathogenic bacteria (Acinetobacter and Enterococcus) was noted. UV light may be considered as an additional room disinfection method to reduce overall bacterial burden and pathogenic bacterial contamination of rooms as a comprehensive strategy to reduce nosocomial infections. Disclosures Mark Stibich, n/a, Xenex Germ-Zapping Robots (Board Member, Grant/Research Support) Chetan Jinadatha, MD, MPH, AHRQ (Research Grant or Support)Department of Veterans Affairs (Other Financial or Material Support, Owner: Department of Veterans Affairs. Licensed to: Xenex Disinfection System, San Antonio, TX)Inventor (Other Financial or Material Support, Methods for organizing the disinfection of one or more items contaminated with biological agents)NiH/NINR (Research Grant or Support)NSF (Research Grant or Support)Xenex Healthcare Services (Research Grant or Support)

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Epidemiology of Bacterial Contamination of Inert Hospital Surfaces and Equipment in Critical and Non-critical Care Units: A Brazilian Study

Microbiology Research Journal International ◽

10.9734/mrji/2020/v30i730237 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 31-43

Author(s):

Dayane Otero Rodrigues ◽

Laís da Paixao Peixoto ◽

Erica Tatiane Mourao Barros ◽

Julianne Rodrigues Guimaraes ◽

Bruna Clemente Gontijo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Hospital Environment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adult Intensive Care Unit ◽

Inert Surfaces

Aims: The hospital environment is an important reservoir of microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant pathogens, which can cause in-patient contamination and healthcare-related infections. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of bacterial contamination (contaminated sites, pathogen species and their antimicrobial susceptibility, and identifying of multidrug-resistant microorganisms - MDR) of inert hospital surfaces and medical equipment in two public hospitals in Northern Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 243 samples (n = 208, from Hospital A; and n = 35, from Hospital B) collected by friction with humidified swabs from inert surfaces and equipment. Sequentially the samples were cultivated and bacterial species were identified by culture-based methods and tested for their susceptibility through agar diffusion assay according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results: Most inert surfaces and equipment analyzed presented bacterial contamination (95.5%). Staphylococcus aureus was the main pathogen of clinical significance detected both in Hospital A (61.8%) and B (68.6%). Hospital A showed higher rates of isolated MDR bacteria than Hospital B, especially in the Adult Intensive Care Unit, which included methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (52.7%), Enterobacteria resistant to 4th generation cephalosporins (19.4%), and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.8%). Conclusion: The failures in the control of bacterial contamination of inert surfaces and equipment in the two hospitals analyzed reinforce the need for a revised protocol for cleaning and disinfection of the inert surfaces and equipment, and for regulation of antibiotic dispensing, mainly in the AICU of Hospital A, which was found to be a reservoir of MDR pathogens.

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