Are absorbent pads suitable alternatives for tattoo dressing?

Background: Tattoo is a form of body modification that involves injecting ink underneath the epidermis using a needle. According to BC’s Guidelines for Personal Services Establishments this kind of invasive procedure will require wound dressing but the kind and sterility of the wound dressing has not been specified. During a tattoo convention an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) noticed that some tattoo artists were using absorbent pads for wound dressing. Absorbent pads are not sterile; therefore there is a concern of microbial infections at the tattoo wounds. This study examined the viability of using absorbent pads, which are non-sterile, as tattoo wound dressings. Method: 3M Quick Swabs were used to swab absorbent pads to collect the microorganisms present on the surface. 3M Petrifilm E. coli/Coliform Count Plates were used to culture E. coli and Coliform which could be present on the SanidermTM sterile tattoo dressing and absorbent pads. The presence of E. coli colonies on the petrifilm would show up as blue dots, while coliform colonies would be red dots. The total colony forming units (CFU), which include both E. coli and coliform colonies, were counted to assess the general sanitation conditions of both types of dressing. Results: Zero CFU were found from sampling the SanidermTM dressings and absorbent pads purchased from tattoo supply shops within Metro Vancouver. Conclusions: In the field of Environmental Health, coliform is often used as an indicator for the degree of sanitary quality; while E. coli is used as an indicator for fecal contamination. Therefore, the results of this study, indicated that the absorbent pads have high degree sanitation and are free from fecal contamination.

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Electrospun Gelatin Fibers Surface Loaded ZnO Particles as a Potential Biodegradable Antibacterial Wound Dressing

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano9040525 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 525 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Yu Chen ◽

Weipeng Lu ◽

Yanchuan Guo ◽

Yi Zhu ◽

Yeping Song

Keyword(s):

Antibacterial Activity ◽

Wound Dressing ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

X Ray ◽

E Coli ◽

Particle Size Analyzer ◽

Zno Particles ◽

Electrospun Gelatin ◽

Dressing Materials ◽

Application Prospects

Traditional wound dressings require frequent replacement, are prone to bacterial growth and cause a lot of environmental pollution. Therefore, biodegradable and antibacterial dressings are eagerly desired. In this paper, gelatin/ZnO fibers were first prepared by side-by-side electrospinning for potential wound dressing materials. The morphology, composition, cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), particle size analyzer (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetry (TGA) and Incucyte™ Zoom system. The results show that ZnO particles are uniformly dispersed on the surface of gelatin fibers and have no cytotoxicity. In addition, the gelatin/ZnO fibers exhibit excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) with a significant reduction of bacteria to more than 90%. Therefore, such a biodegradable, nontoxic and antibacterial fiber has excellent application prospects in wound dressing.

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Coated Cotton Gauze with Ag/ZnO/chitosan Nanocomposite as a Modern Wound Dressing

Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics ◽

10.1177/155892501400900114 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 155892501400900 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Mina Abbasipour ◽

Mohammad Mirjalili ◽

Ramin Khajavi ◽

Mohammad Mehdi Majidi

Keyword(s):

Wound Dressing ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Cotton Fibers ◽

Water Absorbency ◽

Intrinsic Properties ◽

Drying Time ◽

E Coli ◽

Cotton Gauze ◽

Reflective Spectroscopy ◽

Coated Cotton

Cotton gauze is one of the most successful wound dressings which utilize the intrinsic properties of cotton fibers. Modern wound dressings, however, require other properties such as antibacterial and moisture maintaining capabilities. In this study, conventional cotton gauze was treated with chitosan/Ag/ZnO nanocomposite for achieving modern wound dressing properties. Cotton gauze samples were impregnated with chitosan/Ag/ZnO nanocomposite by the dip, dry, and cure method. Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-Vis reflective spectroscopy (UV-Vis); and their water absorbency ability, wicking effect, and antibacterial activity determined. The results show that coated cotton gauze with chitosan/Ag/ZnO nanocomposite has increased drying time (78%) and water absorbency (38%). Furthermore, their antibacterial efficiency was 96% for Escherichia coli (E. Coli) and 99% for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

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Fabrication of Hybrid Nanofibers from Biopolymers and Poly (Vinyl Alcohol)/Poly (ε-Caprolactone) for Wound Dressing Applications

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13132104 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 2104

Author(s):

Sibusiso Alven ◽

Blessing Atim Aderibigbe

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Wound Healing ◽

Vinyl Alcohol ◽

Wound Dressing ◽

Chronic Wounds ◽

Cellular Adhesion ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Poly Vinyl Alcohol ◽

High Porosity ◽

Hybrid Nanofibers

The management of chronic wounds is challenging. The factors that impede wound healing include malnutrition, diseases (such as diabetes, cancer), and bacterial infection. Most of the presently utilized wound dressing materials suffer from severe limitations, including poor antibacterial and mechanical properties. Wound dressings formulated from the combination of biopolymers and synthetic polymers (i.e., poly (vinyl alcohol) or poly (ε-caprolactone) display interesting properties, including good biocompatibility, improved biodegradation, good mechanical properties and antimicrobial effects, promote tissue regeneration, etc. Formulation of these wound dressings via electrospinning technique is cost-effective, useful for uniform and continuous nanofibers with controllable pore structure, high porosity, excellent swelling capacity, good gaseous exchange, excellent cellular adhesion, and show a good capability to provide moisture and warmth environment for the accelerated wound healing process. Based on the above-mentioned outstanding properties of nanofibers and the unique properties of hybrid wound dressings prepared from poly (vinyl alcohol) and poly (ε-caprolactone), this review reports the in vitro and in vivo outcomes of the reported hybrid nanofibers.

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Comparison of the ColiPlate™ Kit with Two Common E. coli Enumeration Methods for Water

Water ◽

10.3390/w13131804 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (13) ◽

pp. 1804

Author(s):

Cassi J. Gibson ◽

Abraham K. Maritim ◽

Jason W. Marion

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Natural Water ◽

Membrane Filtration ◽

Fecal Contamination ◽

Reference Method ◽

World Health ◽

Risk Levels ◽

E Coli ◽

Field Samples ◽

Very High

Quantitatively assessing fecal indicator bacteria in drinking water from limited resource settings (e.g., disasters, remote areas) can inform public health strategies for reducing waterborne illnesses. This study aimed to compare two common approaches for quantifying Escherichia coli (E. coli) density in natural water versus the ColiPlate™ kit approach. For comparing methods, 41 field samples from natural water sources in Kentucky (USA) were collected. E. coli densities were then determined by (1) membrane filtration in conjunction with modified membrane-thermotolerant E. coli (mTEC) agar, (2) Idexx Quanti-Tray® 2000 with the Colilert® substrate, and (3) the Bluewater Biosciences ColiPlate kit. Significant correlations were observed between E. coli density data for all three methods (p < 0.001). Paired t-test results showed no difference in E. coli densities determined by all the methods (p > 0.05). Upon assigning modified mTEC as the reference method for determining the World Health Organization-assigned “very high-risk” levels of fecal contamination (> 100 E. coli CFU/100 mL), both ColiPlate and Colilert exhibited excellent discrimination for screening very high-risk levels according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (~89%). These data suggest ColiPlate continues to be an effective monitoring tool for quantifying E. coli density and characterizing fecal contamination risks from water.

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Preparation of biocompatible wound dressings with dual release of antibiotic and platelet-rich plasma for enhancing infected wound healing

Journal of Biomaterials Applications ◽

10.1177/0885328221996013 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088532822199601

Author(s):

Linying Shi ◽

Fang Lin ◽

Mou Zhou ◽

Yanhui Li ◽

Wendan Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Wound Dressing ◽

Platelet Rich Plasma ◽

Healing Process ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Inflammatory Factors ◽

Gelatin Microspheres ◽

Infected Wounds ◽

Dual Release

The ever-growing threats of bacterial infection and chronic wound healing have provoked an urgent need for novel antibacterial wound dressings. In this study, we developed a wound dressing for the treatment of infected wounds, which can reduce the inflammatory period (through the use of gentamycin sulfate (GS)) and enhance the granulation stage (through the addition of platelet-rich plasma (PRP)). Herein, the sustained antimicrobial CMC/GMs@GS/PRP wound dressings were developed by using gelatin microspheres (GMs) loading GS and PRP, covalent bonding to carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). The prepared dressings exhibited high water uptake capability, appropriate porosity, excellent mechanical properties, sustain release of PRP and GS. Meanwhile, the wound dressing showed good biocompatibility and excellent antibacterial ability against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Moreover, in vivo experiments further demonstrated that the prepared dressings could accelerate the healing process of E. coli and S. aureus-infected full-thickness wounds i n vivo, reepithelialization, collagen deposition and angiogenesis. In addition, the treatment of CMC/GMs@GS/PRP wound dressing could reduce bacterial count, inhibit pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), and enhance anti-inflammatory factors (TGF-β1). The findings of this study suggested that biocompatible wound dressings with dual release of GS and PRP have great potential in the treatment of chronic and infected wounds.

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Nanofiber Wound Dressing Materials—A Comparative Study of Wound Healing on a Porcine Model

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usab155 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Katerina Menclová ◽

Petr Svoboda ◽

Jan Hadač ◽

Štefan Juhás ◽

Jana Juhásová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Wound Dressing ◽

Blood Count ◽

Serum Amyloid A ◽

Porcine Model ◽

Serum Amyloid ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Amyloid A ◽

Inflammatory Phase ◽

Dressing Materials

ABSTRACT Background Nanofiber wound dressings remain the domain of in vitro studies. The purpose of our study was to verify the benefits of chitosan (CTS) and polylactide (PLA)-based nanofiber wound dressings on a porcine model of a naturally contaminated standardized wound and compare them with the conventional dressings, i.e., gauze and Inadine. Material and Methods The study group included 32 pigs randomized into four homogeneous groups according to the wound dressing type. Standardized wounds were created on their backs, and wound dressings were regularly changed. We evaluated difficulty of handling individual dressing materials and macroscopic appearance of the wounds. Wound swabs were taken for bacteriological examination. Blood samples were obtained to determine blood count values and serum levels of acute phase proteins (serum amyloid A, C-reactive protein, and haptoglobin). The crucial point of the study was histological analysis. Microscopic evaluation was focused on the defect depth and tissue reactions, including formation of the fibrin exudate with neutrophil granulocytes, the layer of granulation and cellular connective tissue, and the reepithelialization. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS software. The analysis was based on the Kruskal–Wallis H test and Mann–Whitney U test followed by Bonferroni correction. Significance was set at P < .05. Results Macroscopic examination did not show any difference in wound healing among the groups. However, evaluation of histological findings demonstrated that PLA-based nanofiber dressing accelerated the proliferative (P = .025) and reepithelialization (P < .001) healing phases, while chitosan-based nanofiber dressing potentiated and accelerated the inflammatory phase (P = .006). No statistically significant changes were observed in the blood count or acute inflammatory phase proteins during the trial. Different dynamics were noted in serum amyloid A values in the group treated with PLA-based nanofiber dressing (P = .006). Conclusion Based on the microscopic examination, we have documented a positive effect of nanofiber wound dressings on acceleration of individual phases of the healing process. Nanofiber wound dressings have a potential to become in future part of the common wound care practice.

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The use of antibiotic resistance profiling as a means of tracing sources of fecal contamination in source waters

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2010.228 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 209-215

Author(s):

M. S. Mthembu ◽

P. T. Biyela ◽

T. G. Djarova ◽

A. K. Basson

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Resistance ◽

Municipal Wastewater ◽

Fecal Contamination ◽

Source Tracking ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Biochemical Tests ◽

Isolation And Identification ◽

E Coli ◽

Intestinal Pathogens ◽

Source Waters

Fecal contamination of source waters and its associated intestinal pathogens continues to pose risks to public health although the extent and effect of microbial contamination of source waters gets very little attention in designing treatment plants in most developing countries. Coliform counts give an indication of the overall bacterial contamination of water and thus its safety for human consumption. However, their presence fails to provide information about the source of fecal contamination which is vital to managing fecal contamination problems in surface waters. This study explored the use of multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indexing as means of differentiating E. coli isolates from different sources. A total of 322 E. coli isolates were obtained from municipal wastewater and from fecal samples from domestic and wild animals. Conventional culture methods and standard chemical and biochemical tests were used for isolation and identification of E. coli. Isolates were assayed against 10 antibiotics using the micro-dilution technique. The results obtained generated antibiotic resistance profiles which were used to statistically group the isolates into different subsets. Correct source classification was obtained for 60% of human-derived and 95% non-human-derived E. coli respectively. These results indicate the validity of the usefulness of MAR indexing as a method of bacterial source tracking.

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Long-term durability antibacterial microcapsules with plant-derived Chinese nutgall and their applications in wound dressing

e-Polymers ◽

10.1515/epoly-2019-0027 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 268-276 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wen Xue ◽

Mengxing Zhang ◽

Fan Zhao ◽

Fujun Wang ◽

Jing Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Dressing ◽

Antibacterial Agents ◽

Antibacterial Efficacy ◽

Inhibition Rate ◽

Natural Polymers ◽

E Coli ◽

Significant Burden ◽

Inhibition Zones ◽

Integrated Performance

AbstractWound infection is a significant burden on public health. Most present antibacterial agents are typically toxic and devoid of long-term durability. We reported an antimicrobial microcapsule with Chinese nutgall (CN) encapsulated, which was a plant-derived extraction. It is biocompatible and has been used in traditional medicine systems. Sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan worked as shells. The promise of the design is to adopt biocompatible natural polymers and electrostatic attractive chitosan and SA form stable shells to keep long-term release of CN. The results exhibited microcapsules with integrated performance of biocompatibility, long-term durability (inhibition rate of 98.99% against S. aureus after 12 h and 100% after 12 h, 99.61% against E. coli after 6 h and 100% after 12 h), high antibacterial efficacy (with S. aureus inhibition zones of 7.67 mm and E. coli inhibition zones of 5.27 mm) and ease of storage (-20°C for more than 60 h). Their successful fabrication may provide new insights into application of traditional cotton gauze in a sustainable and multifunctional form.

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Microbial community dynamics of surface water in British Columbia, Canada

10.1101/719146 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Miguel I. Uyaguari-Diaz ◽

Matthew A. Croxen ◽

Kirby Cronin ◽

Zhiyao Luo ◽

Judith Isaac-Renton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

16S Rrna ◽

16S Rrna Gene ◽

Community Dynamics ◽

Fecal Contamination ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbial Culture ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Fecal Indicator ◽

E Coli

AbstractTraditional methods for monitoring the microbiological quality of water focus on the detection of fecal indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli, often tested as a weekly grab sample. To understand the stability of E.coli concentrations over time, we evaluated three approaches to measuring E. coli levels in water: microbial culture using Colilert, quantitative PCR for uidA and next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Two watersheds, one impacted by agricultural and the other by urban activities, were repeatedly sampled over a simultaneous ten-hour period during each of the four seasons. Based on 16S rRNA gene deep sequencing, each watershed showed different microbial community profiles. The bacterial microbiomes varied with season, but less so within each 10-hour sampling period. Enterobacteriaceae comprised only a small fraction (<1%) of the total community. The qPCR assay detected significantly higher quantities of E. coli compared to the Colilert assay and there was also variability in the Colilert measurements compared to Health Canada’s recommendations for recreational water quality. From the 16S data, other bacteria such as Prevotella and Bacteroides showed promise as alternative indicators of fecal contamination. A better understanding of temporal changes in watershed microbiomes will be important in assessing the utility of current biomarkers of fecal contamination, determining the best timing for sample collection, as well as searching for additional microbial indicators of the health of a watershed.

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Sintesis Hidrogel Pektin – Gelatin dengan Penambahan Ekstrak Kulit Buah Naga Sebagai Kandidat Pembalut Luka Bakar

Jurnal Teknik Kimia dan Lingkungan ◽

10.33795/jtkl.v4i1.128 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 53

Author(s):

Fadhil Muhammad Tarmidzi ◽

Inggit Kresna Maharsih ◽

Tina Raihatul Jannah ◽

Cici Sari Wahyuni

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Tensile Strength ◽

Citric Acid ◽

Wound Dressing ◽

Wound Care ◽

Crosslinking Agent ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Esterification Reaction ◽

Natural Polymers ◽

Fruit Peel

Teknik pembalutan luka saat ini menerapkan metode perawatan luka modern dengan cara mempertahankan isolasi lingkungan luka dalam keadaan tertutup dan lembab. Ada beberapa jenis pembalut luka yang telah dikembangkan, salah satunya hidrogel. Hidrogel merupakan pembalut luka berbentuk lembaran yang memiliki kemampuan menyerap cairan luka dan memiliki stabilitas yang baik pada pH asam sehingga dapat digunakan untuk pengobatan luka bakar. Dalam penelitian ini, hidrogel dibuat menggunakan polimer alami seperti pektin dan gelatin. Kedua bahan tersebut dikombinasikan menggunakan metode ikatan silang dengan penambahan asam sitrat sebagai agen pengikat silang. Penambahan asam sitrat memberikan pengaruh terhadap karakteristik material hidrogel yang dihasilkan, sehingga diperlukan jumlah yang tepat agar didapatkan hidrogel dengan properti material yang baik. Hidrogel juga ditambahkan zat aktif berupa flavonoid pada ekstrak kulit buah naga agar dapat digunakan sebagai pembalut luka untuk menyembuhkan luka bakar. Dari hasil penelitian, hidrogel dengan konsentrasi asam sitrat 4% (Hidrogel CA 4%) menghasilkan nilai swelling, tensile strength, dan elongation tertinggi sebesar 890%, 0,05 Mpa, dan 200%. Hasil properti mekanik dari Hidrogel CA 4% ini dibuktikan dengan uji FTIR yang telah dilakukan, yaitu munculnya gugus karbonil C=O sebagai hasil reaksi esterifikasi yang terjadi antara polimer dengan asam sitrat di daerah serapan 1733,9 cm-1.Wound dressing technique currently applies modern wound care methods by maintaining the environmental isolation of the wound in a closed and moist state. There are several types of wound dressing that have been developed, one of them is hydrogel. Hydrogel is sheet-shaped wound dressings which have the ability to absorb exudate and have good stability acidic pH that can be used for the treatment of burns. In this study, hydrogel were made using natural polymers such as pectin and gelatin. The two polymers were combined using crosslinking method with the addition of citric acid as a crosslinking agent. The addition of citric acid has affect on the characteristics of the hydrogel material produced, therefore the right amount is needed to obtain a hydrogel with good mechanical properties. Hydrogel also added by an active substance in the form of flavonoids from dragon fruit peel extract that can be used as a wound dressing to cure burns. This study resulting hydrogel with a concentration of 4% citric acid (Hydrogel CA 4%) produced highest value of swelling, tensile strength, and elongation are 890%, 0.05 Mpa, and 200%, repectively. The mechanical properties of Hydrogel CA 4% was proved by FTIR test that had been carried out, namely the presence of C=O carbonyl group as a result of the esterification reaction that occurred between the polymers and citric acid in the absorption area of 1733.9 cm-1.

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