Microbial air quality and bacterial surface contamination in ambulances during patient services

We sought to assess microbial air quality and bacterial surface contamination on medical instruments and the surrounding areas among 30 ambulance runs during service. We performed a cross-sectional study of 106 air samples collected from 30 ambulances before patient services and 212 air samples collected during patient services to assess the bacterial and fungal counts at the two time points. Additionally, 226 surface swab samples were collected from medical instrument surfaces and the surrounding areas before and after ambulance runs. Groups or genus of isolated bacteria and fungi were preliminarily identified by Gram's stain and lactophenol cotton blue. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient with a p-value of less than 0.050 considered significant. The mean and standard deviation of bacterial and fungal counts at the start of ambulance runs were 318 +/- 485 cfu/m[3] and 522 +/- 581 cfu/m[3], respectively. Bacterial counts during patient services were 468 +/- 607 cfu/m[3] and fungal counts were 656 +/- 612 cfu/m3. Mean bacterial and fungal counts during patient services were significantly higher than those at the start of ambulance runs, p=0.005 and p=0.030, respectively. For surface contamination, the overall bacterial counts before and after patient services were 0.8 +/- 0.7 cfu/cm[2] and 1.3 +/- 1.1 cfu/cm[2], respectively [p<0.001]. The predominant isolated bacteria and fungi were Staphylococcus spp. and Aspergillus spp., respectively. Additionally, there was a significantly positive correlation between bacterial [r=0.3, p<0.010] and fungal counts [r=0.2, p=0.020] in air samples and bacterial counts on medical instruments and allocated areas. This study revealed high microbial contamination [bacterial and fungal] in ambulance air during services and higher bacterial contamination on medical instrument surfaces and allocated areas after ambulance services compared to the start of ambulance runs. Additionally, bacterial and fungal counts in ambulance air showed a significantly positive correlation with the bacterial surface contamination on medical instruments and allocated areas. Further studies should be conducted to determine the optimal intervention to reduce microbial contamination in the ambulance environment

Microbial contamination on used surgical masks among hospital personnel and microbial air quality in their working wards: a hospital in bangkok

To assess the relationship of bacterial and fungal contamination on used surgical masks worn by the hospital personnel and microbial air quality in their working wards. This is a cross-sectional study of 230 used surgical masks collected from 214 hospital personnel, and 215 indoor air samples collected from their working wards to culture for bacterial and fungal counts. This study was carried out at the hospital in Bangkok. Group or genus of isolated bacteria and fungi were preliminarily identified by Grams stain and lacto-phenol cotton blue. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and Pearsons correlation coefficient at the significant level of p<0.050. Means and standard deviation of bacterial and fungal contamination on inside area of the used masks were 47 +/- 56 and 15 +/- 9 cfu/ml/piece, and on outside area were 166 +/- 199 and 34 +/- +/- 18 cfu/ml/piece, respectively, p<0.001. The bacterial and fungal contamination on used masks from hospital personnel working in the male and female medical wards and out-patient department, as well as the bacterial and fungal counts of the indoor air sample collected from the same area were relatively higher than the other wards. The predominant isolated bacteria and fungi contaminated on inside and outside areas of the used masks and air samples were similar [Staphylococcus spp. and Aspergillus spp.; respectively]. For its relationship, results found that bacterial and fungal counts in air samples showed significantly positive correlation with the bacterial contamination load on outside area of the used masks, r=0.16, r=0.018 and r=0.21,p=0.003, respectively. High bacterial contamination on outside area of the used masks was demonstrated, and it showed a significant correlation with microbial air quality of working wards

Hepatitis B seromarkers, hepatitis C antibody, and risk behaviors in married couples, a bordered province of Western Thailand

Married couples constitute a target group for reducing the risk of infections with hepatitis B virus [HBV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV]. This study attempted to assess HBV seromarkers, anti-HCV-positive rates, and risk behaviors among married couples in a bordered province of Western Thailand. A cross-sectional study of 114 married couples aged 15-44 years was performed. Approximately 25-30 married couples were randomly selected from 4 districts in a province of Western Thailand. All study participants who participated voluntarily were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Their blood specimens were collected to screen for HBV seromarkers [HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc] and anti-HCV. Approximately 21.1% of husbands and 2.6% of wives had a history of extramarital sex without using a condom; 18.4% of husbands and 4.4% of wives had tattoos; and 18.4% and 3.5%, respectively, consumed alcohol regularly. Additionally, 4.4% of husbands and 2.6% of wives had a history of sexual contact before marriage. In the serological study, 10.55 of husbands and 5.3% of wives were HBsAg-positive, and 1.8% of husbands and 0.9% of wives were anti-HCV positive. Among HBsAg-positive subjects, 15/18 had spouses who were positive for any HBV marker, and 1 had a spouse who was HBsAg- and anti-HBc positive. Three participants were positive for anti-HCV [2 males and 1 female]. One anti-HCV-positive male had a history of regular alcohol consumption and extra-marital sex without a condom, and another had a history of intravenous drug use. The anti-HCV-positive female had a history of sexual contact before marriage. This study found high percentages of risk behaviors and HBsAg positivity among married couples in a bordered province of western Thailand, especially in husbands. These findings support the evidence of HCV transmission via sexual contact and intravenous drug use

The Removal of Colors in Non-carbonated Soft Drinks using Granular Activated Carbon for Coliform Bacteria Detection by Sanitary Indicator Medium

This research was designed to study the efficiency of non-carbonated soft drink color removal by using granular activated carbon (GAC) for coliform bacteria detection by SI medium. The conditions established in the study were to use 6 color tones of non-carbonated soft drinks (red, green, purple, blue, orange and yellow) which were removed by using 3 GAC amounts (100, 200, 300 mg per soft drink 1 mL) at two contact times of color removal, 30 and 60 minutes. The results showed that a higher amount of GAC and the increasing of contact time significantly increased color removal efficiency at p-value \< 0.05, and that, also, the different color tones of soft drinks significantly affected different color removal efficiencies at p-value \< 0.05. The highest color removal efficiency derived from using 300 mg/mL of GAC amount at 60 minutes, but was not the best suitable for every color tone. The best suitable condition of each color tone was selected from the lowest GAC amount and the shortest contact time for the color removal as well as affected the color of SI medium, which was changed to yellow color for a positive result, but was still purple color for a negative result within 24 hours. Using 200 mg/mL of GAC amount at 30 minutes was the best suitable condition for red-green-purple-orange color tones, using 300 mg/mL of GAC amount at 30 minutes was the best suitable condition for yellow color-tone, and using 300 mg/mL of GAC amount at 60 minutes was the best suitable condition for blue color-tone. The validity of coliform bacteria detection by SI medium for these removed-color soft drinks when compared with the standard MPN method were sensitivity value, specificity value and efficiency of test of more than 80%. Thus, GAC can be used to efficiently remove the colors of soft drinks for coliform bacteria detection by SI medium.