air microbiology

..To evaluate warm air and paper towel drying for removing bacteria from washed hands...

..Further research is needed on the viability of airborne influenza viruses and the risk of transmission...

..These recent results and their implication for infection control of influenza are discussed in this review...

..Physical explanations are provided on the variation of viral viability at different relative humidity levels. The predictions obtained by the proposed mathematical model compare well with most of the published experimental data...

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..The optimal hybridization temperatures to achieve the best specificity for these 33 probes were determined. These new probes can contribute to the molecular diagnostic research for environmental monitoring...

..Lastly, general recommendations are made regarding future studies on the sampling of airborne viruses...

..In both plants, we found a statistically significant dependence of bacterial contamination on the season for many of the analyzed parameters but a clear seasonal trend could not be observed...

..This article is a review on composition, sources, modes of transmission, health effects and sampling methods used for evaluation of bio-aerosols, and also suggests control measures to reduce the loads of bio-aerosols...

..The total spore concentration was negatively correlated with wind speed and positively correlated with temperature and relative humidity...

..The basic principles and current practice applying to operating theatre ventilation studies are introduced...

..Maintaining airborne moisture levels that reduce survival of the virus in the air and on surfaces could be another tool for managing public health risks of influenza...

..This work shows that warm air hand driers, of the type used in this study, are a hygienic method of drying hands and therefore appropriate for use in both the healthcare and food industry...

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..Such dispersal is of interest because of the possible health effects of allergens and pathogens that might be carried with the dust...

..Our results provide evidence that influenza virus may spread through the airborne route...

..The data provide new and much-needed insights into the modes of influenza virus spread and strain-specific differences in the efficiency of transmission...

..In this study we evaluated the levels of antibiotic- and multidrug-resistant bacteria in bioaerosols upwind, within, and downwind at locations 25 m, 50 m, 100 m, and 150 m from a swine confined animal feeding operation...

..However, inoculation with the PRRSV MN-184 isolate significantly increased the probability of aerosol shedding (P = 0.00005; odds ratio = 3.22). Therefore, the shedding of PRRSV in aerosols may be isolate-dependent...

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..Differences in exposure levels were seen between the plants and this may partly be due to differences of the process equipment, tasks and the biofuel handled...

..The method is a promising tool for further epidemiological and intervention studies in agricultural and other similar occupational and nonoccupational environments...

..These findings implicate plant A as the most likely outbreak source and suggest that the distance of airborne transmission of L. pneumophila may be greater than previously reported...

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..The inactivation rate increased linearly with effective UV fluence rate up to 5 microW cm(-2); an increase in the fluence rate above this level did not yield a proportional increase in inactivation rate...

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..Polymerase chain reaction results were negative for SARS coronavirus in room air both before and after patient extubation...

..04. We detected PRRSV MN-184 RNA but not PRRSV MN-30100 RNA in air samples by PCR. Under the conditions of this study, PRRSV isolate pathogenicity may influence aerosol transmission of the virus...

..Our study reveals a strong need for a multidisciplinary study in investigating disease outbreaks, and the impact of indoor air environments on the spread of airborne infectious diseases...

..Natural ventilation may offer a low-cost alternative. Our objective was to investigate the rates, determinants, and effects of natural ventilation in health care settings...

..As copper has been previously suggested as an antimicrobial surface, we tested the effectiveness of copper as an antifungal surface which could be used in air-conditioning systems as an alternative to aluminium...

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..Personalized ventilation can especially be used in hospital wards, aircraft cabins and, in general, where people are in fixed positions...

..As a first step in designing a new air sampler to collect influenza virus we evaluated four commercial samplers and determined necessary design parameters for a new collector...

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..In this review, we examine the behaviour of microorganisms in the Antarctic aerial environment and the extent to which these microorganisms might influence Antarctic microbial biodiversity...

..However, these changes in ice nuclei numbers were not associated with changes in the relative abundances of the most commonly studied ice-nucleating bacteria...

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..In this collaboration, researchers from 12 cross-sectional studies pooled their data to assess the effects of air quality on a spectrum of children's respiratory disorders...

..In conclusion, by using the electrostatic field sampler, it was possible to sample replicas of large authentic aerosol samples that can be used, e.g. biological analysis...

..We investigated the influence of weather and production practices on personal microbial exposure during grain work...

..The detected aerial microorganisms were markedly different from those obtained in earlier studies over the Antarctic Peninsula in the maritime Antarctic...

..Other potential applications include any enclosed space such as food processing areas, medical institutions, the workplace, and the home, where reduction of airborne and surface pathogens is desired...

..There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in egg production, male or female body weights, mortality, or reproductive performance in the ESCS room compared with the control room...

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..This is the largest study of airborne indoor and outdoor fungal species and concentrations conducted with a standardized protocol to date...

..Quantification of viable cough-generated aerosols is feasible and offers a new approach to study infectiousness and transmission of M. tuberculosis and other airborne pathogens...

..There was relatively good agreement with most of these data. The paper shows that the model could be useful in an emergency because the risk of virus spread could be predicted in real time...

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..In this article, the authors provide an overview of air disinfection technologies, and an in-depth analysis of UVGI-its history, applications, and effectiveness...

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..For some fungi a significant number of particles smaller than the spore size were released. The method applied in the study may also be useful for field studies and for generation of spores for exposure studies...

..Reducing airborne dust levels may thus offer an opportunity to limit the spread of S. enteritidis infections throughout poultry flocks...

..These findings suggest that the inhalation of air from these facilities may serve as an exposure pathway for the transfer of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens from swine to humans...

..The purpose of this study was to evaluate the community risk of infection from bioaerosols to residents living near biosolids land application sites...

..The results also show that culture protocols currently used by public health facilities and agencies are seriously inadequate for the detection and enumeration of potential pathogens...

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..Strict adherence to the infection control policies was reinforced to prevent transmission of cross-infection...

..A broad spectrum of different species within the Pseudomonadaceae and the Enterobacteriaceae families were predominant in nearly all plants investigated...

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..The results call for the size-selective measurement of particles and endotoxin for more comprehensive exposure assessment in MWF facilities...

..The relationship between bacteria and fungi concentration in indoor and ambient air was analyzed. In the investigation air-conditioned rooms were isolated...

..The objective of this study was to establish a national relative moldiness index for homes in the United States...

..Practical instructions concerned selection of measurements methods and interpretation of results are presented...

..To perform a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the environmental microorganisms associated with two assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratories...

..The objective of the study was to assess the frequency of medical respiratory and general symptoms and their relation to bioaerosol exposure...

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..Actual measurements are required for fungal exposure assessment, and the use of only one medium to collect samples in one location in a home might be adequate to represent residential levels of fungi in indoor air...

..The aim of the study was to quantitatively and qualitatively identify moulds occurring in the air of selected office rooms...

..The threshold limit value (TLV) and biological exposure indices values should be liaised for each area in the city which will serve as a guide to control health hazards...

..The results of this study provide essential information to further evaluate the effects of dustborne fungi on office workers' health...

..Many popular microbiological air samplers use the principle of impaction to trap the organisms by impacting them directly on to agar. Further distinct groups are the impingers, which operate by impinging organisms into liquid...

..In contrast, Alternaria alternata did not contribute much to the (1-3)-beta-D-glucan load. Therefore, (1-3)-beta-D-glucan concentration in field samples as a surrogate for total fungal exposure should be used with caution...

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..Sensitivity to fungi is a significant cause of allergic diseases, and prolonged indoor exposure to fungi is a growing health concern...

..Aspergillus measurements were paralleled by particle counts...

..This may be associated with different spectrum of harmful agents in different mold and moisture-damaged buildings...

..Demolition work was associated with a significant increase in the fungal colony counts of hospital external and non-protected internal air. Effective protective measures may be taken to avoid the emergence of clinical infections...

..4x) were observed in similar studies with Air-O-Cell samplers. These count differences were relatively small compared with the large differences observed among three count magnifications...

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..Actinomycetes in the insulation layer were found to have increased concentrations in the indoor air. The moisture content of the indoor air significantly affected all measurable airborne concentrations...

..The difference in the total bacterial concentrations was not significant among the surveyed five rooms. The GM total fungal and Cladosporium concentrations, however, were significantly higher for the kitchen than for the other rooms...

..05), and Cladosporium and SPT(+) to aeroallergens (p < 0.05). This study indicates that health outcome may vary by fungal genera; some fungal types may have sensitizing effects while others may have a beneficial role...

..Practical instructions concerned selection of measurements methods and interpretation of results are presented...

..Despite growing evidence of the importance of exposure to fungi as an environmental risk factor for asthma, few data have been reported on the exposure to airborne fungi of asthmatic children living in US inner cities...

..No fungal colonies were isolated from the septic, operating and family deliveries rooms 4. The main fungal pathogen isolated from the air samples was Candida albicans...

..Thus, replicate dust samples with less than 20% of colonies from leaf surface fungi are unlikely to be from buildings free of moisture or mold growth problems...

..6%, 18.28% and 11.36% of the isolated fungi, respectively. The recorded levels of total airborne fungi were lower after DUWL disinfection compared to those before disinfection...

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..Penicillinium sp. were the predominant fungi, while Bacillus sp. and the Pseudomonadacea family were the predominant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria encountered, respectively...

..05). No significant differences in fungal counts were noted between the 4 devices. The use of malt extract agar in addition to tryptic soy agar significantly improved the fungal yield...

..Because of the small sample size of this study, however, further research is needed to better understand the observed relationships in this study...

..Overall, the combined exposure to airborne dust and microorganisms was found to be more severe during harvesting than in animal confinements...

..Regular internal and external high-pressure cleaning of the lifting device at intervals of not more than 14 days is recommended as a basic rule for vehicle hygiene...

..The methods developed in this study could facilitate accurate detection and quantification of Cladosporium for public health related risk assessment...

..Accomplishing these goals will provide important information concerning the public health impact of SDB. ..

..We will also establish a repository of DNA and RNA from study participants for future molecular and gene expression profiling studies. ..

..This cnowledge is paramount in view of the inevitable viral pandemics. ..

..This approach may open a new field of investigation of the host determinants of infectiousness, which could be extended to other respiratory infectious agents in the future. ..

..Detailed health and home hygiene questionnaires and home inspections will be conducted at baseline and one year later, as will child spirometry. ..

..The research findings and practical recommendations developed in this research will be disseminated to stakeholders through internet, national and international conferences and workshops. ..

..ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS Strategic Vision and Impact on Environmental Health ..

..Future directions of this research will be development of a portable bioaerosol sampler, sampling characteristics of which follow conventions for inhalable, thoracic and respirable particles. ..

..It will allow us to better understand workers'exposures and related health effects and to implement protective measures more effectively. ..

..It also includes activities to enrich the experience of the trainees and promote social and professional cohesion. ..

..The methodology will be developed using a large occupational exposure dataset from 3M Company, and probabilistic professional judgments obtained from occupational hygienists employed at 3M Company. ..

..The project will also participate in an annual national multi-grantee conference and hold annual external advisory board meetings. Hazardous Waste worker Training Program (HWWTP) ..

..The successful application of this aptamer technique should lead to a more cost effective and health relevant allergen detection method and enable a better understanding of disease caused by and exacerbated by environmental allergens. ..

..These studies have far-reaching implications for acute and chronic measures of public health. ..

..coli model. Because the mechanism studied has common components with several other (less understood) mechanisms of stress-induced mutation, the results should provide an important general model. ..

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..coli, identify their counterparts in human, then id ..

..coli model. This work will provide a foundation for understanding, and so for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, of human cancers caused by malfunction of these proteins. ..

..The data generated in this study will help mine operators make informed decisions about the type of surfactant to use in spray systems to maximize dust capture depending on the characteristics of the coal they are mining. ..

..We believe this proposal is sufficiently improved so as to allow continuation of a long-standing and successful oral health research training program. ..

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..Reevaluated data may be able to be used more effectively in epidemiological studies on the health effects of metalworking fluid mists. ..

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..4) Establish mechanisms for forging new and on-going community-researcher relationships. ..

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..The methodology will be developed using a large occupational exposure dataset from 3M Company, and probabilistic professional judgments obtained from occupational hygienists employed at 3M Company. ..

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