Bioburden contamination and Staphylococcus aureus colonization associated with firefighter's ambulances

Viegas, Carla; Sousa, Pedro; Dias, Marta; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Ribeiro, Edna; Carolino, Elisabete; Twarużek, Magdalena; Kosicki, Robert; Viegas, Susana

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.111125

Cited by 16 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Indoor air was collected from selected areas by the impaction method on each plate using two devices (Millipore air tester and Andersen six-stage air sampler), according to the manufacturers' guidelines. Different culture media were used to promote selectivity of bacteria and fungi [18,19]. Indoor air was collected through active sampling methods in each selected area.…”

Section: Sampling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…About 250 L were collected at a flow rate of 140 L/min by Millipore air tester (Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA). A six-stage Andersen air sampler was also used, with a flow rate of 28.3 L/min, for 9 min in each culture medium, according to manufacturer's recommendations [18]. An outdoor air sample form each FFH was taken for reference.…”

Section: Sampling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The EDCs were placed in each sampling area 1.5 m above the ground for 30 days [21]. All samples (filters, settled dust, mops, cleaning cloths and identification badges) were kept in sterilized bags and transported under refrigeration (0-4 • C) to the laboratory [18].…”

Section: Sampling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several occupational environments in Portugal have already been characterized regarding the Aspergillus genus prevalence, demonstrating its critical dissemination indoors [4,7,9]. More recently, an assessment of Portuguese firefighters' ambulances identified hazardous levels of Aspergillus section Fumigati in ambulance air, which would be able to reach the alveoli [17,18]; additionally, there are other relevant findings, such as toxigenic fungi with clinical relevance found in ambulance air, contamination of surfaces increased after cleaning at some sites and mycotoxins detected in mops and electrostatic dust cloths [18]. Thus, a concern regarding microbiological contamination in the headquarters was raised and the requirement for a profound characterization was identified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aspergillus Section Fumigati in Firefighter Headquarters

et al. 2021

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Background: Aspergillus section Fumigati is one of the Aspergillus sections more frequently related to respiratory symptoms and by other health outcomes. This study aimed to characterize Aspergillus section Fumigati distribution in eleven firefighter headquarters (FFHs) to obtain an accurate occupational exposure assessment. Methods: A sampling approach protocol was performed using active (impaction method) and passive sampling methods (floor surfaces swabs, electrostatic dust collectors (EDCs), and settled dust). All samples were analysed by culture-based methods and passive sampling was used for molecular detection of Aspergillus section Fumigati. Results: Of all the matrices, the highest counts of Aspergillus sp. were obtained on settled dust filters (3.37% malt extract agar—MEA, 19.09% dichloran glycerol—DG18) followed by cleaning cloths (1.67% MEA; 7.07% DG18). Among the Aspergillus genus, the Fumigati section was predominant in Millipore and EDC samples in MEA (79.77% and 28.57%, respectively), and in swabs and settled dust filters in DG18 (44.76% and 30%, respectively). The Fumigati section was detected more frequently in DG18 (33.01%) compared to MEA (0.33%). The Fumigati section was observed in azole supplemented media (itraconazole and voriconazole) in several passive sampling methods employed and detected by qPCR in almost all passive samples, with EDCs being the matrix with the highest prevalence (n = 61; 67.8%). Conclusion: This study confirms that Aspergillus sp. is widespread and the Fumigati section is present in all FFHs. The presence of fungi potentially resistant to azoles in the FFHs was also observed. Further studies are needed to identify the best corrective and preventive measures to avoid this section contamination in this specific occupational environment.

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Section: Sampling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sampling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sampling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aspergillus Section Fumigati in Firefighter Headquarters

et al. 2021

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“…Fungal species were also identified microscopically using lactophenol cotton Air samples obtained by impinger were also analyzed by molecular detection of Aspergillus section Fumigati. Procedures and reactions were performed as previously reported [41].…”

Section: Samples Collected and Assays Performedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiological Contamination Assessment in Higher Education Institutes

Viegas¹,

Pimenta

Dias

et al. 2021

Atmosphere

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The higher education sector represents a unique environment and it acts as a work environment, a learning environment for students, and frequently, also a home environment. The aim of this study was to determine the microbial contamination (SARS-CoV-2, fungi, and bacteria) in Higher Education Facilities (HEI) by using active and passive sampling methods and combining culture-based methods with molecular tools targeting Aspergillus section Fumigati. In addition, the resistance to azole profile was also assessed. Surface samples showed a range of total bacterial contamination between 1 × 103 to 3.1 × 106 CFU·m−2, while Gram-negative bacteria ranged from 0 to 1.9 × 104 CFU·m−2. Fungal contamination ranged from 2 × 103 to 1.8 × 105 CFU·m−2 on MEA, and from 5 × 103 to 1.7 × 105 CFU·m−2 on DG18. The most prevalent species found on both media was Cladosporium sp. (47.36% MEA; 32.33% DG18). Aspergillus genera was observed on MEA (3.21%) and DG18 (14.66%), but not in the supplemented media used for the azole screening. Aspergillus section Fumigati was detected in 2 air samples (2.22%, 2 out of 90 samples) by qPCR. When testing for SARS-CoV-2 all results were negative. The present study showed that although cleaning and disinfection procedures are done regularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, being effective in eliminating SARS-CoV-2, surfaces were often contaminated with microorganisms other than SARS-CoV-2. This can be a result of increasing resistance to biocides, and to the wide range of environmental factors that can contribute to the dissemination of microbial contamination indoors.

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