Recovery of
            <i>Bacillus</i>
            Spore Contaminants from Rough Surfaces: a Challenge to Space Mission Cleanliness Control

Probst, Alexander J.; Facius, R.; Wirth, Reinhard; Wolf, Marco; Moissl-Eichinger, Christine

doi:10.1128/aem.02037-10

Cited by 35 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(56 reference statements)

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“…The degree to which particulate matter will adhere to a surface will depend on the hydrophobicity of the surface, with greater hydrophobicity resulting in greater adhesion (Bower et al, 1996). Some quite marked differences in efficiencies of removal have been recorded even between spores of different species of the same genus (Probst et al, 2011) which must partly reflect differences in spore hydrophilicity. In addition, the manner in which organisms are deposited at the surface will also influence the efficiency with which they can be removed as Probst et al (2011) showed when comparing aerosolised and drop-deposited spores.…”

Section: Sampling From Surfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some quite marked differences in efficiencies of removal have been recorded even between spores of different species of the same genus (Probst et al, 2011) which must partly reflect differences in spore hydrophilicity. In addition, the manner in which organisms are deposited at the surface will also influence the efficiency with which they can be removed as Probst et al (2011) showed when comparing aerosolised and drop-deposited spores. Pickup efficiency is also affected by the concentration of organisms actually present at the surface, with the efficiency actually decreasing with increasing bacterial concentration (Montville and Schaffner, 2003).…”

Section: Sampling From Surfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact Probst et al (2011) had to devise a special procedure -which they termed 'wipe-rinse' to achieve appreciable recovery of spores from a particular textile material that had a rough finish this was because traditional swabbing yielded very low spore recoveries. In certain cases micro-organisms may be present on a surface in the form of a biofilm.…”

Section: Sampling From Surfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The uses and abuses of rapid bioluminescence-based ATP assays

Shama

Malik

2013

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

144

121

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Bioluminescence-based ATP testing of solid surfaces has become well established in the food processing industry as part of general hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) measures. The rise in healthcare associated infections (HAIs) at the turn of the century focussed attention on the environment as a potential reservoir of the agents responsible for such infections. In response to the need for objective methods of assessing the efficiency of cleaning in healthcare establishments and for rapid methods for detecting the presence of the pathogens responsible for HAIs, it was proposed that ATP testing of environmental surfaces be introduced. We examine the basis behind the assumptions inherent in these proposals. Intracellular ATP levels are shown to vary between microbial taxa and according to environmental conditions. Good correlations between microbial numbers and ATP levels have been obtained under certain specific conditions, but never within healthcare settings. Notwithstanding, ATP testing may still have a role in providing reassurance that cleaning regimes are being carried out satisfactorily. However, ATP results should not be interpreted as surrogate indicators for the presence of microbial pathogens.

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Section: Sampling From Surfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sampling From Surfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sampling From Surfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The uses and abuses of rapid bioluminescence-based ATP assays

Shama

Malik

2013

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

144

121

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“…In the present study, foam, nylon, and polyester swabs registered relatively low RE (23 to 50%) compared with cotton swabs (57 to 71%), and the RE recorded with the chosen cotton swabs (Tulips) was notably higher than what is generally attained by employing synthetic swabs for B. anthracis spore surveillance (2)(3)(4)(5). The RE of cotton swabs appeared to be linked to the quick water-absorbing capacity, leading to the identification of H-index as a major criterion for selecting efficient cotton swabs.…”

Section: MLmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…In addition, little information has appeared to be available from developing parts of the world with regard to effective spore surveillance, the input of which would become valuable in the event of an unprecedented public health hazard arising from the dreaded B. anthracis. Although different compositions of swabs, such as cotton, foam, polyester, rayon, sponge, and blends, are available commercially, none has been found to be universally acceptable (1,(3)(4)(5)(6). Cotton swabs are easily available worldwide and have registered higher RE than synthetic swabs in some studies (6).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved Recovery of Bacillus Spores from Nonporous Surfaces with Cotton Swabs over Foam, Nylon, or Polyester, and the Role of Hydrophilicity of Cotton in Governing the Recovery Efficiency

Thomas

Mujawar

Upreti

et al. 2013

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Evaluating different swabbing materials for spore recovery efficiency (RE) from steel surfaces, we recorded the maximum RE (71%) of 10 7 Bacillus subtilis spores with Tulips cotton buds, followed by Johnson's cotton buds and standard Hi-Media cotton, polyester, nylon, and foam (23%) swabs. Among cotton swabs, instant water-absorbing capacity or the hydrophilicity index appeared to be the major indicator of RE, as determined by testing three more brands. Tulips swabs worked efficiently across diverse nonporous surfaces and on different Bacillus spp., registering 65 to 77% RE. P roper sampling and retrieval methods are important for the surveillance of spores of hazardous pathogens, like Bacillus anthracis, and for monitoring microbial populations in space research in addition to traditional applications in food, clinical, and general microbiology (1-3). While wipes and vacuum suction are considered ideal for large-area sampling (1), swabs are preferred for small-area monitoring (4-6). Our prime interest in monitoring spore load on nonporous surfaces was directed at increasing our preparedness to address accidental surface contamination from different Bacillus spp. (7) in order to ensure a clean working environment.The spore recovery efficiency (RE) in past studies employing swabs varied depending on the surface sampled and the swabbing material, with most of the studies generally reporting Ͻ50% RE (2-5). In addition, little information has appeared to be available from developing parts of the world with regard to effective spore surveillance, the input of which would become valuable in the event of an unprecedented public health hazard arising from the dreaded B. anthracis. Although different compositions of swabs, such as cotton, foam, polyester, rayon, sponge, and blends, are available commercially, none has been found to be universally acceptable (1,(3)(4)(5)(6). Cotton swabs are easily available worldwide and have registered higher RE than synthetic swabs in some studies (6). Further, we also felt it prudent to try the universally available cotton buds (also called ear buds or Q-tips) for spore surveillance. This study was undertaken to develop an efficient spore surveillance methodology applicable across different surfaces and organisms.B. subtilis (ATCC 6051) was used as the primary test organism. A spore suspension prepared from 7-to 10-day-old nutrient agar (NA) cultures (30°C) in sterile distilled water (DW) after 70°C heat treatment (10 min) was dispersed in 50% ethanol, and the optical density at 600 nm (OD) was adjusted to 2.0. The spore suspension showed an initial CFU of 1.26 ϫ 10 9 to 1.43 ϫ 10 9 ml Ϫ1 , which after overnight storage dropped to 1.02 Ϯ 0.189 ϫ 10 9 ml Ϫ1 but thereafter remained consistent with 4°C storage over 8 weeks of monitoring.Different standard swab materials from Hi-Media (HM) Biosciences (Mumbai, India), designated HM-foam, HM-nylon, HM-polyester, and HM-cotton, and two brands of cotton buds, namely Johnson's (Johnson & Johnson, manufactured at Mumbai, India) and Tulips (M/s...

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A 3D‐Structured Sustainable Solar‐Driven Steam Generator Using Super‐Black Nylon Flocking Materials

Cai

Xue

et al. 2019

Small

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Solar‐driven evaporation is a promising way of using abundant solar energy for desalinating polluted water or seawater, which addresses the challenge of global fresh water scarcity. Cost‐effectiveness and durability are key factors for practical solar‐driven evaporation technology. The present cutting‐edge techniques mostly rely on costly and complex fabricated nanomaterials, such as metallic nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanoporous hydrogels, graphene, and graphene derivatives. Herein, a black nylon fiber (BNF) flocking board with a vertically aligned array prepared via a convenient electrostatic flocking technique is reported, presenting an extremely high solar absorbance (99.6%), a water self‐supply capability, and a unique salt self‐dissolution capability for seawater desalination. Through a carefully designed 3D structure, a plug‐in‐type BNF flocking board steam generator realizes a high evaporation rate of 2.09 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 kW m−2 solar illumination, well beyond its corresponding upper limit of 1.50 kg m−2 h−1 (assuming 100% solar energy is being used for evaporation latent heat). With the advantages of high‐efficiency fabrication, cost‐effectiveness, high evaporation rate, and high endurance in seawater desalination, this 3D design provides a new strategy to build up an economic, sustainable, and rapid solar‐driven steam generation system.

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Recovery of Bacillus Spore Contaminants from Rough Surfaces: a Challenge to Space Mission Cleanliness Control

Cited by 35 publications

References 34 publications

The uses and abuses of rapid bioluminescence-based ATP assays

The uses and abuses of rapid bioluminescence-based ATP assays

Improved Recovery of Bacillus Spores from Nonporous Surfaces with Cotton Swabs over Foam, Nylon, or Polyester, and the Role of Hydrophilicity of Cotton in Governing the Recovery Efficiency

A 3D‐Structured Sustainable Solar‐Driven Steam Generator Using Super‐Black Nylon Flocking Materials

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