Chlorine Solution Research Articles

Carvacrol-loaded chia mucilage nanocapsules as sanitizer to control Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes in green cabbage.

Cabbage is susceptible to various microbiological risks, frequently serving as a vehicle for pathogenic bacteria, mainly Salmonella and Escherichia coli. Therefore, ensuring the safety of this vegetable is essential to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Traditional sanitization using chlorinated water, although effective, raises concerns due to the production of potentially carcinogenic compounds, and this method is banned in some countries. In recent years, alternative sanitizing methods have been developed using essential oils (EOs). However, EOs present high volatility, limited solubility in water, and strong odor and taste. This study introduces an innovative approach to overcome these disadvantages by employing carvacrol encapsulated into chia mucilage nanocapsules (CMNC), prepared through high-energy homogenization. Encapsulating carvacrol in chia mucilage nanocapsules helps to mask its strong sensory characteristics, making it more suitable and acceptable for use in food applications. The antimicrobial efficacy of CMNC (1.67mg/mL), carvacrol emulsion (CE: 10.6mg/mL), and chlorine solution (CS: 200 ppm) was evaluated against Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. CMNC decreased Salmonella to levels below the detection limit of the technique (< 2 log CFU/g), reduced 3.5 log CFU/g of E. coli, and 2.5 log CFU/g of L. monocytogenes. These results are similar to or better than those obtained with CS. In addition, sanitizing cabbage with CMNC preserved the firmness and color of the samples, important aspects for consumer acceptance. This innovative approach is promising for increasing the food safety of cabbage, while mitigating the potential drawbacks associated with traditional sanitization methods.

Effect of ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and chlorine solution in reduction of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin residues from cauliflower

The extensive utilization of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin in agriculture raises concerns regarding the accumulation of pesticide residues in human food, posing a threat to human health. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ozonation on cauliflower to decrease the level of pesticides. Cypermethrin and organophosphate chlorpyrifos were applied to cauliflower at specific doses. High-performance liquid chromatographic techniques were employed to detect pesticide residues in cauliflower. The effects of common oxidizers (hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and ozone) on the reduction of pesticide residues were investigated. Solutions of hydrogen peroxide (10 and 100 ppm), chlorine (10 and 100 ppm), and ozone (10 and 100 ppm) were prepared, and the cauliflower sample was immersed for 20 min. The immersion in 10 ppm hydrogen peroxide solution reduced chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin by 68 and 65%, respectively. Meanwhile, at 100 ppm hydrogen peroxide solution, the reduction rates of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin residues were 72 and 75%, respectively. Immersion in ozone solution at 10 ppm concentration reduced chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin by 58 and 57%, respectively. At 100 ppm ozone, chlorpyrifos was reduced up to 64%, and cypermethrin reduction was 74%. Chlorine immersion at 10 ppm reduced chlorpyrifos residues by 68% and cypermethrin residues by 81%, while a 100 ppm chlorine solution reduced chlorpyrifos residues by 100% and cypermethrin residues by 84%. From these results, it was concluded that chlorine was the most effective of all the cleaning solutions to remove pesticides from vegetables.

ATP-based assessments of recent cleaning and disinfection for high-touch surfaces in low-resource shared toilets

Quality improvements and reduction of disease risk for low-resource shared sanitation facilities require cleanliness assessment approaches that are both rigorous and practical. Using Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence testing, we assessed contamination on high-touch (HT) surfaces (inner door handles) at 32 shared toilet sites in Kisumu, Kenya. In public toilets, contamination was lowest after cleaning and disinfection (C&D) with 0.5% chlorine solution (adjusted difference in mean log10 Relative Light Units per 100 cm2 (aDiff): −1.61; CI: −2.43, −0.59), followed by C&D with 0.1% chlorine solution (aDiff: −1.16; CI: −1.77, −0.55). ATP levels were not associated with overall observable toilet cleanliness and had poor agreement with visually assessed HT surface cleanliness. Our findings demonstrate the utility of this field-feasible method for detecting the impact of recent C&D in low-resource shared toilets, a novel setting for ATP cleanliness testing, while also highlighting the importance of using effective C&D procedures and addressing HT surfaces within cleaning protocols.

Вылечить пиодерму без антибиотиков – возможно!

Pyoderma in various manifestations is one of the most common problems in veterinary practice. Multiple studies on the treatment and prevention of pyoderma, combined with an alarming increase in the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) infections, have led to a shift from previous recommendations for the use of systemic antibiotics to the use of topical therapy. Antiseptics are primarily used in the treatment of bacterial infections. The most common component is chlorhexidine, which is available in various dosage forms. Benzoyl peroxide, chlorine solution, ethyl lactate, and miconazole can also be used for treatment. For local lesions, local antibiotics are sometimes prescribed – gentamicin, fusidine, silver sulfadiazine.

Removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes by an electrochemically driven UV/chlorine process for decentralized water treatment

The UV/chlorine (UV/Cl2) process is a developing advanced oxidation process and can efficiently remove antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the transportation and storage of chlorine solutions limit the application of the UV/Cl2 process, especially for decentralized water treatment. To overcome the limitation, an electrochemically driven UV/Cl2 process (E-UV/Cl2) where Cl2 can be electrochemically produced in situ from anodic oxidation of chloride (Cl−) ubiquitously present in various water matrices was evaluated in this study. >5-log inactivation of the ARB (E. coli) was achieved within 5 s of the E-UV/Cl2 process, and no photoreactivation of the ARB was observed after the treatment. In addition to the ARB, intracellular and extracellular ARGs (tetA, sul1, sul2, and ermB) could be effectively degraded (e.g., log(C0/C) > 4 for i-ARGs) within 5 min of the E-UV/Cl2 process. Atomic force microscopy showed that the most of the i-ARGs were interrupted into short fragments (< 30 nm) during the E-UV/Cl2 process, which can thus effectively prevent the self-repair of i-ARGs and the horizontal gene transfer. Modelling results showed that the abatement efficiencies of i-ARG correlated positively with the exposures of •OH, Cl2−•, and ClO• during the E-UV/Cl2 process. Due to the short treatment time (5 min) required for ARB and ARG removal, insignificant concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) were generated during of the E-UV/Cl2 process, and the energy consumption (EEO) of ARG removal was ∼0.20‒0.27 kWh/m3-log, which is generally comparable to that of the UV/Cl2 process (0.18–0.23 kWh/m3-log). These results demonstrate that the E-UV/Cl2 process can provide a feasible and attractive alternative to the UV/Cl2 process for ARB and ARG removal in decentralized water treatment system.

An Outbreak of Pan-drug Resistant Providencia Species in an Intensive Care Unit: A Case-Series

Background: Providencia species are opportunistic pathogens that can rarely cause nosocomial infections. They possess numerous virulence characteristics, such as intrinsic antibiotic resistance, which enable them to cause lethal outbreaks. The emergence of pan-drug resistant (PDR) isolates amplifies the threat of Providencia spp. to human health. Objectives: We described an outbreak caused by PDR Providencia spp. in the intensive care unit (ICU) of our medical center. Methods: This outbreak occurred at Imam Hossein Hospital in Tehran, Iran, between 20 June and 28 July 2023. The majority of the 14 patients experienced ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP); however, two others had surgical site infections (SSI) and peritoneal abscesses. Samples were subcultured on Blood agar, Chocolate agar, and MacConkey agar, as well as differential gallery mediums. Additionally, susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined by the disk diffusion protocol using Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar. Results: The rapid diagnosis of the outbreak and practical measures recommended by the infection prevention and control (IPC) committee (e.g., sampling from other patients, hands of healthcare workers, and the environment to identify further cases and the source of the infection, contact isolation, disinfection of the ICU with 1% chlorine solution, and combined antibiotic therapy) assisted us in managing it. Nevertheless, the outbreak resulted in the mortality of eight patients, despite these preventive and therapeutic measures. Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware of nosocomial infections caused by opportunistic pathogens such as Providencia spp., especially in ICU-admitted patients with prolonged hospitalizations and broad-spectrum antibiotic administration. Strong clinical suspicion and timely detection of outbreaks, investigation of further cases, contact isolation of infected patients, disinfection of the environment, treatment with combined antibiotic regimens, and re-sampling of patients and the environment are the cornerstones of managing outbreaks caused by Providencia spp.

First Report of Neoscytalidium dimidiatum causing leaf zonate spot disease of Aloe vera L. in China.

In February 2022, leaf zonate spot disease afflicted Aloe vera L. in Yunnan, China, endangering the $39 billion industry with 0.33ha under cultivation (Wan 2015). The disease manifested with watery spots progressing into oval or circular necrosis lesions, characterized by a dark center surrounded by a gray-brown zone. In the late stage of the disease, lesions regress in size and several small dark picnidia dots appeared on the gray-brown zone. The disease incidence ranged from 10% to 15% in three commercial plantations. If left uncontrolled, the disease could diminish the commercial value of Aloe vera plants. Eighteen symptomatic leaf samples underwent morphological and genetic identification. The samples were carefully washed with distilled water and 1×1 cm2 sections of tissue were excised using a sterile scalpel. The sections underwent surface-disinfection with 3% NaOCl for 3 min and 75% ethanol for 30 s. After three sterile water rinses the sections were air-dried. Subsequently, they were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) before being incubated at 25 ℃ in the dark. Of the 18 samples, eight produced the colonies with similar morphological characteristics, named LH7. Isolate LH7 had downy to woolly aerial mycelia, initially pinkish white on the surface, and gradually turned greenish-olivaceous from the middle, and eventually turned dark brown to black after seven days. The fungus formed arthric chains in the aerial mycelium on PDA but did not produce conidiomata. The conidia, which occurred in arthric chains were 5.50-9.9 × 4.08-7.51 μm (mean 7.09× 5.26 μm, n=50) in size, cylindrical, brown, and 0-1 septate. To ascertain LH7's pathogenicity, three healthy one-year old aloe plants were surface-sanitized with a 1% aqueous chlorine solution, rinsed with sterile water, and dried. Three leaves from each plant were punctuated and inoculated using conidial suspension (100 μl of 1x 106 conidial mL-1), while three control plants were inoculated with sterile distilled water. The pathogenicity tests were repeated twice. The inoculated plants were kept at 25 ℃ with a 12-hour light/12-hour dark cycle. After seven days, symptoms observed in the field appeared in the plants, while no disease occurred in the control plants. After 21 days, conidiomata formed on the inoculated leaves, averaging 116.92 μm (n=20) in diameter. These conidiomata were globose to subglobose, and brown to sub-brown. The fungus was successfully re-isolated from symptomatic tissue and the resulting colonies were morphologically consistent with isolate LH7. Based on the characteristics, the fungus was identified as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum (Philips et al. 2013). The specimen was deposited in China Center for Type Culture Collection ( CCTCC AF 2024001). This identification was confirmed through sequencing of ITS gene region of rDNA using ITS1/ITS4 (Imran et al. 2022). The sequence was submitted into GenBank database (ON878059). BLAST analysis of the LH7's ITS amplicon showed 100% similarity with that of JN093303.1. A phylogenetic tree constructed using the maximum likelihood method revealed that ON878059 was clustered with JN093303.1. Previous studies have documented that pathogens such as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.), Fusarium spp. and Rhizopus oryzae can also cause diseases in A. vera in China (Zhou et al. 2008; Ding et al. 2015). Additinonally, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Pseudopestalotiopsis theae, and Lasiodiplodia theobromae have been identified as causal agents of aloe leaf spot diseases in India, Bangladesh and Malaysia (Avasthi et al. 2016; Ahmmed et al. 2022; Khoo et al. 2022). To our knowledge, this is the first report of N. dimidiatum causing leaf necrosis of aloe in China. Vigilant surveillance and disease control measures are imperative to mitigate potential losses in this region.

Perencanaan Sistem Penyediaan Air Bersih di Desa Teluk Melano Kecamatan Simpang Hilir Kabupaten Kayong Utara

The lack of access to clean water services had led a significant portion of the community in Teluk Melano Village to rely on river water and rainwater as their primary sources to meet their needs. Teluk Melano Village has the highest population in the Simpang Hilir District, Kayong Utara Regency. As of now, Teluk Melano Village does not have a Clean Water Supply System (BPAM). Therefore, a study was needed to meet the demand for clean water by conducting a Clean WaterTreatment Plant (IPA Bersih) Planning for Teluk Melano Village. This study aimed to design a clean water supply system with a planning period of the next 15 years (2023-2037). The method used involved primary data collection based on SNI 6989.57.2008 and SNI 8066:2015, and secondary data collection sourced from the Teluk Melano Village Monograph for the years 2020 and 2022. The total demand for clean water in Teluk Melano Village in 2037 would be 3.39 liters/second with a population of 1930 people. The results of the water quality test of the Melani River in this study showed that the parameters of E-coli, color, and pH, based on Government Regulation No. 22 of 2021, Class1, on the Implementation and Management of the Environment, did not meet the standard quality requirements for clean water. The planned Water Treatment Plant (WTP) included a complete conventional treatment process, including coagulation using hydraulic type rapid mixing utilizing gravity on the waterfall, flocculation using vertical baffled channels, sedimentation using plate settlers to reduce turbidity, filtration using rapid sand filters with filter media consisting of quartz sand and support media consisting of gravel, disinfection using chemical disinfectant in the form of chlorine solution, neutralization using a dosing pump for the addition of lime, and the type of reservoir used is a ground reservoir.Keywords: clean water, Water Treatment Plant, Teluk Melano Village

Impacts of on-farm water sanitation practices on microbial hygiene in poultry waterlines and efficacy of sodium hypochlorite-based product on foodborne pathogens

The microbial water quality of poultry water supplies can be correlated to bird health, livability, overall performance, and human food safety. On-farm microbial evaluations were conducted to understand microbial hygiene of poultry waterlines based on water sanitation practices. With on-farm study I, two farms were selected: Farm A and Farm B; that did not practice water sanitation consistently during the flock grow-out period. Prevalence tests for specific pathogens- Salmonella, E coli, Campylobacter, Listeria, and Staphylococcus were performed for both farms by collecting swab samples post bird harvest from waterlines and plating in specific growth media. With the on-farm study II, one broiler farm with four barn units that treated water (Chlorine (Cl)= ∼ 1 ppm) during the flock grow-out period and flushed waterlines between flocks using concentrated chlorine solution (>1000 ppm) was selected. Swab samples (one from each barn, n=4; each sampling occasion) were collected on three occasions-before flushing, after flushing, and at the end of the grow-out period (d 42) to understand biofilm growth nature in poultry waterlines. Additionally, a separate in-vitro study was conducted to understand the efficacy of a commonly used poultry drinking water sanitizer product (sodium hypochlorite, 8.25 %) against specific foodborne pathogens: Salmonella Enteritidis (SE), E. coli and Listeria. Results from the on-farm study I showed that Farm A and Farm B were positive for Listeria and Staphylococcus, whereas these farms were found negative for other species tested. The findings from on-farm study II showed that biofilm reestablished (> 4 log10 cfu/ml) in waterlines by the end of grow-out cycle despite waterline cleaning and consistent water sanitation during flock grow-out period. The in-vitro test showed that the efficacy of chlorine-based water sanitizer at the field application dose rates was affected by pathogen load in water and pathogen types. The overall results from on-farm or in-vitro studies indicated that poultry growers need to emphasize consistent and robust poultry drinking water sanitation practice in their farms to keep the acceptable bacterial levels in poultry water supplies or water systems.

Gas ultrafine bubbles improve the efficacy of antimicrobials against eliminating fresh and aged Bacillus subtilis biofilms on various dairy processing surfaces

The objective of this research was to study the impact of incorporating gas ultrafine bubbles (UFB) on the efficacy of chlorine and peracetic acid antimicrobial (AM) solutions against Bacillus subtilis biofilms on polypropylene, silicone, and stainless-steel surfaces. B. subtilis biofilms were grown on coupons of various surfaces at 25 °C (for 3 and 30 days for fresh and aged biofilms, respectively) by immersing in B. subtilis inoculated brain heart infusion broth. The AM solutions (50, 100, and 200 ppm chlorine, and 20, 40, and 80 ppm peracetic acid) were prepared from the water incorporated with air, CO2, or N2 UFB. Coupons with biofilms were treated by submerging in AM solutions with or without UFB for 1 min. The AM solutions with CO2 UFB resulted in significantly higher log reductions (2.2–3.7 log CFU cm−2) of fresh and aged B. subtilis biofilms on all surfaces compared to AM solutions without UFB (1.2–2.5 log CFU cm−2).

Effect of gas ultrafine bubbles on the potency of antimicrobials against Escherichia coliO157:H7 biofilms on various food processing surfaces

AbstractThis study investigated the impact of incorporating gas [air, carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen (N2)] UFB on the potency of chlorine (Cl2; 50, 100, and 200 ppm) and peracetic acid (PAA; 20, 40, and 80 ppm) antimicrobial (AM) solutions against fresh (3 days) and aged (30 days) E. coli O157:H7 biofilms on polypropylene, silicone, and stainless‐steel surfaces. The biofilms were statically grown on polypropylene, silicone, and stainless‐steel coupons (7.62 × 2.54 cm) at 25°C for 3 or 30 days by immersing in a 3‐strain cocktail of E. coli. The incorporation of air, CO2, and N2 UFB in AM solutions resulted in significantly increased log reductions (2.1–3.7 logs) in fresh and aged E. coli biofilms on all surfaces compared to solutions without UFB, except for N2 UFB on aged stainless‐steel biofilms and air UFB on aged polypropylene biofilms, which resulted in similar log reductions as solutions without UFB (1.5–2.1 logs).

Bio-based phenolic branched-chain fatty acid in wash water reduced populations of Listeria innocua on apple fruit

Phenolic branched-chain fatty acid (PBC-FA) emulsion was produced by dissolving it in ethanol and mixing with water (pH 7). The resulting monodispersed emulsion droplets were approximately 200 nm in diameter. The stability of the emulsion was evaluated by storing it at 4 and 20 °C for 30 days. The antimicrobial activity of the PBC-FA emulsion was tested against Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua (8 log CFU/mL) by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using a microdilution method. The PBC-FA was effective against L. innocua with MIC and MBC of 14.1 μg/mL and caused membrane permeation as determined with SEM and Live/Dead cell assay, but was not effective against E. coli O157:H7 at the tested concentrations (5–250 μg/mL). We also evaluated PBC-FA emulsion's potential to be used as a wash against L. innocua inoculated on apples. The results showed that the 500 μg/mL PBC-FA emulsion with 5 % ethanol had equivalent antimicrobial activity (2–3 logs reductions) against L. innocua as the 20 μg/mL chlorine solution, a commonly used sanitizer. 500 μg/mL PBC-FA emulsion had better antimicrobial efficacy when organic matter (chemical oxygen demand: 9.0 g/L) was present compared to 20 μg/mL of chlorine. The effect of PBC-FA on the quality of the apples, was determined by measuring changes in color, firmness, and soluble solids content over a 14-day storage period at 20 °C. The quality of the apples was not affected by PBC-FA over the 14-day storage period, suggesting that PBC-FA emulsion can be used as a wash for apples without affecting their quality.

Evaluating wet and dry contact time of contaminated produce with chlorine solution against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica

Chlorine is the most widely used sanitizer, however, there are varying reports on the exposure time and its effectiveness on fresh produce. This study determined the minimum exposure time for wet and dry contact chlorine treatments with the highest efficacy in reducing Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica on spinach and bell pepper surfaces. The chlorine wash at 100 mg/L for 1 min resulted in a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of both pathogens on both produce. S. enterica was reduced by 4.86 log CFU/g on spinach and by 3.97 log CFU/g on bell pepper, while L. monocytogenes was reduced by 3.7 log CFU/g on spinach and by 3.08 log CFU/g on bell pepper. The majority of Listeria cross-contamination (>2.30 log CFU/g) on un-inoculated spinach and bell peppers was observed within 1 min of chlorine washing. Cross-contamination of Salmonella on spinach was >2.9 log CFU/g within 1 min and the level increased to 4.21 log CFU/g after 6 min. This study showed that washing spinach and bell pepper for up to 6 min with a 100 mg/L chlorine solution did not achieve additional reductions in L. monocytogenes and S. enterica populations compared to a 1 min wash.

Surface disinfection change the mechanical, structural and biological properties of flexible materials used for additive manufacturing of medical devices

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a versatile technology with potential applications in healthcare and medical instruments, where surface disinfection or sterilization is essential. This study comprehensively the effect of commonly used cost-effective disinfectants, ethanol (70 V/V%) and chlorine solution on the mechanical and thermal properties of flexible 3D printed materials. The following materials were tested before and after a 5-cycle surface disinfection: Flexfill TPE 90A, Phyton Flex (TPU) for material extrusion, Flexible (resin), Elastic 50A (resin) for vat photopolymerization and Flexa Black (TPU) material for powder bed fusion technology. Mechanical tests included tensile, compression, Charpy impact, flex resistance and stress relaxation tests, as well as Shore A hardness and volume measurements. The structure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)and Raman spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity was assessed using a A549 cell viability assay. The results show that after disinfection, significant changes occurred mainly in the tensile and Shore A properties, such as the tensile strength of the disinfected Flexible (resin) materials was 3.44 MPa ± 0.51 MPa (ethanol) and 2.62 MPa ± 0.31 MPa compared to the native 2.02 MPa ± 0.24 MPa. Interestingly, the applied surface disinfectants can negatively affect biocompatibility. Medical devices have been designed and fabricated based on the findings. Our findings can serve as a guide to the potential applications of commonly used 3D printed flexible materials in the biomedical field.

Enhancing Youth Capacities on Climate Change Adaptation and Drinking Water Management

This was a small study to improve knowledge and build capacity among the youths of the selected four secondary schools on the impacts of climate change and its adaptation and mitigation in drinking water management, as well as its use perspectives inside the Chitra-Nabaganga Area Water Partnership at Narail District in Bangladesh. The study was implemented by the Environment and Population Research Centre, Bangladesh, in financial collaboration with Bangladesh Water Partnership and the Global Applied Research Network - South Asia. The study included classroom training focusing on climate change and its impacts, water safety and its management, and knowledge about water disinfection methods during floods. This study found that knowledge about water disinfection methods during floods, such as "boiling arsenic-free water" and "using chlorine solution," improved significantly p &lt;.01) in the end-line from the baseline survey. The level of knowledge about flood preparedness, causes, and potential consequences of climate change also increased significantly p &lt;.01). According to the findings of this study, training can increase the skills of young students and turn them into active learners who are interested in gaining more knowledge about contemporary issues.

Washing solutions containing nanoemulsified essential oils as a potential substitute of commercial washes for the decontamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on cherry tomatoes

Fresh produce is still a food safety concern as it can be contaminated by bacterial pathogens. Most of these products cannot be pasteurized, making the application of a washing step essential for food safety. Commercial disinfectants can become a hazard for the consumer, which motivates this study to evaluate alternative washing solutions based on nanoemulsified oregano and rosemary essential oils (EOs) for the decontamination of E. coli O157:H7 on cherry tomatoes. Every washing solution was more effective than tap water, and the origin of the EOs (Romania or Spain) did not influence their antibacterial activity. The efficacy was depended on the concentration, with the highest oregano EO nanoemulsion concentration (10%) having a disinfectant effect equivalent to commercial chlorine solution (∼3.5 log CFU), while a 10% rosemary EO solution was less effective (∼2.5 log CFU). Using a QMRA model, it can be concluded that the consumer risk to E. coli O157:H7 would not increase by substituting the commercial chlorine-based solution with the 10% oregano EO-based nanoemulsion. In conclusion, although further research is still needed to fully assess its industrial implementation, the washing solutions based on EOs nanoemulsions developed in this study could be an alternative to the current chlorine commercial products for produce.

Training in tools to develop quantitative microbial risk assessment of ready-to-eat food with a comparison between the Romanian and Spanish food supply chains.

The prevention and control of bacterial contamination on ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh produce is an essential task to ensure food safety. Therefore, the development of novel and effective decontamination technologies to ensure microbiological safety of fruits and vegetables has gained considerable attention and new sanitisation methods are needed. The antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) is well documented, but their application in fresh produce remains a challenge due to their hydrophobic nature. Thus, nanoemulsions efficiently contribute to support the use of EOs in foods by enhancing their dispersibility, their contact area and facilitating the introduction into bacterial cells. The combination of these factors ultimately increases their antimicrobial activity. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is gaining more attention as an effective tool to assess and prevent potential risks associated with food-borne pathogens. In this context, the current project aims to study the effectiveness of different washing methods based on nanoemulsified EOs, comparing them against traditional methods, using a QMRA model for Escherichia coli O157:H7 on cherry tomatoes. Different simulations within a stochastic risk assessment model were implemented using the biorisk package for R, aiming to describe microbial behaviour and biological risk along the Romanian and Spanish food supply chains of RTE fresh produce. Nanoemulsions were prepared using oregano and rosemary EOs, each from Romania and Spain. The four nanoemulsions were evaluated as decontamination treatments to control the growth of E. coli O157:H7 on artificially contaminated cherry tomatoes. The decontamination treatments showed encouraging results, comparable to commonly used chlorine solutions. Therefore, oregano and rosemary nanoemulsions are promising and could be a feasible alternative for chlorine solutions in the reduction of microbiological contaminants.

Research Note: Reducing food loss in the manufacturing process of chickens by reconditioning dropped raw poultry carcasses with peroxyacetic acid and sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) solution

Food waste and food loss has been a growing concern in the manufacturing industry with a gap between identifying the problem and implementing a solution. The manufacturing process of chicken is largely automated by conveyor belts and machines in which initial application of either peroxyacetic acid (PAA) or sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) solution is utilized to reduce the microbial load and prevent food borne illnesses on the chicken products as they are processed and packaged for distribution. However, during this automated process whole chickens can drop from the manufacturing line and become contaminated leading to the disposal and waste of the product. A solution to reduce food waste was to analyze a reconditioning procedure within the manufacturing process. The study evaluated the aerobic microbial growth on salvaged marinated deli raw whole chickens without giblets (WOGs) from conveyor belt loss reconditioned in either PAA or sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) solution to undropped chicken WOGs. Chicken rinsate and segmented samples were collected from each parameter and tested for microbial growth using Petrifilm aerobic plate count (APC) plates and converting results into log colony forming units (CFU). A difference (P < 0.05) was observed with the reconditioning of the WOGs in PAA (0.71 log10 CFU/mL) compared to the control (1.45 ± 0.26 log10 CFU/mL), for rinses. Of the segmented samples, the trussing strings displayed a significant decrease in APC counts for both chlorine (2.30 ± 0.49 log10 CFU/g) and PAA (2.3 ± 0.49 log10 CFU/g) reconditioning compared to the control (2.72 ± 0.39 log10 CFU/g). Reconditioning of salvaged deli chicken WOGs in chlorine or PAA is comparable to or better than the conventional process for the reduction of APC, it is an effective strategy to reintroduce dropped marinated deli chicken WOGs to the manufacturing line and can reduce food waste at a manufacturing level.

METHODS OF STERILIZATION OF MEDICAL POLYMER COMPOSITES BASED ON POLYHYDROXYBUTYRATE WITH ELASTOMERIC ADDITIVE

Introduction. Polyhydroxybutyrate is a biodegradable and completely biocompatible component, and in combination with various modifying additives can be suitable for the manufacture of medical products used in surgical practice as bone implants or their parts. There implants have a number of advantages over traditional metal products, but for their integration into the body they require thorough sterilization cleaning, which in the case of poly-mer compositions has a number of limitations associated with the possible destruction of the material structure during various cleaning stages. Purpose of the study. Find optimal methods for sterilization and disinfection of materials based on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and an elastomeric additive – butadiene-nitrile rubber (NBR-28). Material and methods. Two-component PHB-NBR compositions with PHB content from 30 to 90% were studied. Four methods of sterilization and disinfection were used: autoclaving, air sterilization, disinfection with chlorine solution and ethanol solution. Determined mechanical characteristics are strength and elongation of the material at break. Sterility control – by the method of washings with subsequent observation of the growth of bacteria and fungi in Sabouraud's medium and thioglycollate medium. Results. Sterilized and disinfected samples showed no microbial growth in both culture media. No change in mechanical characteristics was detected for samples subjected to solution cleaning methods. High temperature cleaning reduced the mechanical properties of samples by 20–80% depending on the sterilization mode. Conclusions. The data obtained show that for sterilization and disinfection of PCM based on the biodegradable polymer PHB, solution methods are suitable without restrictions and the autoclave sterilization method is suitable with minor restrictions, while air sterilization leads to the destruction of PCM. The work was financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russian Federation (Research theme state registration number 122041300207-2).

Studying the Degradation of Three Polymers under Different Chlorine Concentrations and Exposure Times.

Due to chlorine's ability to kill bacteria and fungi through a chemical reaction, chlorine solutions are commonly used to clean and disinfect numerous public facilities, although these actions are also dependent to the equipment present in those facilities. Accordingly, the interest in studying its effect when in contact with different materials is obvious. This study was carried out through accelerated degradation tests and various analysis methods (optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and tensile tests). The objective was to observe the wear presented by three polymeric materials, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP), when exposed to chlorine's action in swimming pools and drinking water treatment plants. The resulting effect depends on the chlorine content and the type of contact between the chemical agent and the material. The aim was to select the material less likely to be affected by chlorine through tests and analyses, allowing a longer component life. The use of certain more resistant polymeric materials can drastically reduce maintenance, reducing fundamental factors such as costs, the downtime of municipal facilities, and also the risk to public health. It was concluded that PVC has the most stable behaviour overall when in contact with chlorine solutions.