Contamination Of Equipment Research Articles

Assessment of inhibitor protection efficiency of oilfield equipment from salt deposits

In the field development practice, the most common method for protecting oilfield equipment and pipeline surfaces from inorganic salt deposits is inhibitor protection. To enhance prevention efficiency, a salt deposit inhibitor has been developed, which contains a surfactant, acid, and anionic polymer. The aim of this development is to eliminate the need for scarce and expensive reagents, increase formation productivity by preventing the formation of inorganic deposits during the treatment of carbonate and terrigenous productive formations, and eliminate contamination of formation and downhole equipment by insoluble salts, as well as salt deposits in pipeline systems. Samples prepared at a flow rate of 10-30 g/t demonstrated a high inhibitor effect in preventing calcium sulphate and carbonate deposition. Field tests of the developed salt deposition inhibitor yielded positive results. Keywords: Salt deposition inhibitor; Adsorptiondesorption properties; Inhibition efficiency; Calcium sulfate; Calcium carbonate; Field tests.

Risk assessment and hygienic regulation of using of milbenock insecticide based on the new active substances aversectin class milbemectin

Annotation. The problem of risk assessment for the population and persons involved in the treatment of agricultural crops with plant protection products is relevant in many countries of the world. The aim of the study was hygienic regulation of the Milbenok insecticide based on a new compound of the active substances aversectin class milbemectin to reduce the potential occupational risk and population risk. The method of natural experiment was used, residual amounts of milbemectin were determined by the method of high-performance liquid chromatography. Statistical processing of the obtained results, mathematical modeling of the degradation of the milbemectin was performed using EU recommendations and MS Excel programs (2000) and IBM SPSS Statistics Base v.22. It was determined that the half-life (DT50) of milbemectin in the soil in Ukraine climate regions – 21.4±1.6 days, in agricultural crops (apples, grapes) – 11.8±0.6 days. Risk assessment of the population based on the possible daily intake of the pesticide with products, as well as the integral indicator of danger when consuming products grown treated by insecticide Milbenok showed that the risk is two level lower than the permissible level and is moderately dangerous. The working zone is relatively safe for workers when using the insecticide. The risk for persons involved in the application of the Milbenok on apple trees, considering the contamination of personal protective equipment, was acceptable. The MRL of milbemectin was substantiated in apples, grapes (berries) – 0.02 mg/kg, apples, grapes (juice) – 0.01 mg/kg, AAC in the soil – 0.2 mg/kg and the regulations for the safe using of the Milbenok (pre harvest interval and time of workers' exit to cultivated areas). The obtained results should be considered when deciding the need to control pesticide residues in food products and environmental objects.

Impact of Covid-19 fear on Oral Health behaviour among general Population of age 18 – 65 years of South Indian City

Introduction - Dental procedures contribute to the contamination of equipment and surfaces with potential infections. Measures implemented to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in significant impacts on mental health and daily life which also affected oral health behaviors, routine diet, oral care habits, and dental appointments. So, this study aims to understand the oral health behavior during the pandemic and its association with fear of COVID-19. Material and Methods - A 24-item pre-tested self-administered questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 114 general people of Guntur city of the age group 18-65 for a period of 1 month. Exclusion criteria includes all dental professionals. Results - Majority of the subjects who opted that they don’t have changes in brushing habit during pandemic belongs to age group 18-25 years (52%). Subjects who opted that they don’t have changes in sugary food intake during pandemic were 26% and the subjects who opted that they have increased sugary food intake were also 26%. 60% of the people who have a dental problem stated that they didn’t visit the dentist due to fear of COVID-19. Conclusion - Regardless of age and educational background, many individuals were reluctant to visit dental clinics during the pandemic due to concerns about potential COVID-19 exposure. Those who became more cautious about their oral hygiene showed a greater fear of COVID-19. This caution resulted in changes in their food consumption frequency and preferences. Key Words - COVID-19, Fearness, General population, Oral health behavior

Low-temperature upcycling of polypropylene waste into H2 fuel via a novel hydrothermal tandem process.

Plastic waste is a promising and abundant resource for H2production. However, upcycling plastic waste into H2fuel via conventional thermochemical routes requires relatively considerable energy input and severe reaction conditions, particularly for polyolefin waste. Here, we report a tandem strategy for the selective upcycling of polypropylene (PP) waste into H2fuel in a mild and clean manner. PP waste was first oxidizedinto small-molecule organic acids usingpure O2as oxidantat 190 °C, followed by the catalytic reforming of oxidation aqueous products over ZnO-modified Ru/NiAl2O4catalysts to produce H2at 300 °C. A high H2yield of 44.5 mol/kgPPand a H2mole fraction of 60.5% were obtained from this tandem process. The entire process operated with almost no solid residue remaining and equipment contamination, ensuring relative stability and clean of the reaction system. This strategy provides a new route for low-temperature transforming PP and improving the sustainability of plastic waste disposal processes.

Investigation of a pseudo-outbreak of Mycobacterium franklinni

Mycobacterium franklinni is a ubiquitous organism that can cause lung, skin, and soft tissue infections.Due to its pervasive nature, it can be a source of outbreaks via contamination of shared medical equipment or tools. When investigating outbreaks of this type of organism it is important to consider the clinical picture of the patient when evaluating if there is a pseudo-outbreak as well as identifying if treatment is needed for patients.

The safety of at home powdered infant formula preparation: A community science project.

Formula fed infants experience gastrointestinal infections at higher rates than breastfed infants, due in part to bacteria in powdered infant formula (PIF) and bacterial contamination of infant feeding equipment. The United Kingdom National Health Service (UK NHS) has adopted the World Health Organization recommendation that water used to reconstitute PIF is ≥70°C to eliminate bacteria. We used community science methods to co-design an at home experiment and online questionnaire ('research diary') to explore the safety of PIF preparation compared to UK NHS guidelines. 200 UK-based parents of infants aged ≤12 months were recruited; 151 provided data on PIF preparation, and 143 were included in the analysis of water temperatures used to reconstitute PIF. Only 14.9% (n = 11) of 74 PIF preparation machines produced a water temperature of ≥70°C compared with 78.3% (n = 54) of 69 kettle users (p < 0.001). The mean temperature of water dispensed by PIF preparation machines was 9°C lower than kettles (Machine M = 65.78°C, Kettle M = 75.29°C). Many parents did not always fully follow NHS safer PIF preparation guidance, and parents did not appear to understand the potential risks of PIF bacterial contamination. Parents should be advised that the water dispensed by PIF preparation machines may be below 70°C, and could result in bacteria remaining in infant formula, potentially leading to gastrointestinal infections. PIF labelling shouldadvise that water used to prepare PIF should be ≥70°C and highight the risks of not using sufficiently hot water, per WHO Europe advice. There is an urgent need for stronger consumer protections regarding PIF preparation devices.

Design of Light Emitting Diode-Based Fiber Optic Current Sensor and Its Application in Pollution Flash Prevention in Digitalized Substations

Prevention of pollution flash in electrical equipment in digitalized substations and transmission lines has always been a crucial part of power operation. In order to prevent pollution flash, it is essential to detect the contamination of electrical equipment. The measurement of leakage current is a fundamental aspect of preventive pollution flash work in electrical equipment. Applying fiber optic current sensors to online monitoring systems in the power system offers advantages such as resistance to harsh environments, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and resistance to chemical corrosion. This study designs a unidirectional half-wave fiber optic current sensor based on Light Emitting Diodes (LED) for selectively observing the positive and negative half-cycles of leakage current. Due to the light emission and unidirectional conduction characteristics of LED, with a well-designed circuit, LED performs photoelectric conversion on the current, allowing the sensor to selectively measure the positive and negative half-cycles of leakage current. Subsequently, a combination circuit of silicon detectors and amplifiers is used to complete the photoelectric conversion, facilitating voltage signal measurement. In experiments, the response of the unidirectional half-wave LED fiber optic current sensor reached 37.8 mV/mA, with a detection bandwidth range between [1.2 kHz, 9.8 kHz]. In leakage current tests, using the leakage current of insulators as a reference, experiments were conducted using the voltage boosting method. As the applied voltage increased, the leakage current displayed on the sampling resistor increased, and the measurement waveform indicated that the sensor could correctly select the unidirectional half-wave. In leakage current and salt density tests, the designed fiber optic sensor accurately reflected the exponential relationship between insulator leakage current and contamination, demonstrating the practical value of the designed fiber optic current sensor.

Hygiene management practices and adenosine triphosphate luminometry of feeding equipment in preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec, Canada

The objective of this study was to describe the cleaning practices currently used for preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec, Canada. In addition, contamination of feeding equipment for preweaning calves was described using ATP (expressed as relative light units, RLU), visual assessment, and bacteriological analysis. A questionnaire was administered on 50 commercial dairy farms in Quebec, Canada, regarding the self-reported cleaning protocol used for feeding equipment of preweaning calves. During the visit, a visual score was given to the feeding equipment available at the farm. Afterward, ATP luminometry measurements were obtained using Hygiene UltraSnap and MicroSnap swabs (Hygiene, Camarillo, CA), and the liquid rinsing technique for buckets, nipples, bottles, esophageal tube feeders (ET), the tube of automatic milk feeders (AMF), water samples, and milk replacer. An additional direct swabbing technique was performed on buckets and nipples. The fluid retrieved from the liquid rinsing technique was also used to determine the total bacterial count (TBC) and total coliform count. Based on the bacteriological analysis, optimal RLU cutoff values to determine contamination were obtained. The median (interquartile range) luminometer measurements using the UltraSnap and direct technique for buckets and nipples were 2,082 (348-7,410) and 3,462 (462-7,518) RLU, respectively; and, using the liquid technique for bottles, ET, AMF, water, and milk replacer were 43 (4-974), 15 (4-121), 301 (137-1,323), 190 (71-358), and 94 (38-218) RLU, respectively. Overall, for all equipment and both techniques used, higher RLU values were seen in UltraSnap samples compared with MicroSnap samples. Additionally, for buckets and nipples, higher RLU values were obtained for the direct swabbing method compared with the liquid sampling method for both swabs used. No differences in the level of contamination were seen between the different feeding equipment used within a farm. Overall, a higher correlation with bacteriological results was noticed for ATP luminometry compared with the visual score, with a high correlation for nipples and bottles using the UltraSnap and liquid technique. Based on the classification of "contaminated" (TBC ≥100,000 cfu/mL) or "not contaminated" (TBC <100,000 cfu/mL), optimal ATP luminometer cutoff values for buckets, nipples, bottles, AMF, water, and milk replacer were 798, 388, 469, 282, 1,432, and 93 RLU, respectively. No clear association was found between ATP measurements and the self-reported cleaning protocol. This study gave new insights into the current cleaning procedures and contamination of feeding equipment for preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec. In addition, ATP luminometry cutoff values could help benchmark farms regarding cleaning practices and provide customized advice, improving the overall hygiene management, and thus the health, of preweaning calves on dairy farms.

Comparative Assessment of Detecting Bacterial Populations on the Surface of Medical Equipment in ICU by Standard Microbial Culture and Nanosensor

Background: A healthy, clean, and secure environment is necessary for the hospital, one of the fundamental foundations of the nation’s healthcare system, to function well and sustain the general well-being of society. Timely detection of contaminated surfaces and efficient and timely disinfection will be helpful in hospital infection control.&#x0D; Objectives: The level of surface contamination of medical equipment in intensive care units was to be determined and compared as part of this research.&#x0D; Methods: Using standard microbial culture and nanosensors, the current study was conducted descriptively over one month, with a sample size of 400 cases on ten different types of medical equipment.&#x0D; Results: The findings showed that 66% of samples acquired using the nanosensor and 54.5% obtained using the culture medium were clean, and the rest were contaminated. The most prevalent microbes were also identified as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and salmonella, with 55.68%, 28.9%, and 23.86%, respectively.&#x0D; Conclusions: Both methods have the necessary precision to identify contamination reservoirs, and the contamination reported in both methods is similar to what was expected. So nanosensors can be utilized as a quick, precise, and affordable method when the aim is to identify the overall contamination rather than to differentiate between different types of bacteria.

Contamination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on personal protective equipment and environmental surfaces in nonpatient entry area of a Fangcang shelter hospital.

To determine the extent of contamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) and surfaces by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the nonpatient entry area of a Fangcang shelter hospital, the medical staff accommodation area, and the staff transport bus. We collected 816 samples from the nonpatient entry area and floors in a Fangcang shelter hospital, medical staff accommodation area, and scheduled bus, and the five major types of PPE used from April 13 to May 18, 2022. SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Overall, 22.2% of PPE samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Boot covers and gowns were the most contaminated types of PPE. The positive PPE contamination rate of staff collecting respiratory specimens was significantly higher than that of the general-treatment staff group (35.8% vs. 12.2%) and cleaner group (35.8% vs. 26.4%), p < 0.01. In total, 27 of 265 (10.2%) environmental surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The contamination-positive rates were 26.8% (22/82), 5.4% (4/74), and 0.9% (1/109) for contaminated, potentially contaminated, and clean zones, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was frequently detected on objects such as mobile phones, tables, computer keyboards and mice, and door handles. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was widely distributed on high-touch surfaces and on PPE in the contaminated zone of the Fangcang shelter hospital, implying a potentially high infection risk for healthcare workers. Our findings emphasize the need to ensure adequate environmental cleaning, improve hand hygiene, and reduce the risk of infection. Additionally, prevention of self-contamination during PPE donning and doffing is complex and needs more research.

Comparative characteristics of disinfectants for dairy equipment and quality of dairy products under the influence of paratypical environmental factors

The parameters of the microclimate of the barn under the untethered method of keeping cows in the spring were studied. It was found that the temperature in the barn was on average 8.8±1.34 °C, the relative humidity and air velocity in the compared rooms were within the limits of hygienic standards. Microbiological indicators of bacterial air contamination correspond to the upper limits of hygienic standards and amounted to 116.64±6.32 CFU/sс3. The bacterial contamination of technological equipment averaged 119.33±14.71 thousand CFU/sc3. The content of harmful gases in the premises did not exceed the permissible sanitary and hygienic standards and was within the limits of the standards of VNTP-APC-01.05 Livestock enterprises (complexes, farms, small farms). The average number of MAFANM in the flushes from the study objects (teat rubber, collector, milk hose, milk pipeline) after washing with water was 368.4±9.8 thousand CFU/ sс3, and with 0.5% soda ash solution - 249.0±11.7 thousand CFU/sс3. The best level of microbiological cleanliness of the internal surfaces of dairy equipment was provided by sanitization using the disinfectant "Perfo Grif", with the number of MAFANM in the flushes averaging 139.7±7.0 thousand CFU/sс3. The best indicators of microbiological cleanliness of dairy equipment were obtained during sanitization with 0.5% Higienic-K solution. The average number of MAFANM was 126.2±1.5 thousand CFU/sс3. When using a solution of soda ash for sanitizing dairy equipment, the amount of MAFANM in freshly milked milk taken from the cooler was 198.3±12.16 thousand CFU/ sс3, which corresponds to the first grade according to DSTU 3362:2018 "Cow's milk". Technical conditions. At the same time, during the sanitization of equipment with acidic detergents and disinfectants "Perfo Grif" and "Higienic-K", the amount of MAFANM in milk was 114±8.14 and 102.0±16.3 thousand CFU/sс3, respectively, which corresponds to the highest grade. At the same time, the BCCP titer was more than 1.0, and the number of somatic cells (SCC) was within the permissible range (400 thousand/ml). Therefore, for effective sanitary and hygienic treatment of milking equipment, working solutions of disinfectants based on peracetic, nitric and phosphoric acids should contain 0.5% of the active ingredient, which will ensure the destruction of microorganisms during exposure for 5 – 15 minutes. Key words: dairy equipment, dairy products, disinfection, milk production hygiene, microbiological indicators of milk, milk production technology, milk quality.

Development of all new structure of Dicing Die Attach Film (DDAF) for Stealth Dicing and Cool Expansion processes

Mobile devices, including smart phones and tablets, are increasing in complexity and require ever greater amounts of memory storage. In the past the challenge of higher memory densities and increase functionality has been met through miniaturization of device features, but as we reach the physical limits of feature size, packaging is being relied on more and more to achieve the necessary higher densities in memory and additional device functionality. Thin dies reduce overall package height, however, to achieve high memory densities in low profile packages the die attach material must have an even, thin bond line thickness. DAF (Die Attach Film) is an excellent solution. LINTEC developed an all new DDAF (Dicing Die Attach Film) with thinner DAF for CE (Cool Expansion) process. Conventional tape has a large area of exposed DAF surface which creates the risk of wafer and / or equipment contamination if DAF flies off during the CE process. We developed an all-new tape structure which is compatible with the SD (Stealth Dicing) and CE processes. The structure consists of DAF, IB (Intermediate Basefilm), and dicing tape. The diameter of the DAF and IB is close to the wafer diameter size to significantly reduce the risk of DAF separation and ejection during CE. We considered IB to improve DAF separation and it was found that a thinner IB layer is a good approach to separate DAF effectively. We can adjust adhesion between the DAF and the IB by changing the material properties of the IB, as an effective means to control die-fly and pick-up.

MODERNIZATION OF PRODUCTION PROCESSES BY MILK PROCESSING ENTERPRISES OF UKRAINE AS A FACTOR IN INCREASING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF PRODUCTS

The article examines the relevance and substantiates the need for the introduction of the latest technologies and the modernization of existing production resources by domestic milk processing enterprises. The dynamics of the active enterprises of the milk processing industry of Ukraine over the last ten years were analyzed, and their structure for 2020 was also considered. For a generalized understanding of the state of development of the milk processing industry of Ukraine, the number of operating enterprises by region was studied and ranked. It was determined that the leaders of the milk processing industry are the following regions: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia and Kyiv regions. As a result of the stable growth of the number of milk processing enterprises in Ukraine, the competition in the market of dairy products is also increasing, therefore business entities need to actively look for opportunities to increase the competitiveness of their products, and this is possible by introducing the latest and resource-saving technologies into their economic activity. A technical and economic substantiation of the application of the automatic system for washing the milk line of milking units UDM-100 "Bratslavchanka" and UDE-16 "Yalynka" was carried out. It is substantiated that in order to increase the quality of milk, production efficiency and resource saving (by reducing the consumption of air, hot water, energy and operating costs) it is advisable to use the invention, which increases the efficiency of the milking system washing system by using air and hydraulic injectors with automated control of mode parameters of their action depending on indicators of contamination of the milk-conducting equipment.

COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) contamination in coastal areas of Granada, Spain

The use of disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) as a control measure to avoid transmission against COVID-19 has generated a challenge to the waste management and enhances plastic pollution in the environment. The research aims to monitor the presence of PPE waste and other plastic debris, in a time interval where the use of face mask at specific places was still mandatory, on the coastal areas of Granada (Spain) which belongs to the Mediterranean Sea. Four beaches called La Rijana, La Charca, La Rábita and Calahonda were examined during different periods. The total amount of sampled waste was 17,558 plastic units. The abundance, characteristics and distribution of PPE and other plastic debris were determined. Results showed that the observed amount of total plastic debris were between 2.531·10−2 and 24.487·10−2 units per square meter, and up to 0.136·10−2 for PPE debris, where face masks represented the 92.22 % of the total PPE debris, being these results comparable to previous studies in other coastal areas in the world. On the other hand, total plastic debris densities were in the range from 2.457·10−2 to 92.219·10−2 g/m2 and densities were up to 0.732·10−2 for PPE debris. PPE debris supposed 0.79 % of the weight of total waste and the 0.51 % of total items. Concerning non-PPE plastic waste: cigarettes filters, food containers and styrofoam were the most abundant items (42.95, 10.19 and 16.37 % of total items, respectively). During vacation periods, total plastic debris amount increased 92.19 % compared to non-vacation periods. Regarding type of beaches, the presence of plastic debris was significantly higher on touristic/recreational than in fishing beaches. Data showed no significant differences between accessible and no-accessible beaches, but between periods with restrictive policy about mask face use and periods with non-restrictive policy data suggest significant differences between densities (g/m2) for PPE litter. The amount of PPEs debris is also correlated with the number of cigarettes filters (Person's r = 0.650), food containers (r = 0.782) and other debris (r = 0.63). Finally, although interesting results were provided in this study, further research is required to better understand the consequences of this type of pollution and to provide viable solutions to this problem.

Bacterial Cholecystitis and Cholangiohepatitis in Common Marmosets (Callithrix Jacchus).

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a New World NHP, has emerged as important animal model in multiple areas of translational biomedical research. The quality of translational research in marmosets depends on early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of their spontaneous diseases. Here, we characterize an outbreak of infectious cholangiohepatitis that affected 7 adult common marmosets in a single building over a 10-mo period. Marmosets presented for acute onset of lethargy, dull mentation, weight loss, dehydration, hyporexia, and hypothermia. Blood chemistries at presentation revealed markedly elevated hepatic and biliary enzymes, but mild neutrophilia was detected in only 1 of the 7. Affected marmosets were unresponsive to rigorous treatment and died or were euthanized within 48 h of presentation. Gross and histopathologic examinations revealed severe, necrosuppurative cholangiohepatitis and proliferative cholecystitis with bacterial colonies and an absence of gallstones. Perimortem and postmortem cultures revealed single or dual isolates of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Other postmortem findings included bile duct hyperplasia, periportal hepatitis, bile peritonitis, ulcerative gastroenteritis, and typhlitis. Environmental contamination of water supply equipment with Pseudomonas spp. was identified as the source of infection, but pathogenesis remains unclear. This type of severe, infectious cholangiohepatitis with proliferative cholecystitis with Pseudomonas spp. had not been reported previously in marmosets, and we identified and here describe several contributing factors in addition to contaminated drinking water.

Detection of Fungal Contamination of Ward Furnishing and Medical Equipment Used in intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: Nosocomial infections acquired during hospitalization depend on the characteristics of the microorganisms, with a high risk of being acquired when the contaminated environment. Cross-transmission of microorganisms by contaminated surfaces and the hands of health care workers are considered to be the main route of the spread of nosocomial infections.&#x0D; Aim of study: This study aim to detect the fungal contamination of ward furnishings and medical equipment used in the intensive care unit and Neonatal intensive care unit.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Fifty environmental swabs were collected from ward furnishings and medical equipment including predefined surfaces (armrest beds, wash sinks, medical tables), between August and September 2021.Swab specimens were immediately inoculated onto plates that contained Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. After that samples were incubated for a 1 to 7 days period at 28°C and checked every day for growth.&#x0D; Results: Out of fifty swabs samples, 21(42%) yielded Fungal growth. From these isolated organisms Penicillum species was the predominant isolate 10 (47.6%) followed byAspergillus flavus.Penicillum species was the commonest fungal isolates among ICU, while Aspergillus flavus were the predominant isolates among Neonatal ICU. The most contaminant Equipment was found in Neonatal ICU samples 5(55.6%), and the most contaminant Place in ICU was the floors 3(25%).&#x0D; Conclusion: This study showed that ICU of the hospital may contain fungi indicating that may form potential source of cross-infection through health care workers to their patients.&#x0D; Keywords: Fungi, Neonatal, ICU, and Infection.

PREVALENCE, PHENOTYPIC-GENOTYPIC RESISTANCE AND BIOFILM FORMATION OF Staphylococcus aureus IN CHICKEN MEAT WITH REFERENCE TO ITS PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus and presence of enterotoxigenic as well as biofilm-forming genes in S. aureus bacteria isolated from broiler meat from traditional shops and supermarkets in Sharkia, Egypt. For this determination, two hundred fresh raw chicken meat cotton swabs were collected from the breast and thighs (100 each). S. aureus was highlighted through a coagulase test, and then phenotypic and genotypic characterizations were studied. Uniplex PCR was used to identify the occurrence of enterotoxin genes in the selected isolates. Finally, they were subjected to a biofilm formation test using 96-well flat bottom polystyrene microtiter plates; besides, biofilm-forming genes were investigated. Nineteen isolates out of the 200 samples tested positive for S. aureus (9.5 percent), No Vancomycin resistance strains were obtained, nor did any ciprofloxacin isolates for S. aureus while, all isolates were 100 % resistant for streptomycin, amoxicillin- clavulanic acid and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim S. aureus isolates were found resistant to at least one antibiotic. The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of S. aureus isolates was ranged from 0.3 to 0.7 with an average of 0.4. In The mecicillin resistant S.aureus (MRSA) strains carried mecA gene with a percentage of 5%, while the blaZ gene was distributed with a percentage of 5.5%, 11/200). The obtained isolates gave 60% strong biofilm formation and 40% were non-formers, with nil results for moderate or weak production isolates. The icaA gene was 100%, in comparison to icaD which was zero. It should be noted that strong biofilm former strains were only 100% positive for sea and seb. This study pointed out the higher prevalence of MDR isolates of S. aureus isolates in chicken meat due to inadequate handling and insufficient sanitary equipment and post microbial contamination. This finding highlighted the importance of broiler meat as a reservoir for antimicrobial-resistant strains of S. aureus and biofilm-forming of Staphylococcus aureus.

Relations between Dentistry and COVID-19 Infections

As a result of the virus's global dissemination, novel COVID-19 infections have emerged as a significant obstacle for all healthcare professionals to overcome. Dental specialist plays an effective role in the prevention of coronavirus. Dental care units and settings face various problems relating to the transmission of disease during treatment and dental operations. Blood, saliva, and mixed water droplets possessing the virus cause contamination of equipment used for dental treatment. Both patients and workers may become transmitters and infectors of COVID-19 through direct contact during dental operations. Both dental workers and patients are likely to become infectors and transmitters of COVID-19. The dental care routine is very effective as we discussed below the prevention steps are very effective. All healthcare workers at the dentistry clinics, including nurses, should collaborate to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus among patients.

The Role of Hand-Held Cardiac Ultrasound in Patients with COVID-19

The role of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in patient management has been established in recent years as an important tool. It is increasingly used by multiple medical disciplines in numerous clinical settings, for different applications and diagnostic purposes and in the guidance of procedures. The introduction of small-sized and inexpensive hand-held ultrasound devices (HUDs) has addressed some of the POCUS-related challenges and has thus extended POCUS' applicability. HUD utilization is even more relevant in the COVID-19 setting given the operators' infection risk, excessive workload concerns and general equipment contamination. This review focuses on the available technology, usefulness, feasibility and clinical applications of HUD for echocardiogram assessment in patients with COVID-19.

Contamination of UK firefighters personal protective equipment and workplaces

Firefighters’ personal protective equipment (PPE) is a potential source of chronic exposure to toxic contaminants commonly released from fires. These contaminants have also been found in fire stations. However, little research characterises the routes via which fire contaminants travel back to fire stations. The UK Firefighter Contamination Survey provides information on firefighters’ PPE provision, decontamination, and storage practices. All serving UK firefighters were eligible to take part in the survey, which comprised 64 questions. A total of 10,649 responses were included for analysis, accounting for roughly 24% of the UK’s firefighting workforce. Results revealed that most firefighters (84%) de-robe contaminated PPE/workwear after re-entering the appliance cab. There was a significant decreasing tendency to send PPE for cleaning after every incident with increasing seniority of role, length of service, and fire attendance frequency. Around one third of firefighters cleaned PPE after every incident. A number of issues were linked to external professional cleaning services, e.g. shrinkage, fit, turn-around time, and stock of reserve/pooled PPE. PPE storage was found to be a potential source of cross contamination, with almost half of firefighters (45%) indicating clean and dirty PPE is not stored separately. More than half of firefighters (57%) stored fire gloves (an item sent for professional decontamination by only 19% of firefighters, and never cleaned by 20%) within other items of PPE such as helmets, boots and tunic/trouser pockets. The survey’s results can be used to target gaps in decontamination measures within UK Fire and Rescue Services.