Household Disinfectants Research Articles

Changes in household use of disinfectant and cleaning products during the first lockdown period in France

BackgroundFew studies evaluated the use of Household Disinfectant and Cleaning Products (HDCPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, but no population-based cohorts used longitudinal data. We studied changes in HDCPs during the first lockdown, based on longitudinal data from the French population-based NutriNet-Santé and CONSTANCES cohorts.MethodsBased on standardized questionnaires on household cleaning tasks in 2018–2019 and around the first lockdown in France (March17-May3 2020), we compared the duration of weekly use of HDCPs (< 1 day/week, < 10 min/week; 10-30 min/week; > 30 min/week) and the household cleaning help (yes/no) before and during the lockdown period by Bhapkar and McNemar’s tests. Moreover, we assessed self-reported changes in the frequency of HDCPs during the lockdown from before (unchanged/increased).ResultsAnalyses were carried on 31,105 participants of NutriNet-Santé (48 years, 75% women, 81% ≥ high school diploma) and 49,491 of CONSTANCES (47 years, 51% women, 87% ≥ high school diploma). During the lockdown, compared with 2018–2019, duration of HDCPs use increased (> 30 min; NutriNet-Santé: 44% versus 18%; CONSTANCES: 63% versus 16%) and household help decreased (NutriNet-Santé: 5% versus 40%; CONSTANCES: 3% versus 56%). Regarding the frequency of HDCPs use, 55% of participants of NutriNet-Santé (57% women/49% men) and 83% of CONSTANCES (86% women/81% men) reported an increased use since the beginning of the lockdown, significantly higher among women (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe frequency and duration of weekly use of HDCPs has significantly increased since the pandemic. As the use of HDCPs is associated with health issues, further studies are now needed to evaluate the potential health impacts of these changes.

Reproductive & developmental toxicity of quaternary ammonium compounds†.

Quaternary ammonium compounds are a class of chemicals commonly used as disinfectants in household and healthcare settings. Their usage has significantly increased in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, quaternary ammonium compounds have replaced the recently banned disinfectants triclosan and triclocarban in consumer products. Quaternary ammonium compounds are found in daily antimicrobial and personal care products such as household disinfectants, mouthwash, and hair care products. Due to the pervasiveness of quaternary ammonium compounds in daily use products, humans are constantly exposed. However, little is known about the health effects of everyday quaternary ammonium compound exposure, particularly effects on human reproduction and development. Studies that investigate the harmful effects of quaternary ammonium compounds on reproduction are largely limited to high-dose studies, which may not be predictive of low-dose, daily exposure, especially as quaternary ammonium compounds may be endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This review analyzes recent studies on quaternary ammonium compound effects on reproductive health, identifies knowledge gaps, and recommends future directions in quaternary ammonium compound-related research. Summary Sentence Quaternary ammonium compounds, a class of disinfecting compounds that have skyrocketed in usage during the COVID-19 pandemic, are emerging as reproductive and developmental toxicants.

Household Hazardous Materials Identification and Management Practices Among Residents of Irewole Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria

Most emerging world contaminants have been linked to improper management of household hazardous materials and are currently receiving global attention due to the threat they pose to public health and the environment. There are guidelines for the entire management of household hazardous materials, but there exist inadequate information on its identification and management practices at household level. Therefore, the present study was conducted to fill the gap. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 346 randomly selected households in Irewole Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. A validated semi-structured questionnaire and observational checklist were used to gather information. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square at p&amp;lt;0.05. Respondents’ mean age was 34.5±12.8 years, 54.3% were female while 66.8% had attained tertiary education. The major hazardous materials observed in most of the houses were laundry and dish washing detergents (94.1%), insecticide (90.7%) and household disinfectants (88.3%). Fifty-nine percent of the participants mentioned open burning as the most preferred method of disposal of household hazardous materials. The mean practice score was 6.4±1.9, 62.0% had inappropriate practices towards household hazardous materials management. Significantly, 78.5% of the respondents with tertiary education had appropriate practice towards managing household hazardous materials than those who had attained secondary (16.9%) and primary education (4.6%). Laundry and dish washing detergents, insecticide and household disinfectants were observed in most of the houses. Also participants were engaged in inappropriate practices for the management of household hazardous waste. Households should have access to hazardous waste management facilities, and educational information and communication materials to improve their management practices.

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of PCMX Derivative

Abstract: Para Chloro Meta Xylenol (PCMX) is an exceptionally broad spectrum bactericide and preservative with a long established and proven use in controlling bacteria, mildew and fungal growth in a wide range of applications (medical, domestic and industrial). Chloroxylenol, also known as para chloro meta xylenol, is an antiseptic and disinfectant which is used for skin disinfection and cleaning surgical instruments. It is also used within a number of household disinfectants and wound cleaners. Their analogues viz. hybrid / ester molecules also possess various biological activities which prompted us to synthesize a novel analogue for their future application as bioactive molecule. The synthesized compound was characterized by IR, 1HNMR, mass spectral data, elemental analysis and screened for its potential antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. It shows a promising antibacterial activity.

Review on Canine Coronavirus Disease; Its Clinical Management and Zoonotic Spillover

Coronaviruses are a diverse group of viruses infecting many different animals, and they can cause mild to severe respiratory infections in humans, as with the recently emerged spillover caused by COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2), which broke out in China’s Wuhan seafood market. Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) often have animal origins. Canine coronavirus is a highly contagious viral disease which is a member of the broader coronavirus family with known pathogens in dogs. Both enteric and respiratory coronaviruses are the two common types of canine coronaviruses, and it often causes mild or hard-to-spot illness; however, it can be fatal under certain conditions, particularly in young puppies. Antibiotics are ineffective against coronavirus infection in dogs, but may be useful in controlling secondary bacterial infections and a dehydrated case requires adequate fluid therapy to maintain the fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Canine coronavirus is spread through contact with fecal material from infected dogs, so isolating infected dogs from healthy ones can help reduce disease distribution. The virus is susceptible to the household disinfectants, so cleaning virus contaminated areas and bedding enable to limit the spread of disease. Therefore, this literature review is designed to highlight about the canine coronavirus and its relation with other group of viruses including their public health importance.

Household Use of Green Cleaning Products, Disinfecting Wipes, and Asthma Control Among Adults

BackgroundThe use of Household Disinfectants and Cleaning Products (HDCPs) may negatively impact asthma control, but studies remain scarce. Moreover, none considered green products or wipes, increasingly used during home cleaning. ObjectiveTo assess the associations between the use of HDCPs, including disinfecting wipes and green products, and asthma control based on data from the French web-based NutriNet-Santé cohort. MethodsUsing a standardized questionnaire (2018), we assessed asthma control (never asthma - reference, controlled: ACT≥20, uncontrolled: ACT<20) and the use of HDCPs, including two types of products (irritants and green products) and two application modes (sprays and disinfecting wipes). Cross-sectional associations of the frequency of weekly use of HDCPs at home with asthma control, adjusted for gender, age, smoking status, body mass index and educational level were assessed by multinomial logistic regressions. ResultsAnalyses were performed on 37,043 adults (mean age: 47 years, 75% women, 62% with a weekly use of at least one HDCP). Strong associations were observed between weekly use of HDCPs and uncontrolled asthma. In particular, an almost daily use (4-7 days a week) of irritants (OR=2.81[1.97-4.00]), green products (OR=2.40[1.70-3.39]), as well as sprays (OR=2.69[1.97-3.68]) and disinfecting wipes (OR=3.51[2.31-5.33]) was associated with uncontrolled asthma. When not co-used with irritants and sprays, associations remained statistically significant for both disinfecting wipes and green products. ConclusionWeekly use of HDCPs, including green ones or wipes, was associated with uncontrolled asthma and should be considered by health practitioners in order to improve asthma control.

Improving Health Literacy of Domestic Household Disinfection Use: Readability of Consumer-Facing Information on Domestic Household Disinfectant Products on Sale in the UK—An Infodemiology Study

Disinfectants purchased from retail outlets form the cornerstone of infection control and prevention within the domestic household. The growing utilisation of the concept of “hospital-at-home” places greater emphasis on domestic disinfection by the householder in helping to prevent the acquisition of infections within the home. No reports or data exist that indicate how readable the information provided on disinfectants is, which would help householders use disinfectants optimally. The aim of this study was therefore to quantitatively examine the readability (Flesch Reading Ease; Flesch–Kinkaid Grade Level; text metrics) of consumer (public)-facing information (n = 108) of domestic household disinfectants sourced from (i) UK high street supermarket chains (n = 4) and (ii) disinfectant manufacturers (n = 6). The readability of all supermarket and manufacturer information (n = 108) gave a mean Flesch Reading Ease score of 51.7 (target ≥ 60) and a Flesch–Kinkaid Grade Level score of 8.1 (target ≤ 8), thereby failing to achieve readability reference target values. Authors preparing information on the domestic use of disinfectants should be aware of the value of quantitative readability metrics and online tools to help support their writing of such information in order to produce materials which are within target readability values, thereby further supporting health literacy in this population and disinfectant efficacy.

Post-coronavirus disease 2019 frequent use of disinfectants and sanitizers affect lung tissue: experimental study

Background/aim Regular and excessive use of general household disinfectants and hand sanitizers has increased since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hit as per World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. However, existing knowledge about hypochlorite use as a disinfectant is inadequate for the applied experimental conditions are generally not translated to real life. This study explores the effect of the regular use of the commonly recommended disinfectants such as alcohol-based solutions and 0.1% hypochlorite on the lung and liver tissues of rats. Materials and methods Sixteen Wistar rats were assigned to two housing conditions, first group cages were cleaned regularly with tap water. The second group was exposed to regular sanitization of the cages twice daily for 2 months using 70% alcohol followed by 1% hypochlorite solution, 30 min apart. Serum redox state was evaluated and serum liver enzymes were assessed. Lung and liver tissues were examined biochemically for inflammatory markers such as IL-1B, NF-kB, VEGF, and oxidant biomarkers such as MDA and antioxidant markers including GSH, SOD, and GPx. A histological examination was performed. Results Serum liver enzymes, antioxidants in serum or liver tissues and the inflammatory biomarkers in liver tissue were insignificantly changed, while lung tissue was inflamed and proceeded to fibrotic changes and the inflammatory biomarkers of IL-1β and NF-kβ, and VEGF of lung tissue were significantly elevated (P &lt; 0.05) after surface disinfectant exposure to alcohol followed by 0.1% hypochlorite solution for two months. Moreover, the GSH and GPx levels were significantly reduced (P &lt; 0.05), while the MDA level was significantly increased (P &lt; 0.05) in the serum and lungs of a disinfectant exposed group of rats. Conclusion Frequent and excessive exposure to alcohol followed by 0.1% hypochlorite solution even as recommended can pose a risk to the respiratory system. Their application in cleaning routine should be wisely considered.

Evaluation of public awareness and performance toward the safe use of household disinfectants-cleaners to prevent COVID-19 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Disinfection is one of the most effective hygienic practices that would limit the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) through deactivating the coronavirus on contaminated skin, supplies, and surfaces. However, the type and concentration of disinfectants should be carefully selected to avoid damaging surfaces and to limit the side effects of these chemicals on household members and users. The aim of this study is to assess the public levels of awareness and performance concerning the safe use of household cleaning products and disinfectants during the spread of COVID-19 in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2021 among 750 residents of Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafrah, and Al-Ain regions. A google survey was distributed electronically for the online recruitment of the general population. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine whether significant differences exist in the levels of awareness and performance with regard to gender, region, education level, and diagnosis with COVID-19. Spearman correlation was used to test if any correlation existed between levels of awareness and performance. Kruskal-Wallis test was also used to check if significant differences exist in the mean score of performance with respect to irritation-to-poisoning symptoms. The study population recorded a lower mean score of awareness (5.37 out of 12) than performance (11.75 out of 16). The majority of the study population claimed a minimum of one irritation-to-poisoning symptom during the handling of household cleaners and disinfectants. Significant differences exist in the awareness and performance mean scores among various educational levels (P < 0.001). The level of awareness was statistically significant with regard to infection with SARS-CoV-2 (P < 0.05). Also, the level of performance was significantly different between males and females (P < 0.001). Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the mean score of performance is statistically significant with all the studied irritation-to poisoning symptoms (P < 0.05). Awareness campaigns and training programs are recommended to address the safe use of household cleaning products and disinfectants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Multiorgan failure and death from a mixed Dettol and Clorox poisoning: a case report

BackgroundDettol and sodium hypochlorite have wide use as household disinfectants and cleaners. Intentional and nonintentional ingestion are widespread, mainly causing mild symptoms that require no specific treatment. However, severe complications can occur when large volumes are ingested. Both products affect the same organ systems in the body, which can result in fatalities when ingested together.Case presentationWe present the case of a 26-year-old Asian man who died from multiorgan failure after deliberately ingesting a presumed large volume of Dettol and sodium hypochlorite. The case illustrates the severe complications that can occur with mixed ingestion of these commonly used household products.ConclusionClinicians must be aware of the increased risk of death caused by the combined ingestion of chloroxylenol and sodium hypochlorite.

Characterization of structure isomers of ethylbenzalkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides and quantification in commercial household disinfectant products

Characterization of structure isomers of ethylbenzalkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides and quantification in commercial household disinfectant products

Household spices and minerals as alternative disinfectants for mobile phones

Mobile phones play an essential role in enhancing personal, social, and professional life in many ways, including to access to communication, information, and entertainment. However, mobile phones also come in contact with environments containing high densities of microorganisms, such as hospitals, schools, restrooms, and kitchens, suggesting that mobile phones could also act as carriers of disease. Commercial disinfectants are highly effective against potential human pathogens found on mobile phones, yet these disinfectants also contain chemicals that are toxic to both human health and the environment. In addition, there is evidence that modern microorganisms are becoming resistant to commercially available disinfectants. We hypothesized that household spices and minerals, such as garlic, mint, zinc, and iron, could act as alternate solutions for disinfecting mobile phones after daily use. Our results demonstrate that garlic, iron, and zinc are just as effective at suppressing microorganisms compared to commercially available cleaners, Clorox and Pine-Sol. These results could help guide further research aimed at producing more environmentally friendly cleaners and reducing the need for toxic chemicals in household disinfectants.

Prevalence and Disinfection of Bacteria Associated with Various Types of Wristbands

The potential role of personal items in the transmission of pathogens is poorly understood. In this study, we cultured bacteria of public health importance found on wristbands, determined whether there is a correlation between wristband material and prevalence, and tested three household disinfectants for efficacy in reducing bacteria on wristbands made of plastic, rubber, metal, and cloth, using standard microbiological assays. Total cultivable bacteria, Staphylococci, Enterobacteria (Escherichia coli), and Pseudomonas on 20 smartwatch wristbands were cultured from randomly recruited subjects. Nearly all wristbands (95%) were contaminated, with the highest average numbers of 3.46E+4 cfu/cm2 and 1.52E+4 cfu/cm2 on rubber and plastic bands respectively. Metallic gold and silver wristbands had zero to 18 cfu/cm2. While the high prevalence of Staphylococcus spp (85% of wristbands)—skin microbiota; was not unexpected, the occurrence of Pseudomonas spp (30%), and enteric bacteria (60%), even at relatively low numbers is of public health significance. Bacterial load on individual subjects varied remarkably with males and females harboring average total bacteria of 4.045 and 3.42 log10cfu/cm2 of wristband, respectively. The most important predictor of wristband bacteria load was the texture of wristband material and activity (hygiene) of the subject at sampling time. Potential pathogens—Staphylococcus aureus (8143 cfu/cm2) and Pseudomonas spp. (1126 cfu/cm2) were most abundant on cloth and rubber wristbands, respectively, while the presence of the E. coli group was associated with animal handling activity by a veterinarian. Lysol Disinfectant Spray and 70% Ethanol were highly effective regardless of wristband material with >99.99% kill rate and a log cfu/cm2 reduction of 3 - 4.0 and 3 - 4.5 respectively within 30 seconds. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) was not as potent. Only 2 - 3.5 log cfu/cm2 drop was obtained after 120 seconds of exposure. Further susceptibility assays with standard reference bacteria showed that Lysol and 70% alcohol effectively killed > 99.99% (>8 log CFU drop) of Escherichia coli strain 7001, Staphylococcus aureus strain 6538, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 10662 within 30 seconds of contact. Vinegar had a similar efficacy on the gram negatives but little or no effect on Staph aureus (only a 2-log CFU/ml reduction in 5 minutes!) The high prevalence of potential pathogens, some of which could be reservoirs of antibiotic resistance reveals a weak link in infection control and underscores the need for regular cleaning of personal and hand-held accessories with adequate considerations of their texture.

Effectiveness of Common Disinfecting Agents against Isolates of Nannizziopsis guarroi

Nannizziopsis guarroi, a keratinophilic fungus, is an important cause of dermatomycosis in companion lizards. At this time effective disinfection protocols are unknown and additional information is needed to prevent contamination of surfaces and equipment used in the care of these animals. To this aim, the qualitative in vitro disinfecting capability of eight commonly used household and laboratory disinfectants (Novalsan®, 3% and 10% dilutions of commercial bleach, Virkon®-S, Lysol® household cleaner with hydrogen peroxide, 70% ethanol, 409® and household cleaning ammonia) were tested at two different contact times (two and ten minutes) with three different aqueous fungal concentrations of four molecularly confirmed N. guarroi isolates. A positive control after contact with saline was also grown. After contact with disinfectant or saline, the isolates were incubated, and photographic images were taken of plate growth on day 10. Images of each plate were scored using a semiquantitative scoring system. The only disinfectant that completely inhibited growth for all four isolates at both contact times and at all three isolate dilutions was 10% dilution of commercial bleach. All four isolates grew after contact with ammonia, regardless of contact time or isolate dilution and the other disinfectants showed variable inhibition of growth that was either isolate or concentration dependent or both. In conclusion, a minimum of two-minute exposure to 10% dilution of commercial bleach is recommended for disinfection of surfaces and instruments contaminated with N. guarroi.

Design of a large Stokes shift ratiometric fluorescent sensor with hypochlorite detection towards the potential application as invisible security ink

Hypochlorite (ClO-) as a well-known highly reactive oxygen species (ROS), is widely used as preservative and household disinfectant in daily life. Although many fluorescence imaging sensors for ClO- have been reported, the development of ClO- ratio fluorescence sensors with large Stokes shift is still quite limited. This sensor shows obvious benefits including minimizing environmental intervention and improving signal-to-noise ratio. In the present project, we report an innovative conjugated pyrene-based system, 1-B, as a chlorine fluorescence sensor. The detector exhibits ratio detection performance, large Stokes and emission shifts. Furthermore, the system has desired sensitivity as well as selectivity for ClO-. Based on these excellent properties, the sensor 1-B was successfully used as ink to encrypt patterns and anti-counterfeiting information through inkjet printing technology. Compared with the existing probes, the probe shows some superior characteristics, which provides a promising tool for exploring the role of ClO- response sensor in the field of anti-counterfeiting.

Chlorine poisoning caused by improper mixing of household disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic: Case series.

BACKGROUNDMisuse of disinfectants during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to several poisoning incidents. However, there are few clinical case reports on poisoning caused by improper mixing of household disinfectants. AIMTo summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment effects of chlorine poisoning caused by improper mixing of hypochlorite bleach with acidic cleaning agents.METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed baseline and clinical data, clinical symptoms, and treatment methods of seven patients with chlorine poisoning who were admitted to the National Army Poisoning Treatment Center. RESULTSAmong the seven patients, the average poisoning time (exposure to admission) was 57 h (4-240 h). All patients were involved in cleaning bathrooms. Chest computed tomography scans revealed bilateral lung effusions or inflammatory changes in five patients. The partial pressure of oxygen decreased in six patients, and respiratory failure occurred in one. Five patients had different degrees of increase in white blood cell count. Humidified oxygen therapy, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, antioxidants, and antibiotics were administered for treatment. The average length of hospital stay was 7 d (4-9 d). All seven patients recovered and were discharged. CONCLUSIONImproper mixing of household disinfectants may cause damage to the respiratory system due to chlorine poisoning. Corticosteroids may improve lung exudation in severe cases, and symptomatic supportive treatment should be performed early.

Association between household cleaning product profiles evaluated by the Ménag'Score® index and asthma symptoms among women from the SEPAGES cohort.

Considering household disinfectants and cleaning products (HDCP) as mixture of ingredients, rather than each ingredient individually, might help in characterizing their role in asthma. We investigated the association between HDCP and asthma, using the recently developed Ménag'Score®, a health risk assessment score based on exhaustive ingredient lists of HDCP. The study is based on 103 female volunteers of the SEPAGES cohort (2014-2019), with repeated data (up to 3 collection times, 200 observations). HDCP use was assessed from a barcode-based smartphone application linked with an ingredient database. The Ménag'score® risks for health and environment were computed for each weekly used HDCP from their exhaustive ingredient data (from A: no known risk to E: highest risk). The association between the use of HDCP with a poor Ménag'score® (D or E; overall, health, environment scores) and asthma symptoms, was estimated by generalized estimating equations models adjusted for age, BMI and smoking status. Participants were on average 33years old, 11% smoked and 20% had at least one asthma symptom. The Ménag'score® was computed for 540 HDCP scanned by participants. Weekly use of HDCP with a poor Ménag'score®-health (around 60% of the participants) was associated with a higher risk of asthma symptoms (OR 3.13, 95% CI [1.32-7.43]). No association was observed for the Ménag'score®-environment. The use of HDCP with a poor Ménag'score®-health was associated with asthma symptoms. The results support the use of the Ménag'score®-health to further evaluate the health risks of HDCP in observational studies and as a potential public health tool.

The Ultraviolet Bleach corpus

Abstract This paper presents a new corpus of computer-mediated communication on the topic of Trump’s comments about household disinfectants and ultraviolet light as cures for COVID-19. The corpus, named the Ultraviolet Bleach (UVB) corpus, contains message board comments devoted to Trump’s suggestions. It was collected in May 2020 and consists of twenty-six files, with a total size of 2,344,164 word tokens. The paper includes frequency lists of words and clusters, keywords, and keywords in context, identified with the help of the corpus management software Sketch Engine. The corpus highlights the “receiving end” of political communication since it involves reactions to Trump’s televised briefing, and it will be of interest to researchers of political communication, populist and conspiratorial discourse, public opinion, and language aggression.

The Efficacy of Common Household Cleaning Agents for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Control.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is having devastating effects on a global scale. Since common household disinfectants are often used to minimise the risk of infection in the home and work environment, we investigated the ability of some of these products to inactivate the virus. We tested generic brands of vinegar, bleach, and dishwashing detergent, as well as laboratory-grade acetic acid, sodium hypochlorite, and ethanol. Assays were conducted at room temperature (18–20 °C, 40% relative humidity), and two time points were used to reflect a quick wipe (30 s) and a brief soak (5 min). Vinegar, and its active ingredient, acetic acid, were completely ineffective at virus inactivation even when exposed to the virus at 90% v/v (a final concentration equivalent to 3.6% v/v acetic acid). In contrast, ethanol was capable of inactivating the virus at dilutions as low as 40% v/v. Dishwashing detergent effectively rendered SARS-CoV-2 inactive when diluted 100-fold (1% v/v). Bleach was found to be fully effective against SARS-CoV-2 at 0.21 g/L sodium hypochlorite after a 30 s exposure (1/200 dilution of commercial product). Given reports of infectious virus recovered from the surface of frozen packaging, we tested the persistence of infectiousness after multiple freeze-thaw cycles and found no change in infectious SARS-CoV-2 titre after seven freeze-thaw cycles. These results should help inform readers of how to effectively disinfect surfaces and objects that have potentially been contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 using common household chemicals.

A Two-Time Point Analysis of Gut Microbiota in the General Population of Buenos Aires and Its Variation Due to Preventive and Compulsory Social Isolation During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great challenge to global public health. The extraordinary daily use of household disinfectants and cleaning products, social distancing and the loss of everyday situations that allow contact between individuals, have a direct impact on the transfer of microorganisms within the population. Together, these changes, in addition to those that occur in eating habits, can affect the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota. A two-time point analysis of the fecal microbiota of 23 Metropolitan Buenos Aires (BA) inhabitants was carried out, to compare pre-pandemic data and its variation during preventive and compulsory social isolation (PCSI) in 2020. To this end, 23 healthy subjects, who were previously studied by our group in 2016, were recruited for a second time during the COVID-19 pandemic, and stool samples were collected from each subject at each time point (n = 46). The hypervariable region V3-V4 of the 16S rRNA gene was high-throughput sequenced. We found significant differences in the estimated number of observed features (p < 0.001), Shannon entropy index (p = 0.026) and in Faith phylogenetic diversity (p < 0.001) between pre-pandemic group (PPG) vs. pandemic group (PG), being significantly lower in the PG. Although no strong change was observed in the core microbiota between the groups in this study, a significant decrease was observed during PCSI in the phylum Verrucomicrobia, which contributes to intestinal health and glucose homeostasis. Microbial community structure (beta diversity) was also compared between PPG and PG. The differences observed in the microbiota structure by unweighted UniFrac PCoA could be explained by six differential abundant genera that were absent during PCSI. Furthermore, putative functional genes prediction using PICRUSt infers a smaller predicted prevalence of genes in the intestinal tryptophan, glycine-betaine, taurine, benzoate degradation, as well as in the synthesis of vitamin B12 during PCSI. This data supports the hypothesis that the microbiome of the inhabitants of BA changed in the context of isolation during PCSI. Therefore, these results could increase the knowledge necessary to propose strategic nutraceutical, functional food, probiotics or similar interventions that contribute to improving public health in the post-pandemic era.