Level Of Microbiological Contamination Research Articles

High-Efficiency Biocidal Solution Based on Radiochemically Synthesized Cu-Au Alloy Nanoparticles.

The use of nanotechnologies in the applied biomedical sciences can offer a new way to treat infections and disinfect surfaces, materials, and products contaminated with various types of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The Cu-Au nanoparticles (NPs) were obtained by an eco-friendly method that allowed the obtaining in a one-step process of size controlled, well dispersed, fully reduced, highly stable NPs at very mild conditions, using high energy ionizing radiations. The gamma irradiation was performed in an aqueous system of Cu2+/Au3+/Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS)/Ethylene Glycol. After irradiation, the change of color to ruby-red was the first indicator for the formation of NPs. Moreover, the UV-Vis spectra showed a maximum absorption peak between 524 and 540 nm, depending on the copper amount. The Cu-Au NPs presented nearly spherical shapes, sizes between 20 and 90 nm, and a zeta potential of about −44 mV indicating a good electrostatic stability. The biocidal properties performed according to various standards applied in the medical area, in dirty conditions, showed a 5 lg reduction for Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus hirae, a 5 lg reduction for both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses such as Adenovirus type 5, Murine Norovirus, and human Coronavirus 229E, and a 4 lg reduction for Candida albicans, respectively. Thus, the radiochemically synthesized Cu-Au alloy NPs proved to have high biocide efficiency against the tested bacteria, fungi, and viruses (both encapsulated and non-encapsulated). Therefore, these nanoparticle solutions are suitable to be used as disinfectants in the decontamination of hospital surfaces or public areas characterized by high levels of microbiological contamination.

PEMANFAATAN DAUN MINT (Menta piperita) SEBAGAI ANTIMIKROBA ALAMI UNTUK MENGHAMBAT PERTUMBUHAN PATOGEN PADA JUS BUAH ALPUKAT

Previous research has identified the food safety aspects of the fresh fruit juices sold in Surakarta. The results showed that the level of microbiological contamination in fresh fruit juice was very high and it was not safe for consumption. This study aims to test the ability of mint leaves (Menta piperita) as a natural antimicrobial source to suppress the growth of pathogens in avocado juice. Mint leaves contain natural antimicrobial compounds in the form of menthol, menthone, menthophuran, and methyl acetate. The study used a factorial completely randomized design with 2 factors, namely the length of incubation time and the addition of mint leaves stored in standard room temperature and refrigerant. The incubation times were 0, 2, 4, and 6 hours. The results showed that mint leaves were able to suppress the number of Staphylococci, reaching the lowest number, namely 2.19 ± 0.00 log CFU / ml. Total Salmonella-Shigella was not detected by adding mint leaves and incubation for 6 hours at cold temperature. The total coliform count gave the final result with the lowest log colony count value in avocado juice and cold incubation temperature of 3.58 ± 0.43. The use of mint leaves as a natural antimicrobial in food is not yet effective, so it needs to be studied more about the use of its essential oil or needs to be explored for further effective methods.

Assessment of microbiological quality of food preparation process in some restaurants of Makkah city.

Microbiological contamination of food processing surfaces and utensils increases considerably the risk of food-borne illnesses via cross-contamination. Hence, the safety of served meals and beverages can be evaluated through the assessment of the microbiological quality of food contact surfaces in food-serving establishments. This study carried out in Makkah city aimed to assess the microbiological contamination levels on food processing surfaces and utensils in 43 restaurants from the 9 main districts in the city. A total of 294 swab preparations were taken from 16 types of food contact surfaces including cutting boards, food containers, knives, serving dishes and other utensils were examined. Ninety samples (31%) showed more than 10 CFU/cm2 which were considered positive for microbiological contamination. Meat chopping devices and cutting boards were found as the most contaminated food contact surfaces (60% and 50%), while washed serving dishes and fridge handles were the least contaminated (21% and 18%). Microorganisms detected in the study were Klebsiella spp. (18.7%), Escherichia coli (17,7%), Staphylococcus aureus (4,4%), Pseudomonas spp. (1.7%), Proteus spp. (0.7%), Bacillus cereus (0.7%), and Candida sp. (0.3%). Klebsiella spp. and E. coli were observed in at least one sample from each of the sixteen different food contact surfaces. The incidence of restaurants with contaminated food contact surfaces was significantly variable among the different districts, with a value as high as 57% in the most affected district and 20% in the less affected. No contamination with Salmonella spp. or Listeria spp. was detected, however, the detection of Bacillus cereus, a toxin-forming microorganism, in two different restaurants underlines the need for continuous microbiological assessment to ensure standard sanitation levels in restaurants and catering establishments of Makkah city.

The State of Microbiological Cleanliness of Surfaces and Equipment of an Endoscopic Examination Laboratory-Data from a Reference Tertiary Clinical Endoscopy Center in Southern Poland.

The increasing number of endoscopic procedures performed and their increasing invasiveness mean that endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract is associated with the risk of transmitting pathogenic microorganisms through infected equipment or contact with other patients and medical staff. In order to ensure protection of the health of both patients and medical staff, endoscopy laboratories should meet high hygiene standards. The results of tests of the microbiological cleanliness of surfaces and equipment of an endoscopic examination laboratory performed in the period from January to December 2019 at the Provincial Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow were assessed retrospectively. Samples for testing were collected by swabbing from places where microbiological contamination was the most likely and cleaning was the most difficult. In the analyzed period, a total of 86 samples were collected for microbiological tests, of which positive results accounted for 6.9%. Positive results were obtained mainly from swabs collected from wet surfaces (66.7%). Most of the isolated microorganisms were Gram-negative bacteria (66.7% of all positive tests) and they were: Acinetobacter junii, Ralstonia pickettii, and Achromobacter denitrificans. The condition of the microbiological cleanliness of the surfaces and equipment of the endoscopic examination laboratory was satisfactory. A very low level of microbiological contamination of the tested items indicates occasional shortcomings in the decontamination processes. Since microorganisms isolated from the collected samples may be the cause of infection in patients and medical personnel, it is necessary to verify the decontamination procedures applied and to continue periodic microbiological monitoring of their effectiveness.

KAJIAN CEMARAN MIKROBIOLOGIS CILOK DAN SAUS KACANG DI KOTA SURAKARTA

Cilok was a traditional food originating from Bandung and comes from the abbreviation of "Aci dicolok". As the name implies, a snack made from tapioca flour mixed with condiment and sometime using meat or fish fillet. It was tasty and chewy. Cilok has quietly different from meatball because meatball using wheat flour. Cilok usually consumed using a sauce made from crushed peanuts, sugars, salt, mixed with chili sauce, tomato sauce, or soy sauce which can be modified as you want. Recently, cilok sales in the city of Surakarta have become increasingly popular. In almost every corner we can find cilok sellers. This study aims to determine the level of microbiological contamination found in cilok and peanut sauce in Surakarta. The research method used was simple random sampling method from 5 districts in Surakarta. The number of contaminants was calculated by the direct plate count method. The tests performed were to determine the total plate count (ALT), total Staphylococci, total Salmonella shigella, and total coliforms of the cilok and also for the sauce. As for the cilok sample, the average log value of ALT was 6.57 - 7.97 log CFU / g, total Staphylococci 4.57 - 4.96 log CFU / g, Salmonella shigella was 0.53 - 1.23 log CFU / g, and total coliforms 1.00 - 2.26 log CFU / g. Peanut sauce sample, the average log value of ALT was 7.40 - 8.18 log CFU / g, total staphylococci 5.84 - 6.68 log CFU / g, total Salmonella shigella was 2.24 - 3.23 log CFU / g, and Escherichia coli 2.35 - 5.79 log CFU / g. From the test results of the peanut sauce and peanut sauce samples, it can be concluded that the peanut sauce and peanut sauce sold in Surakarta are still not suitable for consumption.

Assessment of microbiological contamination levels in processed meat products from markets in southern Hue city

Processed meat products are commonplace foods that are becoming increasingly popular in consumers' daily diets. Therefore, it is highly essential to assess the extent of microbiological contamination in the samples of processed meat products from markets in a bid to provide updated data of microbiological contamination to relevant agencies and local consumers as part of the current state of food safety and hygiene in the locality. A survey on microbiological contamination of processed meat products was conducted on samples collected from some markets in Southern Hue city. The 90 samples of three groups of fermented meat, packaged and non-packaged meat were analyzed. The results showed that, 100% of the samples were contaminated with aerobic microorganisms, Coliforms and Escherichia coli, in which 100% of the samples of Coliforms and E. coli did not meet the quality norms set by the Ministry of Health. The total aerobic microorganisms, Coliforms and E. coli ranged from 2.7 × 103 to 2.8 × 109 CFU/g, 1.1 × 104 to 1.5 × 108 MPN/g and 1.1 × 102 to 9.2 × 105 MPN/g, respectively. No presence of Clostridium perfringens or Staphylococcus aureus was detected in the examined samples.

Enteral beslenme ürünlerinin mezofilik aerobik bakteri ve Cronobacter sakazakii kontaminasyonu yönünden incelenmesi

In this study, it is aimed to analyze for the presence of Mesophilic Aerobic Bacteria (MAB), C.sakazakii, and the pH values of the enteral nutrition products, which are categorized under the special medicinal dietary products in the Turkish Food Codex. 20 enteral nutrition products were obtained from various hospital pharmacies in the province of Istanbul, and the spread plate method was carried out on suitable media. According to the results of microbiological analysis, no MAB and C.sakazakii were found in any of the samples (100%; <1 log cfu/mL). The average pH of the products was found to be 6.68 ±0.09. As a result of the research, it has been seen that all the microbiological contamination levels (100%) of enteral nutrition products are within the values suitable for use and do not pose a health risk.

Radiographic Equipment and Accessories as a Potential Source of Nosocomial Infection

Background :Radiological imaging plays a crucial role in medical diagnosis. However, the equipment and accessories used increase the risk of transmission of nosocomial bacteria. Objective : The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the level and types of microbiological contamination in four diagnostic imaging hospital departments in order to identify their possible role in the spread of nosocomial bacteria and to assess the effectiveness of routine daily disinfection practices in the control of microorganisms in diagnostic imaging departments. Methods & results: Swabs were collected from the surfaces of selected parts of the equipment and accessories in each department three times daily (early morning, midday, and evening) for five successive days. Bacteria were isolated from 65 swabs (36.1% of all samples). The bacteria were isolated 3 times (4.6%) in the morning, 16 times (24.6%) at midday, and 46 times (70.7%) in the evening. The bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli (isolated 34 times; 52.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (20 times; 30.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (6 times; 9.3%), and Klebsiella species (5 times; 7.7%). Discussion & conclusion: Findings demonstrated that radiology equipment and accessories are not free of bacteria and further improvements in the sterilization and disinfection of radiology equipment and accessories are needed to protect staff and patients from nosocomial infections. Funding: This research was supported by a grant from the “Research Center of the Female Scientific and Medical Colleges”, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocol was approved by the King Saud 109 University Scientific Committee (ethics number: CAMS 063-3839).

Stabilized sewage sludge: Sanitary aspects and potential for conversion to biosolids

The improvement of wastewater treatment techniques is of crucial importance for effluent quality, but it also results in an increased amount of waste sludge. Dehydrated sludge contains organic matter and nutrients, and therefore it can be used in agriculture and bioremediation, but it is considered a potential source of environmental pollution. As the sludge analyzed in the research does not contain impermissible levels of organic and inorganic pollutants, the aim of the research was to examine microbiological, particularly sanitary, aspects and potential for its further use. Microbial diversity was determined by the standard serial dilution technique and selective media, and sanitary quality indicators (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp.) were determined by the MPN method. The abundance of fungi, actinomycetes, and bacteria (ammonifiers, spore-forming bacteria and Pseudomonas spp.) indicate possibilities for further use of the sludge. The chemical analysis included the following parameters: total nitrogen (N), phosphorus in the form of P2O5 (available P), organic carbon (C), C/N ratio, pH, and water content. The chemical composition indicates the potential of sewage sludge to be used as a soil fertilizer, but its C/N ratio is not adequate to enable successful conversion to biosolids by the composting process. The obtained results indicate a significant level of microbiological contamination, which was most pronounced in the centre of the stabilized sludge pile. The research showed the necessity to conduct further studies on the microbial diversity and sanitary aspects of sewage sludge for proper waste sludge management.

Application of ionizing radiation for increasing of microbiological safety and shelf life of cultivated garden berries

Healthy nutrition must include fresh fruit and vegetable products containing several nutrients, which are necessary to healthy human body maintaining. Healthy foods, such as fresh cultivated berries, can have dangerous levels of microbiological contamination after their harvesting. There are several methods, including various types of ionizing radiation, which can achieve the safety of plant raw materials safety without damaging their native structure. Thus, environmentally friendly ionizing β-radiation was used in our experiments. Freshly cultivated garden berries were packed into plastic bags and sealed in a vacuum packaging machine in a passive mode. Then packed samples were processed with ionizing radiation with a dose from 1 to 3 kGy. After irradiation, the samples were stored for 21 days at 4 ºC. The optimal radiation doses were established for all studied types of cultivated garden berries for increasing their microbiological safety and extend their shelf life. During the experiment, an organoleptic assessment of irradiated berries was carried out in comparison with control samples. It is established that ionizing radiation is an effective way to reduce contamination of berries with pathogenic microorganisms. The research results can be applied for practical purposes to increase the quality and safety of fresh products of plant origin.

Study of microbiological contamination level of surface water in MONITOX network areas before and after COVID-19 pandemic

The microbiological contamination of the water with faecal bacteria resulting from anthropogenic activity is an important issue for population health and the assessment of the presence of pathogenic bacteria in water is a major concern for the protection of humans and animals. Coliform bacteria are indicators for the assessment of faecal pollution and a potential presence of pathogens, which is caused mainly of untreated wastewater. In this paper, a comparative study was carried out in 32 sampling sites of MONITOX network in two periods, June 2019 and June-July 2020, before and after COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, regarding the rate of the water microbiological contamination in Lower Danube (Calarasi/Silistra-Galati-Tulcea sectors, Danube Delta and Black Sea coast, from SE part of Romania, by counting of the bacteria indicators of the organic pollution (heterotrophic bacteria and total coliforms). The results demonstrate a decrease of microbiological contamination of surface water in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown in all the samples collected form Black Sea coast, Danube branches, Danube-Black Sea confluence, and Danube river downwards Galati town.

Levels of heavy metals, total petroleum hydrocarbons, and microbial load in commercially valuable fish from the marine area of Tripoli, Lebanon.

The present study aimed at evaluating the levels of microbiological contamination, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), and heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in the edible tissues of commonly consumed fish (8 species) collected from the marine area of Tripoli, Northern Lebanon. Total coliform levels in all sampled fish, and Escherichia coli levels in Liza ramada only, exceeded the permissible limits set by FAO/WHO 2002. Staphylococcus aureus counts were within the recommended thresholds, while sulfate-reducing bacteria levels were the highest in fish of the genus Liza. Salmonella species and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in all fish analyzed. Analysis of heavy metals levels showed that arsenic exhibited the highest levels among the assessed metals in all genera. Levels of As in Epinephelus, Diplodus, Oblada, and Liza were above the acceptable limits, while Cd levels were below the permissible limits set by the European Commission. Significant negative correlation was found between levels of As and Hg in muscle tissues and fish size (length). Levels of TPHs were the highest in fish of the genus Epinephelus. Significant difference in TPHs contamination was found within three fish genera, with Epinephelus being the most contaminated.

Application of High-Voltage Discharges for Disinfecting Water

A three-factor experiment is conducted on the disinfection of water by treatment with high-voltage discharges formed to achieve an electro-hydraulic effect, in order to detect optimal conditions and rules for the course of the processes under study. In the study, a high-voltage installation with an electro-hydraulic spark gap, an EnSURE luminometer (Hygiena) for measuring the level of hygiene of water and its solutions, test tubes for determining the total number of ATP in AquaSnap Total brand water (AQ100X) are used as materials and equipment. The influence of design parameters and exposure modes of an electro-hydraulic installation on the properties of water as a result of the generation of high-voltage discharges is investigated; experimental data are revealed for measuring the level of microbiological contamination of the water sample, which, according to the analysis of the data obtained, is reduced, which can serve as the basis for the possibility of the potential use of the effects of high-voltage discharges as a method of preparing water under irrigation in greenhouses; optimal ratios of factors for disinfecting a pond water sample from a source of artificial origin are revealed: operating voltage 19.9 kV, capacitance 0.1445 μF and the number of discharges 2861 pieces.

Evaluation of edible bird’s nest processing plant wastewater quality: a factory case study

Edible bird’s nest (EBN) is a rapidly growing industry, especially in Southeast Asia. Cleaning raw EBN is an essential process in an EBN processing plant to remove any contaminant and impurities from the end products. However, this process has introduced a potential risk of environmental pollution through the disposal of the wastewater that may contain contaminants from the EBN. This study was conducted to determine the quality of wastewater from the selected EBN processing plant. Water samples were collected from 4 sampling points (SP) and analysed to determine the water quality index (WQI), metal content, nitrite content and microbiological contamination level. The results showed that the wastewater at SP1 and SP2 was classified as clean, while that of SP3 and SP4 was classified as slightly polluted based on the WQI classification. Metal content analysis results showed that only arsenic was found to exceed the permissible level according to the Environmental Quality Act 1974. The total aerobic count was highest in samples from SP4 with an average reading of 4.72 + 0.47 log CFU/mL. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was only found at all samples from SP4 with an average of 3.20 + 0.05 log CFU/mL. No other coliform readings were obtained from all sampling points. Overall, although the general quality of the wastewater was still at a safe level, the high content of arsenic indicated potential risk to the surrounding environment. Management of wastewater must be improved to ensure an environmentally safe and sustainable EBN production industry.

Assessment of microbiological quality and contamination level of Hospital water samples collected from storage points

Drinking water contamination at the level of storage points poses a potential threat to the hospital environment as it can lodge some resistant pathogenic microorganisms that may cause hospital acquired infections. The study analyzed the physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of drinking water samples collected from the main water storage points from ten different local hospitals in and around Visakhapatnam using standard protocols. The samples were processed within 2 hours after collection and the identification of pathogenic bacteria was performed through Most Probable Number (MPN) method, cultural characteristics and biochemical reactions. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out by Agar well diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. In the current study, all the tested ten water samples cross the permissible MPN count indicating that the water samples were not potable for drinking purpose and needs further and better disinfection procedures. Among the isolated pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited highest sensitivity to antibiotics imipenem (50%) and tetracycline (50%) and resistance towards other tested antibiotics, whereas E.coli showed 100% susceptibility to imipenem and 100% resistance to ampicillin. Out of ten isolated strains of Proteus species, majority have exhibited 80% resistance to ampicillin and Tetracycline and 80% sensitivity to imipenem. All the four isolated strains of Shigella species expressed 100% resistance to ampicillin and 75% sensitivity to imipenem, meropenem, azithromycin, linezolid, vancomycin and chloramphenicol. The five isolated strains of Vibrio species showed 100% resistance to ampicillin and 80% sensitivity to imipenem, doxycycline and tetracycline. Greater part of the isolates were multidrug resistant isolates.

Underestimating the Levels of Microbiological Contamination on Environmental Surfaces Within NHS Hospitals

<h3>Background</h3> Historically, environmental surfaces were thought to have an insignificant role in healthcare-associated infection transmission; and hospital cleaning was merely aesthetic. Nowadays, cleaning is a crucial activity in managing surface bioburden and preventing pathogen acquisition in patients. Equally important is monitoring of surfaces – current guidelines suggest patients are at greater risk when surfaces exceed 5 colony forming units (CFU) per cm2 for total aerobic counts. Standard nutrient-rich media, used for monitoring surfaces, may fail to culture all microbes present; often discounting dormant or difficult to culture organisms. Research efforts are currently underway, across multiple NHS Trusts, to more accurately quantify the base levels of microbial contamination on critical environmental surfaces. <h3>Methods</h3> Surfaces within close-proximity to patients were periodically swabbed, over two years, for microbial bioburden and cultured using non-specific, improved sensitivity culture media. Samples were categorised according to NHS Trust, date of sampling and distance of surface from the patient. Additional, molecular-based techniques including epifluorescence microscopy and genomic sequencing were employed to further evaluate microbes present. <h3>Results</h3> The presented data shows >60% of samples exceeded the levels defined above for microbial contamination (averaging 380000 CFU/cm2). Our media demonstrated improved recovery rates from surfaces – 36% compared with routine media. Despite procedural variations on cleaning, across the sites, microbiological contamination levels were comparable. Significant differences were discovered for distances between surface and patient; an indirect relationship existed between the distance from a patient and microbe recovery rates. Epifluorescence microscopy of culture-negative samples found populations of viable microbes (estimated <h3>Conclusions</h3> The presentation will discuss the implications of underestimating surface contamination and the applicability of current detection methods, and the need for multi-faceted approaches including molecular-based techniques. The abundance of environmental species discovered here have an unknown impact on patient health and raise questions on the adequacy of hospital cleaning.

Drinking water quality from rural handpump-boreholes in Africa

Groundwater provides a vital source of drinking water for rural communities in many parts of Africa, particularly in the dry season when there are few safe alternative sources. This paper summarises results from a study (n = 428) assessing dry season water quality, both microbiological and inorganic chemistry, in handpump equipped boreholes (HPBs) across the Ethiopia Highlands (n = 142), Malawi (n = 162) and Uganda (n = 124) using a stratified, randomised sampling design. This study seeks to examine general water quality by randomly sampling rural groundwater supplies across larger areas with different geology and climate. The majority, 72%, of HPBs surveyed provide good quality dry season drinking water as defined by WHO drinking water quality criteria. Within this overall picture, the most notable constraints were from thermotolerant coliforms (TTCs), which exceeded the WHO drinking water guideline of zero colony forming units (cfu/100 ml) in 21% of sites (range 0–626 cfu/100 ml). TTC contamination was found to have a significant and positive correlation with annual average rainfall (ρ = 0.2, p = 0.00003). Across all three countries, WHO health based chemical drinking water quality values were exceeded at 9% of sites and were found for manganese (4%), fluoride (2.6%) and nitrate (2.5%); arsenic concentrations were below the guideline value of 10 μg l−1 (range < 0.5–7 μg l−1). The high percentage of Mn exceedances (14% ± 5.2% >400 μg l−1) found in drinking water sources in Uganda challenges the decision by WHO not to formalise a health-based guideline for Mn. While the overall level of microbiological contamination from HPBs is low, results from this study strongly suggest that at a national and regional level, microbiological contamination rather than chemical contamination will provide a greater barrier to achieving targets set for improved drinking water quality under the UN-SDG 6. Efforts should be made to ensure that boreholes are properly sited and constructed effectively to reduce pathogen contamination.

SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES COATINGS FORMATION ON SURFACE OF POLYPROPYLENE ULTRATHIN FIBERS

New principles of silver nanoparticles coatings formation on the ultrathin fibers surface using electromagnetic radiation of the deci- and nanometer ranges for bactericidal modification of liquid media were proposed. Coating production involves the formation of silver nanoparticles as a result of photoreduction from an aqueous solution of AgNO3 with a concentration of 0.001M at the presence of ultrathin polypropylene fibers with their subsequent stabilization on the surface of the fibers with microwave radiation of the fiber material are initiated, which prevents agglomeration and stabilize silver nanoparticles on their surface. Ultrathin polypropylene fibers obtained as a result of pneumatic spraying of the melt are represented by an average diameter dav = 1.5-6 μm and a fairly wide lognormal distribution. The possibility of a two-step formation of coatings on the polymer fibers surface has been demonstrated using the method of numerical simulation of the self-assembly and self-organization of silver nanoparticles, taking into account the dissipation of their energy into the polymeric matrix through the exciton and phonon channels. It has been established that as a result of local microwave heating of silver nanoparticles, processes of the formation of supramolecular structures of the fiber material are initiated, which prevents agglomeration and stabilizes silver nanoparticles on their surface. The coatings obtained were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy. For example, silver nanoparticles formed and attached to the surface of fibers as a result of a ten-minute exposure to ultraviolet radiation have a size of 50 ± 18 nm. Studies of bactericidal activity showed that ultrathin polypropylene fibrous materials with coatings based on silver nanoparticles can effectively perform antibacterial treatment of natural waters with a high level of microbiological contamination. After 10 cycles of water purification, the amount of silver in the samples, according to atomic emission spectroscopy, remains unchanged.

Raw material safety as one of the factors of sustainable development of the food industry

One of the trends in the development of the public catering market in the Ural region is the emergence of new “players”, which leads to increased competition. The use of crushed sprouted grain in public catering products can increase the competitiveness of enterprises, because in the field of public catering, the trend towards healthy eating continues, one of the directions of which is grain germination. The seeds germinate in a humid environment. They have a high content of carbohydrates (in particular starch) and are not always under the lights, which contributes to the reproduction of microorganisms. To suppress the growth of the number of microorganisms, it is proposed to use cold plasma radiation. Such a non-thermal physical effect will reduce the microbiological parameters of raw materials without affecting the physical and chemical processes during germination of the sprout. The optimal value of settings at which the required level of microbiological contamination is achieved has been determined. With increasing exposure, microbiological parameters change slightly, while the cost of processing increases.

Physiological Profiling and Functional Diversity of Groundwater Microbial Communities in a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Area

The disposal of municipal solid wastes in landfills represents a major threat for aquifer environments at the global scale. The aim of this study was to explore how groundwater geochemical characteristics can influence the microbial community functioning and the potential degradation patterns of selected organic substrates in response to different levels of landfill-induced alterations. Groundwaters collected from a landfill area were monitored by assessing major physical-chemical parameters and the microbiological contamination levels (total coliforms and fecal indicators—Colilert-18). The aquatic microbial community was further characterized by flow cytometry and Biolog EcoPlatesTM assay. Three groundwater conditions (i.e., pristine, mixed, and altered) were identified according to their distinct geochemical profiles. The altered groundwaters showed relatively higher values of organic matter concentration and total cell counts, along with the presence of fecal indicator bacteria, in comparison to samples from pristine and mixed conditions. The kinetic profiles of the Biolog substrate degradation showed that the microbial community thriving in altered conditions was relatively more efficient in metabolizing a larger number of organic substrates, including those with complex molecular structures. We concluded that the assessment of physiological profiling and functional diversity at the microbial community level could represent a supportive tool to understand the potential consequences of the organic contamination of impacted aquifers, thus complementing the current strategies for groundwater management.