Sterilization and disinfection

Members of Botryosphaeria s.l. have an extensive history as cankering pathogens of stressed and declining oak trees in the eastern United States (Ferreira et al. 2021). The host range, distribution, and virulence among two closely related species, Diplodia corticola and D. gallae, remains unclear (Brazee et al. 2023). On 15 August 2023, a survey was conducted at a declining natural hardwood site in Shenandoah County, Virginia (GPS coordinates 38.922089, -78.606125). One mature Quercus coccinea tree that displayed scorched leaf margins and branch dieback was felled and a cankered branch from the crown was sampled (Fig...

There are several steps involved when performing high-level disinfection (HLD) of semicritical devices. The recently updated AORN "Guideline for manual high-level disinfection" provides perioperative nurses with evidence-based best practices for performing safe and effective HLD of reusable semicritical items. The guideline also addresses preventing injury to patients and health care workers associated with the handling of high-level disinfectants. This article provides an overview of the guideline and discusses recommendations for selection of a processing method, sterile processing areas, preparation of items for HLD, preparation of high-level disinfectants, manual HLD, drying and storage of items after HLD, and processing records...

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is a widely cultivated plant in China, and the fruit lotus variety has a high economic value attributed to the exquisite flavor of its fresh seeds. During the summer of 2023, an unidentified blight was observed affecting lotus seedpods in Jiande City, Zhejiang province, with approximately 65% of seedpods impacted in a 130-hectare area. The initial symptoms included dark purple spots on the lotus seedpod surface, which gradually expanded over time. After 5 to 7 days, the entire seedpod turned black, withering, and rendering the lotus seeds inedible...

AIM: Mycobacterium abscessus is ubiquitous in the environment and seldom causes infections in immunocompetent individuals. However, skin and soft tissue infections caused by M. abscessus have been reported in recent years. Additionally, the cutaneous infections or outbreaks post cosmetic surgery caused by M. abscessus have been increasing due to the popularity of plastic surgery. The main modes of transmission are through contaminated saline, disinfectants, or surgery equipment, as well as close contact between patients...

In February 2022, leaf zonate spot disease afflicted Aloe vera L. in Yunnan, China, endangering the $39 billion industry with 0.33ha under cultivation (Wan 2015). The disease manifested with watery spots progressing into oval or circular necrosis lesions, characterized by a dark center surrounded by a gray-brown zone. In the late stage of the disease, lesions regress in size and several small dark picnidia dots appeared on the gray-brown zone. The disease incidence ranged from 10% to 15% in three commercial plantations...

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (family Asparagaceae) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that is widely cultivated in various parts of China, including Hunan Province. In summer 2022, a leaf spot disease was observed in 10% of the P. cyrtonema plants (Huang jing) in 18 hectares of this crop in the Hongjiang District (27°18'4″N, 110°11'1″E) of Hunan Province. The initial symptoms of the disease were brown spots on young leaves, and adjacent tissues gradually changed from green to yellow...

This study aimed to characterize the taxonomic composition of intraradicular multispecies biofilms (IMBs) formed in situ in a model to reproduce clinical conditions. Twelve palatal roots of maxillary molars had its canals prepared. Two roots were randomly selected to sterility control. Ten intraoral prosthetic appliances with lateral slots were fabricated. The roots were positioned in the slots with the canal access open to the oral cavity. Eight volunteers wore the appliance for 21 days, and two wore it at two different time points...

We report the inactivation of SARS CoV-2 and its surrogate-Human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43), on representative porous (KN95 mask material) and nonporous materials (aluminum and polycarbonate) using a Compact Portable Plasma Reactor (CPPR). The CPPR is a compact (48 cm3 ), lightweight, portable and scalable device that forms Dielectric Barrier Discharge which generates ozone using surrounding atmosphere as input gas, eliminating the need of source gas tanks. Iterative CPPR exposure time experiments were performed on inoculated material samples in 3 operating volumes...

Cavendish banana (Musa spp. AAA group) is one of the main fruit crops worldwide. It is widely planted in Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Fujian and Yunnan provinces in southern China. In November 2020, banana fruits with anthracnose symptoms were collected from Dayu Town (N 23.17°, E 109.80°), Guigang City, and Chengjun Town (N 22.60°, E 110.00°), Yulin City, Guangxi Province, China, where the disease was found on about 70% of the banana plants, and on individual fruit, up to 10% of the surface was covered with symptoms...

CONTEXT: Gutta-percha (GP) gets contaminated during handling. It becomes imperative to ensure GP is sterile before placement in root canal space. AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the tensile strength of GP treated with four different disinfectant solutions: 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), amla juice (AJ), Aloe vera (AV) juice, and pancha tulsi (PT). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The study design was an in vitro study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty GP cones with a size of 30 were procured from sealed packages in five different groups...

Traditional disinfection processes face significant challenges such as health and ecological risks associated with disinfection-residual-bacteria due to their single mechanism of action. Development of new disinfection processes with composite mechanisms is therefore urgently needed. In this study, we employed liquid ground-electrode dielectric barrier discharge (lgDBD) to achieve synergistic sterilization through electric field electroporation and reactive species oxidation. At a voltage of 12 kV, Pseudomonas fluorescens (ultraviolet and ozone-resistant) and Bacillus subtilis (chlorine-resistant) were completely inactivated within 8 and 6 min, respectively, surpassing a 7...

INTRODUCTION: In endodontic treatment, it is important to remove or inactivate biofilms in the root canal system. We investigated the effects of different concentrations and application times of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on the viability of bacteria in ex vivo polymicrobial biofilms of different maturation levels. METHODS: Polymicrobial biofilms were prepared from dental plaque samples and grown for 1, 2, and 3 weeks under anaerobic conditions on collagen-coated hydroxyapatite discs as an ex vivo biofilm model...

Calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)2 ), which can be stably stored in powder form for a long period, is widely used as a disinfectant in various fields. A new sterilization process was developed in the present study, where a microalgal medium was sterilized using 0.02% Ca(ClO)2 , followed by complete neutralization of the Ca(ClO)2 within 8 h through catalytic reaction of an MnCl2 -Na2 EDTA complex and a synergistic effect of glucose. When comparing the growth of Chlorella vulgaris in the autoclaved medium, a 2...

The escalating volume of healthcare waste (HCW) generated by healthcare facilities poses a pressing challenge for all nations. Adequate management and disposal of this waste are imperative to mitigate its adverse impact on human lives, wildlife, and the environment. Addressing this issue in Bosnia and Herzegovina involves the establishment of a regional center dedicated to HCW management. In practice, there are various treatments available for HCW management. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the priority for procuring different treatments during the formation of this center...

Inappropriate sterilization strategies inhibit microalgal growth when culturing microalgae with anaerobic digestate. This study aimed to scientifically select a low-cost disinfection pretreatment of anaerobic digestate for large-scale microalgae cultivations. In this work, three different methods, including autoclaving, ultraviolet or NaClO treatments, were employed to sterilize the municipal anaerobic digestate. Scenedesmus quadricauda was then cultured in diluted liquid digestate for the simultaneous lipid production and nutrient removal...

Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis ( Xpm ) is a plant pathogenic bacterium known as the causal agent of cassava bacterial blight (CBB). CBB is the most limiting bacterial disease affecting cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz), characterized by diverse symptoms including angular water-soaked leaf lesions, blight, wilting, stem exudates, stem cankers and dieback. CBB has been reported in most cassava-growing regions around the world, and, under conducive conditions, crop yield losses can reach up to 100% (Zárate-Chaves et al...

Bletilla striata is a valuable medicine in China, belonging to the Orchidaceae family, and is used for treating various ailments such as hemoptysis, pyocutaneous disease, and anal fissure by preventing blood flow, reducing swelling, and promoting granulation. In June 2022, a disease with symptoms similar to root rot was observed on B. striata in the pineland (the area was 0.4 hectare) of Lancang County (22°48'17" N, 99°46'58"22 E), Yunnan Province, China. The root rot incidence rate reached 16% (Table S1)...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of reused iCare probes after disinfection with 70% isopropyl alcohol and ethylene glycol compared to new iCare probes and Goldmann Applanation Tonometry (GAT). DESIGN: Prospective comparative analysis PARTICIPANTS: 118 eyes from 59 patients recruited from the Aravind Eye Hospital glaucoma clinic in Tirupati, South India. METHODS: Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured on each eye using a new iCare tonometer probe, an iCare probe previously used and disinfected one time prior (once used probe) and five times prior (multiply used probe), as well as with GAT...

PURPOSE: To identify the key infection processes and risk factors in Computed Tomography (CT) examination process within the standard prevention and control measures for the COVID-19 epidemic, aiming to mitigate cross-infection occurrences in the hospital. METHOD: The case hospital has assembled a team of 30 experts specialized in CT examination. Based on the CT examination process, the potential failure modes were assessed from the perspective of severity (S), occurrence probability (O), and detectability (D); they were then combined with corresponding risk prevention measures...

Transvaginal ultrasound probes (TVUS) are used for several gynecological procedures. These need to be disinfected between patient use. In the current study we examine whether UVC delivered using light emitting diodes for 90 seconds can provide sufficient disinfection efficacy. A new UVC device that delivers UVC radiation at 265nm-275nm for 90 seconds was used. TVUS probes were swabbed before and after use in an in vitro fertilization clinic. Microbes on the swabs were cultured and identified. In addition, the ability of the UVC device to provided repeated high-level disinfection was analysed by deliberately contaminating probes with spores of Bacillus subtilis and then performing the UVC disinfection and bacterial culture...