In late 2019 on 11th March 2020 a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 causing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appeared in Wuhan, China and World Health Organisation declared it to have developed pandemic status. Although there are many... more
In late 2019 on 11th March 2020 a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 causing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appeared in Wuhan, China and World Health Organisation declared it to have developed pandemic status. Although there are many detection techniques for the disease to control the pandemic such as RT-PCR, serological methods, or fast antigen tests, the actual problem is the prevention of the disease. The nasal cavity and rhino pharynx are key sites of the initial replication of SARS-CoV-2. In this article, the effectiveness of destrovir spray was investigated by creating a mechanical barrier in the nasal and oral mucosa, which are the entry points of the virus into the body, and to destroy the virus that comes into contact with this barrier. In the presented study, quantitation cycle (Cq) and irradiation values (RFU) of 12 different high-positive patients (Cq≤25) after application of both RT-PCR and destrovir spray were determined at different concentrations (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) aimed to evaluate its effectiveness. According to the results obtained by comparing the effectiveness of disinfectant with 70% ethyl alcohol on the 46 patient samples with Cq<20, 46 patient samples with Cq values between 20-25, and 46 patient samples with Cq≥25 including different variants are examined. A total of 138 COVID-19 patient samples were treated with 5% and 10% ratios of destrovir spray. Its effectiveness on Cq values and RFU was evaluated and it was aimed to compare the effectiveness of this evaluation with 96% ethyl alcohol used in the same samples.
In this presentation Dr. Tim Sandle will outline the importance of contamination control for cleanrooms. The presentation will centre on the use of detergents and disinfectants as part of the control strategy. The presentation will... more
In this presentation Dr. Tim Sandle will outline the importance of contamination control for cleanrooms. The presentation will centre on the use of detergents and disinfectants as part of the control strategy. The presentation will discuss the differences between different types of disinfectants (including those intended to be sporicidal) and the steps to be followed for their selection. Key GMP topics will also be addressed, including disinfectant rotation, qualification and the importance of examine microbial counts and the types of microorganisms recovered from an environmental monitoring programme.
The cleaning of glassware is an important preliminary step prior to sterilisation in the microbiology laboratory. If insufficient cleaning takes place, residues of culture media and chemicals can remain and these could potentially have an... more
The cleaning of glassware is an important preliminary step prior to sterilisation in the microbiology laboratory. If insufficient cleaning takes place, residues of culture media and chemicals can remain and these could potentially have an impact upon microbial growth during various microbiological qualitative and quantitative tests. This paper outlines a study where four different manual cleaning regimes were used to evaluate glassware cleaning. It was found that a 5% solution of neutral detergent, followed by two rinses was the most efficient method. The experiment is put forward as a case study for other laboratories to replicate as necessary.
This article provides guidance for the selection of disinfectants to be used for the bio-contamination control of cleanrooms and controlled environments. Control is important for product and patient safety. The article focuses on factors... more
This article provides guidance for the selection of disinfectants to be used for the bio-contamination control of cleanrooms and controlled environments. Control is important for product and patient safety. The article focuses on factors contributing to microcidal and microstatic properties, including concentration, contact time, and application methods.
A wiper is generally purchased to perform a specific task, such as cleaning a surface, absorbing a spill, or applying a chemical to a surface. While these items are heavily marketed, the cleanroom manager should be wary about some of the... more
A wiper is generally purchased to perform a specific task, such as cleaning a surface, absorbing a spill, or applying a chemical to a surface. While these items are heavily marketed, the cleanroom manager should be wary about some of the claims and a thorough evaluation should be made before such wipes are adopted by the facility.
The correct application of a suitable antiseptic is necessary to minimise the risk of surgical site infection. This class of infection accounts for about 15% of all health-care-associated infections in total and about 37% of the... more
The correct application of a suitable antiseptic is necessary to minimise the risk of surgical site infection. This class of infection accounts for about 15% of all health-care-associated infections in total and about 37% of the hospital-acquired infections of surgical patients.
The ideal antiseptic agent should be effective against a wide range of microorganisms; work within a fast onset of action; exert a long-term effect; and not be readily inactivated by organic material (e.g. blood). Moreover, it should have minimal toxic effects on the skin. Antiseptics can be classified as bactericidal (capable of killing most members of a population of microorganisms) or bacteriostatic (capable to inhibiting the growth of members of a population of microorganisms). In general, bactericidal products are preferred.
Given the grave situation of the ongoing pandemic, particularly in a vastly populated country like India, maintaining lockdown for extended periods of time is not a viable option without taking a severe hit in the economy. At some point,... more
Given the grave situation of the ongoing pandemic, particularly in a vastly populated country like India, maintaining lockdown for extended periods of time is not a viable option without taking a severe hit in the economy. At some point, an important decision needs to be made regarding the status of removal of lockdown in a proper manner. When this is done, the people will be exposed directly not only to the virus but to people that might be infected with it. A proper system is required to maintain a COVID-free environment. So, in this paper, we are presenting a solution, to ensure that the commuting people are properly sanitized and are not carrying this or any other germs on them.
The antimicrobial activities, efficacy and potency of two commercial disinfectants viz: purite and bleach(Jik) commonly used at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) were investigated. Using the capacity-use dilution tests... more
The antimicrobial activities, efficacy and potency of two commercial disinfectants viz: purite and bleach(Jik) commonly used at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) were investigated. Using the capacity-use dilution tests procedures an in-use test method, three different concentrations were determined and assessed against two of the commonest bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated at UCTH. The suspension of the test organisms was prepared using McFarland standard. Equal volumes of the inoculums and disinfectants dilution were mixed and cultured at 370C for 21 days. The results showed that there was effective antibacterial activity at higher concentration (25%) above the manufacturers’ recommendation for the two disinfectants tested. However, their activities were significantly reduced at lower concentrations. Again, the duration and potency of bleach was shorter as compared to purite. Hence purite appears to present grater activity efficacy and potency than the bleach and would be a preferred disinfectant. The need to educate the end users of these disinfectants about their different degrees of efficacy and and required concentration for maximum results is highlighted.
Part of effective contamination control in cleanrooms involves the use of hand disinfectants, particular as people are the primary source of microbial contamination in pharmaceutical facilities and the hands are a prime vehicle for... more
Part of effective contamination control in cleanrooms involves the use of hand disinfectants, particular as people are the primary source of microbial contamination in pharmaceutical facilities and the hands are a prime vehicle for contamination transfer. Personnel apply these as they move through changing areas, deploying products safe to be used on human skin. Such products are also applied to the gloved hands of personnel working within cleanrooms. Regular application before handling product or taking samples
forms an important part of good manufacturing practice (GMP). Within aseptic processing areas,
the application is even more important in relation to ensuring that the product does not become contaminated.
The objective of the review was to assess the impacts of disinfectants and disinfection by products on human heal and animals. Disinfection of drinking water was introduced to ensure that our water supply was microbiologically safe... more
The objective of the review was to assess the impacts of disinfectants and disinfection by products on human heal and animals. Disinfection of drinking water was introduced to ensure that our water supply was microbiologically safe through the removal of pathogens. Although disinfectants are used to safe water, they cause DBPs by reacting with organic matters and inorganic once. Those DBPs cause important impact on human health. For instance cancer, impact on reproduction, respiration and allergy are the most well-known studies conducted. Bladder cancer is the most studied and much of studies reported positive association between bladder cancer and DBPs. However, others reported negative association between pancreatic cancer and DBPs. mixed result was obtained from studies conducted regarding respiratory and allergy. Studies from Belgium investigated positive association between DBPs and respiratory problems whereas others don’t. In the case of reproduction and development, more stu...
Ozonation experiments were performed using unchlorinated tap water used for filling municipal swimming pools, actual pool water and pool water polluted by addition of fresh tap water and artificial body fluid to evaluate ozone kinetics... more
Ozonation experiments were performed using unchlorinated tap water used for filling municipal swimming pools, actual pool water and pool water polluted by addition of fresh tap water and artificial body fluid to evaluate ozone kinetics and water quality effects on formation of volatile disinfection byproducts during subsequent chlorination. The ozone reaction was observed to behave according to first order kinetics. For tap water half-life was 4 min whilst polluted and unpolluted pool water exhibited half-life of 8 and 11 min, respectively. When ozonation dosage was repeated half-life of ozone was approximated 17-19 min in all samples. Subsequent chlorination revealed ozone removed reactivity of dissolved organic carbon toward chlorine for tap and polluted pool water, decreasing formation rate of trihalomethanes (TTHM). In pool water higher rates of TTHM formation was observed after the initial ozone dosage, however this decreased with subsequent treatments. For tap and polluted pool water, ozone reacted directly with the pollutants resulting in a short ozone half-life, removing reactivity towards chlorine oxidation and preventing TTHM production. Conversely for pool water samples, due to the long half-life of ozone, the molecule decomposed to hydroxyl radicals. These in turn reacted with aqueous organic matter increasing chlorine reactivity and rates of TTHM formation. Formation of other non-regulated volatile byproducts (e.g. dichloracetonitrile, trichlorpropanone and trichloronitromethane) was observed to increase in pool water with ozone treatment. Thus, ozonation dosage regimes should be designed such that ozone mostly oxidizes fresh pollutants before chlorine is able to react with it.
Objective: This study evaluated the effect of an active oxygen based disinfectant, 2 Perform® (Schulke & Mayr, Germany) on the dimensional accuracy of four alginates, Alginoplast (Heraeus Kulzer, Holland), Kromopan (LASCOD, Italy),... more
Objective: This study evaluated the effect of an active oxygen based disinfectant, 2 Perform® (Schulke & Mayr, Germany) on the dimensional accuracy of four alginates, Alginoplast (Heraeus Kulzer, Holland), Kromopan (LASCOD, Italy), Alginmax (MAJOR, Italy) and Duplast (Dentsply, China). Method: A cobalt chromium master model with four cylindrical studs representing 2 canines and 2 molars was constructed. A total of 40 impressions for each alginates were taken and treated in 4 different conditions, Immediate pour (control); 10 minutes immersion in distilled water; 10 minutes immersion in 2 Perform® and 30 minutes in 2 Perform®. The impressions were then poured in Type III stone. Dimensional changes between the master model and the resultant casts were measured using traveling microscope. The change at an antero-posterior dimension (C) and 3 different interarch dimensions (A,B and D) were noted. Results: Two way ANOVA showed significant interaction between alginates and treatment conditions except for dimension B and D. One-way ANOVA test and Student-Newman-Keuls indicated no significant difference (P> 0.05) in dimensional accuracy of impressions treated with Perform® for 10 minutes compared to the control group except for Alginoplast (dimension A) and Duplast (dimension C and D). The maximum deviation in the dimension after 10 minutes Perform® immersion was 0.552 for Duplast and 0.147 to 0.213 for other alginates. Immersion in Perform® for 30 minutes produced maximum deviation of 0.591 for Duplast in dimension C whilst 0.223 to 0.235 for other alginates. Conclusion: Active oxygen based disinfectant has an effect on the dimensional accuracy of the resultant cast for the 4 alginates. Although some results indicated significant change, the magnitude of deviation was clinically negligible. Apart from Duplast, all the alginates indicated good stability in 2 Perform® even up to 30 minutes of immersion time. (This study was supported by University of Malaya ; R&D FO200/2003D)
The shortage of obtaining secure potable water remains one of the greatest dares confronting humankind. Even with the mass universal endeavour that has been performed, the potable water fountains of at least 2 billion people are faecally... more
The shortage of obtaining secure potable water remains one of the greatest dares confronting humankind. Even with the mass universal endeavour that has been performed, the potable water fountains of at least 2 billion people are faecally polluted, conducting to more than half a million diarrheal deaths every year, with the majority taking place in poor nations. Consequently, techniques for demobilizing pathogens in the water stay of vital importance for humans. Nevertheless, traditional techniques to supply potable water, even if efficient, show restrictions that hinder their general use. Such treatment processes frequently possess elevated energy and chemical needs, which restricts their implementation for avoiding waterborne diseases. Such drawbacks have conducted for urgent investigation and expansion of advanced substitutional techniques. One such substitutional method is solar disinfection (SODIS), which is viewed as one of the most suitable techniques for assuring potable water in poor regions. This work contributes to present traditional techniques that are being utilized at medium to large scales to treat water and emerging technologies presently in expansion. Further, this communication presents briefly the advantages and shortcomings of such techniques. Special attention is accorded to SODIS, involving a fresh technique lately suggested in such domain.
Decominol exhibits bactericidal activity in a concentration of 0.05% (NF T 72-151). This concentration is increased five-fold in the presence of an albumin-yeast extract mixture, and 2.5-fold in the presence of hard water (60 degrees... more
Decominol exhibits bactericidal activity in a concentration of 0.05% (NF T 72-151). This concentration is increased five-fold in the presence of an albumin-yeast extract mixture, and 2.5-fold in the presence of hard water (60 degrees French). At pH 5.0, 0.5% concentration is not bactericidal (NF T 72-171) Fungicidal activity (T 72-201) is weak at 20 degrees and 50 degrees C and the sporicidal tests (T 72-231) establish the lack of sporicidal activity at 10%. Decyloxy-3 hydroxy-2 in 0.2 amino-1 propane hydrochloride to 1.5% concentrations used in a meat-canning factory ensures satisfactory disinfection of correctly cleansed surfaces. It also proves useful for sterilization of circuits where it can be used as an adjunct to the lethal action of heat.
Bacterial keratitis is a common eye infection case of contact lens users worldwide. This eye infection is caused by exposure to bacterial contaminants that grow due to unhygienic practices and irregular disinfection of the contact lens... more
Bacterial keratitis is a common eye infection case of contact lens users worldwide. This eye infection is caused by exposure to bacterial contaminants that grow due to unhygienic practices and irregular disinfection of the contact lens and its cases. This study has shown that Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were among the common bacterial contaminants on contact lens cases. 16S rRNA sequencing of unknown bacterial isolates revealed the presence of other bacterial species such as Escherichia vulneris and Bacillus subtilis, a gram negative and a gram positive bacterium, respectively.The bacteriostatic efficacy of two commonly used multipurpose disinfecting solutions was investigated in this study. It was observed that bacteriostatic efficacy of the two disinfecting solutions was reduced as observed in the increased colony forming units on 24 hours and 48 hours extended disinfection time. Moreover, disinfection of contact lens cases without hand washing significantly
A comparative study on the efficacy of peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite in inactivating resistant stages of microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Cl. perfingens was carried out. Furthermore the evaluation of the... more
A comparative study on the efficacy of peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite in inactivating resistant stages of microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Cl. perfingens was carried out. Furthermore the evaluation of the potential reciprocal correlation among the concentrations of the organisms was performed. The results obtained indicate that, at the same experimental conditions, peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite have nearly similar reduction power against the resistant stages of Giardia and Cl. perfringens. Both the oxidants are instead less efficient in the abatement of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Findings have also confirmed our previous studies on the absence of association between Clostridium and the protozoa.