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Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by several filamentous fungi, which frequently contaminate our food, and can result in human diseases affecting vital systems such as the nervous and immune systems. They can also trigger various forms of cancer. Intensive food production is contributing to incorrect handling, transport and storage of the food, resulting in increased levels of mycotoxin contamination. Mycotoxins are structurally very diverse molecules necessitating versatile food decontamination approaches, which are grouped into physical, chemical and biological techniques. In this review, a new and promising approach involving the use of cold atmospheric pressure plasma is considered, which may overcome multiple weaknesses associated with the classical methods. In addition to its mycotoxin destruction efficiency, cold atmospheric pressure plasma is cost effective, ecologically neutral and has a negligible effect on the quality of food products following treatment in comparison to classical methods.

PurposeThis case–control study investigated the long-term evolution of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) over a 5-year period associated with the use of selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) in the intensive care unit (ICU). In addition, effects on health care-associated infections and ICU mortality were analysed.MethodsWe investigated patients undergoing mechanical ventilation > 48 h in 11 adult ICUs located at 3 campuses of a university hospital. Administrative, clinical, and microbiological data which were routinely recorded electronically served as the basis. We analysed differences in the rates and incidence densities (ID, cases per 1000 patient-days) of MDRB associated with SOD use in all patients and stratified by patient origin (outpatient or inpatient). After propensity score matching, health-care infections and ICU mortality were compared.Results5034 patients were eligible for the study. 1694 patients were not given SOD. There were no differences in the incidence density of MDRB when SOD was used, except for more vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (0.72/1000 days vs. 0.31/1000 days, p < 0.01), and fewer ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (0.22/1000 days vs. 0.56/1000 days, p < 0.01). After propensity score matching, SOD was associated with lower incidence rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia and death in the ICU but not with ICU-acquired bacteremia or urinary tract infection.ConclusionsComparisons of the ICU-acquired MDRB over a 5-year period revealed no differences in incidence density, except for lower rate of ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and higher rate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium with SOD. Incidence rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia and death in the ICU were lower in patients receiving SOD.

The photocatalytic material–microorganism hybrid (PMH) systems constructed with microbes and light-harvesting materials merge the advantages of photocatalysis and biological processes and exhibit benefits in contaminant removal.The unique microbe–photosensitizer interface of PMH system enables an effective synergy between photocatalysis and bioremediation for pollutant removal, but also induces a problem of microbes being inactivated by photocatalysis, which can be influenced by internal components and operational conditions.The synergistic mechanism between photocatalysis and biological processes is the cornerstone of PMH systems for water decontamination, which is based on charge transfer and microbial response. Biological processes are widely used technologies for water decontamination, but they are often limited by insufficient bioavailable carbon sources or biorecalcitrant contaminants. The recently developed photocatalytic material–microorganism hybrid (PMH) system combines the light-harvesting capacities of photocatalytic materials with specific enzymatic activities of whole cells, efficiently achieving solar-to-chemical conversion. By integrating the benefits of both photocatalysis and biological processes, the PMH system shows great potential for water decontamination. While recent reviews have focused primarily on its application in green energy development, this review emphasizes the latest advancements in PMH systems for water decontamination, covering various applications, key considerations, and synergistic mechanisms. This review aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the PMH system and explore its broader potential in environmental remediation. Biological processes are widely used technologies for water decontamination, but they are often limited by insufficient bioavailable carbon sources or biorecalcitrant contaminants. The recently developed photocatalytic material–microorganism hybrid (PMH) system combines the light-harvesting capacities of photocatalytic materials with specific enzymatic activities of whole cells, efficiently achieving solar-to-chemical conversion. By integrating the benefits of both photocatalysis and biological processes, the PMH system shows great potential for water decontamination. While recent reviews have focused primarily on its application in green energy development, this review emphasizes the latest advancements in PMH systems for water decontamination, covering various applications, key considerations, and synergistic mechanisms. This review aims to provide a fundamental understanding of the PMH system and explore its broader potential in environmental remediation.

Due to the rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is an increasing shortage of protective gear necessary to keep health care providers safe from infection. As of 9 April 2020, the CDC reported 9,282 cumulative cases of COVID-19 among U.S. health care workers (CDC COVID-19 Response Team, MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 69:477–481, 2020, https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6915e6 ). N95 respirators are recommended by the CDC as the ideal method of protection from COVID-19. Although N95 respirators are traditionally single use, the shortages have necessitated the need for reuse. Effective methods of N95 decontamination that do not affect the fit or filtration ability of N95 respirators are essential. Numerous methods of N95 decontamination exist; however, none are universally accessible. In this study, we describe an effective, standardized, and reproducible means of decontaminating N95 respirators using widely available materials. The N95 decontamination method described in this work will provide a valuable resource for hospitals, health care centers, and outpatient practices that are experiencing increasing shortages of N95 respirators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has caused a severe, international shortage of N95 respirators, which are essential to protect health care providers from infection. Given the contemporary limitations of the supply chain, it is imperative to identify effective means of decontaminating, reusing, and thereby conserving N95 respirator stockpiles. To be effective, decontamination must result in sterilization of the N95 respirator without impairment of respirator filtration or user fit. Although numerous methods of N95 decontamination exist, none are universally accessible. In this work, we describe a microwave-generated steam decontamination protocol for N95 respirators for use in health care systems of all sizes, geographies, and means. Using widely available glass containers, mesh from commercial produce bags, a rubber band, and a 1,100-W commercially available microwave, we constructed an effective, standardized, and reproducible means of decontaminating N95 respirators. Employing this methodology against MS2 phage, a highly conservative surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 contamination, we report an average 6-log 10 plaque-forming unit (PFU) (99.9999%) and a minimum 5-log 10 PFU (99.999%) reduction after a single 3-min microwave treatment. Notably, quantified respirator fit and function were preserved, even after 20 sequential cycles of microwave steam decontamination. This method provides a valuable means of effective decontamination and reuse of N95 respirators by frontline providers facing urgent need. IMPORTANCE Due to the rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is an increasing shortage of protective gear necessary to keep health care providers safe from infection. As of 9 April 2020, the CDC reported 9,282 cumulative cases of COVID-19 among U.S. health care workers (CDC COVID-19 Response Team, MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 69:477–481, 2020, https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6915e6 ). N95 respirators are recommended by the CDC as the ideal method of protection from COVID-19. Although N95 respirators are traditionally single use, the shortages have necessitated the need for reuse. Effective methods of N95 decontamination that do not affect the fit or filtration ability of N95 respirators are essential. Numerous methods of N95 decontamination exist; however, none are universally accessible. In this study, we describe an effective, standardized, and reproducible means of decontaminating N95 respirators using widely available materials. The N95 decontamination method described in this work will provide a valuable resource for hospitals, health care centers, and outpatient practices that are experiencing increasing shortages of N95 respirators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) is an infection prevention measure for intensive care unit (ICU) patients that was proposed more than 30 years ago, and that is currently considered standard of care in the Netherlands, but only used sporadically in ICUs in other countries. In this narrative review, we first describe the rationale of the individual components of SDD and then review the evidence base for patient-centered outcomes, where we distinguish ICUs with low prevalence of antibiotic resistance from ICUs with moderate–high prevalence of resistance. In settings with low prevalence of antibiotic resistance, SDD has been associated with improved patient outcome in three cluster-randomized studies. These benefits were not confirmed in a large international cluster-randomized study in settings with moderate-to-high prevalence of antibiotic resistance. There is no evidence that SDD increases antibiotic resistance. We end with future directions for research.

Polluted aquifers can be decontaminated using either ZVI (zero valent iron) permeable reactive barriers (PRB) or injected ZVI. The placement of ZVI within the aquifer may take several decades to remediate the contaminant plume. Remediation is further complicated by ZVI acting as an adsorbent to remove some pollutants, while for other pollutants, it acts as a remediation catalyst. This study investigates an alternative aquifer decontamination approach to PRB construction or n-Fe0 injection. The alternative approach reconstructs the potentiometric surface of the aquifer containing the contaminant. This reconstruction confines the contaminant plume to a stationary, doughnut shaped hydrodynamic mound. Contaminated water from the mound is abstracted, decontaminated, and then reinjected, until all the water confined within the mound is decontaminated. At this point, the decontaminated mound is allowed to dissipate into the surrounding aquifer. This approach is evaluated for potential use in treating the following: (i) immiscible liquid plumes; (ii) miscible contaminant and ionic solute plumes; (iii) naturally contaminated aquifers and soils; and (iv) contaminated or salinized soils. The results indicate that this approach, when compared with the PRB or injection approach, may accelerate the decontamination, while reducing the overall amount of ZVI required.

The coronavirus pandemic has created worldwide shortages of N95 respirators. We analyzed 4 decontamination methods for effectiveness in deactivating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus and effect on respirator function. Our results indicate that N95 respirators can be decontaminated and reused, but the integrity of respirator fit and seal must be maintained.

Viruses can infect all cell-based organisms, from bacteria to humans, animals, and plants. They are responsible for numerous cases of hospitalization, many deaths, and widespread crop destruction, all of which result in an enormous medical, economical, and biological burden. Each of the currently used decontamination methods has important drawbacks. Cold plasma (CP) has entered this field as a novel, efficient, and clean solution for virus inactivation. We present recent developments in this promising field of CP-mediated virus inactivation, and describe the applications and mechanisms of the inactivation. This is particularly relevant because viral pandemics, such as COVID-19, highlight the need for alternative virus inactivation methods to replace, complement, or upgrade existing procedures. Pathogenic viruses are becoming an increasing burden for health, agriculture, and the global economy. Classic disinfection methods have several drawbacks, and innovative solutions for virus inactivation are urgently needed.CP can be used as an environmentally friendly tool for virus inactivation. It can inactivate different human, animal, and plant viruses in various matrices.When using CP for virus inactivation it is important to set the correct parameters and to choose treatment durations that allow particles to interact with the contaminated material.Reactive oxygen and/or nitrogen species have been shown to be responsible for virus inactivation through effects on capsid proteins and/or nucleic acids. The development of more accurate methods will provide information on which plasma particles are crucial in each experiment, and how exactly they affect viruses.