Effectiveness of a steam cleaning unit for disinfection in a veterinary hospital.

Objective: To evaluate whether the application of steam to a variety of surface types in a veterinary hospital would effectively reduce the number of bacteria.

Sample: 5 surface types.

Procedures: Steam was applied as a surface treatment for disinfection to 18 test sites of 5 surface types in a veterinary hospital.

Reduction in the microbial load on high-touch surfaces in hospital rooms by treatment with a portable saturated steam vapor disinfection system.

Background: Recent scientific literature suggests that portable steam vapor systems are capable of rapid, chemical-free surface disinfection in controlled laboratory studies. This study evaluated the efficacy of a portable steam vapor system in a hospital setting.

Methods: The study was carried out in 8 occupied rooms of a long-term care wing of a hospital.

Complications of bariatric surgery: implications for the covering physician.

Bariatric surgery is the only effective option for sustained weight loss for morbidly obese patients. The increasing prevalence of obesity in America and the application of a laparoscopic approach to bariatric surgery have combined to dramatically increase the number of patients undergoing these types of operations. The number of bariatric surgeons and centers devoted to surgery of the morbidly obese is also rising.

Estimated occupational risk from bioaerosols generated during land application of class B biosolids.

Some speculate that bioaerosols from land application of biosolids pose occupational risks, but few studies have assessed aerosolization of microorganisms from biosolids or estimated occupational risks of infection. This study investigated levels of microorganisms in air immediately downwind of land application operations and estimated occupational risks from aerosolized microorganisms. In all, more than 300 air samples were collected downwind of biosolids application sites at various locations within the United States.

Reduction in infection risk through treatment of microbially contaminated surfaces with a novel, portable, saturated steam vapor disinfection system.

Background: Surface-mediated infectious disease transmission is a major concern in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and food-processing facilities. Chemical disinfectants are frequently used to reduce contamination, but many pose significant risks to humans, surfaces, and the environment, and all must be properly applied in strict accordance with label instructions to be effective. This study set out to determine the capability of a novel chemical-free, saturated steam vapor disinfection system to kill microorganisms, reduce surface-mediated infection risks, and serve as an alternative to chemical disinfectants.

Bioaerosol emission rate and plume characteristics during land application of liquid class B biosolids.

This study investigated bioaerosol emission rates and plume characteristics of bioaerosols generated during land application of liquid Class B biosolids. In addition, it compared the rate of aerosolization of coliphages and total coliform bacteria during land application of liquid Class B biosolids to the rate of aerosolization during land application of groundwater inoculated with similar concentrations of Escherichia coli and coliphage MS2. Air samples were taken immediately downwind of a spray applicator as it applied liquid (approximately 8% solids) biosolids to farmland near Tucson, Arizona.