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ABSTRACT: Chemical, physical and microbial analyses were conducted in the Sarno River basin to obtain a comprehensive description of the overall quality of the water bodies. The collection period lasted 12 months, between 2005 and 2006, with high frequency of sampling and analysis. More than 6,000 analytical determinations were performed on samples collected at six sampling points along the Sarno River and two points each on tributaries Solofrana and Cavaiola. The results indicated the presence of inorganic contaminants, which, in most cases, were below the Italian State water quality thresholds. The organic contamination showed an increasing trend, with respect to previous determinations, thus demonstrating the major contribution of untreated urban wastewater to the overall pollution of the river. Moreover, this study was designed to explore the correlation between the presence of microbial indicators of fecal contamination in Sarno River and their presumable presence in the aerosol surrounding the river, thus pointing to the possible environmental hazard associated with the presence of pathogens in the air.
Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene 07/2008; 49(2):79-88.
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ABSTRACT: The observance of hand hygiene compliance is important to reduce cross-infection by micro-organisms. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the level of hand hygiene in healthcare workers from different departments, with particular emphasis on transient flora. The study was conducted in three departments (Surgery, Intensive Care Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology) of a hospital in Campania, southern Italy. Over a six-month period, 50 healthcare workers were randomly tested. Imprints of palms and fingertips were taken monthly during the morning shift. The number of colonies per plate was counted and transient pathogens were identified. Risk factors for hand contamination were determined. Total flora was found in the following CFU means per palm and per five fingertips (95% CI): Obstetrics and Gynecology [palms 130 CFUs (95% CI 85-180); fingertips 125 CFUs (95% CI 92-160)]; ICU [palms 80 CFUs (95% CI 58-99); fingertips 62 CFUs (95% CI 45-82)]; Surgery [palms 75 CFUs (95% CI 41-120); fingertips 70 CFUs (95% CI 52-90)] Transient flora was found on 39% of healthcare workers' hands. The only factor associated with hand contamination by transient flora was the absence of gloving during healthcare procedure (P = 0.02).
Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene 07/2006; 47(2):64-8.
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ABSTRACT: A two-years (2003-2005) fungal environmental surveillance was carried out in three departments of a hospital in Campania region (Surgery, Intensive Care Unit, Obstetrics and Gynaecology). Four operating theatres rooms and their relative areas of service and support, 4 patient rooms of intensive care unit, 1 delivery room, 1 labour room and 1 nursery of Obstetrics and Gynaecology were checked. A total of 12,120 surfaces and 2,904 air samples were collected in 24 monthly determinations. A seasonal variation in the fungal development was observed, in particular the lowest level of air and surface fungi contamination was found in winter and autumn whereas it was higher in spring and summer. In this study 30 fungal species were identified and, among these, the most frequent specie isolated was the Aspergillus spp. The results show an air contamination, expressed in percentage of positive determinations for Aspergillus spp, and the other fungi in the following percentages: Obstetrics and Gynaecology (25% and 33,3%); Intensive Care Unit (17% and 25%); Surgery (12.5% and 21%). For surfaces contamination it was found: Obstetrics and Gynaecology (67% and 75%); Intensive Care Unit (63% and 71%); Surgery (58.3% and 67%). This study shows that in the departments observed environmental fungi contamination is always present and therefore it would be necessary to apply environmental surveillance procedure and monitor the effectiveness.
Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene 04/2006; 47(1):22-5.
