Bacterial airborne contamination in the operating room during surgery indicates an increased risk for surgical site infection. The conventional surveillance method for bacteria in the air is by air sampling, plating, and counting of colony-forming units (CFU). Particle counting measures particles in the air, typically in sizes of 1-20 µm, and has been suggested as an alternative to CFU measurements. The primary aim was to investigate the correlation between the number of airborne CFU and particles during surgery. The secondary aim was to explore whether different ventilation settings influence the correlation between CFU and particles.
The databases Cochrane, Embase, and Medline were searched for relevant publications. Due to the heterogeneity of the data, meta-analysis was not possible and a narrative analysis was performed instead.
The review included 11 studies. Two of the studies (n = 2) reported strong correlation between particles and CFU (Rp = 0.76 and Rc = 0.74). The remaining studies observed moderate correlation (n = 3), low correlation (n = 3), or no correlation (n = 3). Based on the primary results from this study, ventilation attribution to distinguish the correlation between particles and CFU had no or little contribution.
Due to the lack of convincing evidence of correlation and lack of high-quality studies performing measurements in a standardized way, the studies could not provide the necessary evidence that show that particle counting could be used as a substitution for conventional air bacterial assessment. Further studies are warranted to strengthen the conclusion.

Numerous studies have shown that dental unit water lines (DUWLs) are often contaminated by a wide range of micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa) and various prevalence have been reported for it in previous studies. Therefore, this review study aims to describe the prevalence of bacterial biofilm contamination of DUWLs.
This is a systematic review and meta-analysis in which the related keywords in different international databases, including Medline (via PubMed) and Scopus were searched. The retrieved studies were screened and the required data were extracted from the included studies. Three standard methods including American Dental Association (ADA), The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and contaminated > 100 CFU/ml(C-100) standards were used to assess the bacterial biofilm contamination of DUWLs. All studies that calculated the prevalence of bacterial biofilm contamination of DUWLs, and English full-text studies were included in the meta-analysis. Studies that did not have relevant data or used unusual laboratory methods were excluded. Methodological risk of bias was assessed by a related checklist and finally, the data were pooled by fixed or random-effect models.
Seven hundred and thirty-six studies were identified and screened and 26 related studies were included in the meta-analysis. The oldest included study was published in 1976 and the most recent study was published in 2020. According to the ADA, CDC and C-100 standards, the prevalence of bacterial contamination was estimated to be 85.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 66.0-94.0%), 77.0% (95%CI: 66.0-85.0%) and 69.0% (95%CI: 67.0-71.0%), respectively. The prevalence of Legionella Pneumophila and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in DUWLs was estimated to be 12.0% (95%CI: 10.0-14.0%) and 8.0% (95%CI: 2.0-24.0%), respectively.
The results of this review study suggested a high prevalence of bacterial biofilm in DUWLs; therefore, the use of appropriate disinfecting protocol is recommended to reduce the prevalence of contamination and reduce the probable cross-infection.

Escherichia coli O157: H7 is a representative foodborne pathogen that causes haemorrhagic colitis, bloody diarrhea, and fatal haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Previously, only conventional heat treatment was used to pasteurised food; however, this method decreases food quality, including colour change, denatures proteins, and causes lipid oxidation. Therefore, emerging technologies to inactivate pathogens in food that affect food quality minimally have been researched and developed. This review aims to compile research since 2018 and briefly describe the inactivation mechanisms of emerging technologies such as microwave, radio frequency, ohmic heating, superheated steam, ionising radiation (gamma irradiation, electron beam, and X-rays), high pressure, ultraviolet light, pulsed light, ultrasound, gas treatment, plasma, and combination treatments. Pulsed electric field and electrolysed water were excluded because few research papers were published after 2018. In addition, the shortcomings of emerging technologies in the control of E. coli O157: H7 and the directions for emerging technology research are presented. Taking advantage of emerging technologies with many benefits will significantly improve food safety.

Lamb meat is an important export commodity, however chilled vacuum-packed (VP) lamb has approximately half the shelf-life of beef under the same storage conditions. This makes the industry more vulnerable to financial losses due to long shipping times and unexpected spoilage. Understanding the spoilage mechanisms of chilled VP lamb in relation to VP beef is important for developing effective strategies to extend the shelf-life of lamb. This review has discussed various key factors (i.e., pH, fat, and presence of bone) that have effects on microbial spoilage of VP lamb contributing to its shorter shelf-life relative to VP beef. A range of bacterial organisms and their metabolisms in relevance to lamb spoilage are also discussed. The data gap in the literature regarding the potential mechanisms of spoilage in VP red meat is highlighted. This review has provided the current understanding of key factors affecting the shelf-life of VP lamb relative to VP beef. It has also identified key areas of research to further understand the spoilage mechanisms of VP lamb. These include investigating the potential influence of fat and bone (including bone marrow) on the shelf-life, as well as assessing changes in the meat metabolome as the spoilage microbial community is developing using an integrated approach. Such new knowledge would aid the development of effective approaches to extend the shelf-life of VP lamb.

Adherence to proper environmental cleaning practices is critical in food establishments. To validate cleanliness, cleaning practices should be routinely monitored, preferably by a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective method. The aim of this study was to determine whether a correlation exists between ATP bioluminescence measurements and selected microbial assessments in studies conducted in food establishments. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was conducted using the principles of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Twelve online databases and search engines were selected for the review. Peer-reviewed articles published in English between January 2000 and July 2020 were included in the search. From a total of 19 eligible studies, 3 that included Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between ATP bioluminescence measurements and microbial assessments were used for the meta-analysis calculations. Only the fixed-effect model produced a strong correlation because one value dominated the estimates: r = 0.9339 (0.9278, 0.9399). In contrast, both the random effects model, 0.2978 (0.24, 0.3471), and the mixed effects model, r = 0.3162 (-0.0387, 0.6711), indicated a weak relationship between ATP bioluminescence and microbial assessments, with no evidence of a strong correlation. The meta-analysis results indicated no sufficient evidence of a strong correlation between ATP bioluminescence measurements and microbial assessments when applied within food establishments. This lack of evidence for a strong correlation between the results of these two monitoring tools suggests that food establishments cannot depend on only one method. Yet, with immediate feedback and quantification of organic soiling, ATP bioluminescence could be an effective monitoring tool to use in food establishments.

Biofilms pose a serious public health hazard with a significant economic impact on the food industry. The present scoping review is designed to analyse the literature published during 2001-2020 on biofilm formation of microbes, their detection methods, and association with antimicrobial resistance (if any). The peer-reviewed articles retrieved from 04 electronic databases were assessed using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. From the 978 preliminary search results, a total of 88 publications were included in the study. On analysis, the commonly isolated pathogens were Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Bacillus spp., Vibrio spp., Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium perfringens. The biofilm-forming ability of microbes was found to be influenced by various factors such as attachment surfaces, temperature, presence of other species, nutrient availability etc. A total of 18 studies characterized the biofilm-forming genes, particularly for S. aureus, Salmonella spp., and E. coli. In most studies, polystyrene plate and/or stainless-steel coupons were used for biofilm formation, and the detection was carried out by crystal violet assays and/or by plate counting method. The strain-specific significant differences in biofilm formation were observed in many studies, and few studies carried out analysis of multi-species biofilms. The association between biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance was not clearly defined. Further, viable but non-culturable form of the foodborne pathogens is posing an unseen (by conventional cultivation techniques) but potent threat to the food safety. The present review recommends the need for carrying out systematic surveys and risk analysis of biofilms in food chain to highlight the evidence-based public health concerns, especially in regions where microbiological food hazards are quite prevalent.

Background. Severe contamination of dental unit waterlines was found in healthcare settings. The benefits of decontamination methods are controversial. The aim of this review was to systematically evaluate disinfection methods in contamination control of dental unit waterlines.Methods. The terms \'dental unit waterline(s) or DUWL(s) or dental unit water line(s)\' were searched through PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science and Scopusup to 31 May 2021. The DUWLs\' output water was incubated on R2A agar at 20-28 °C for 5-7 days to evaluate heterotrophic mesophilic bacteria. The risk of bias was evaluated by a modified Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale.Results. Eighteen papers from the literature were included. One study indicated that water supply played a crucial role in disinfecting DUWLs. Three studies indicated that flushing decreased bacteria counts but did not meet the American CDC standard (500 c.f.u. ml-1). All chlorine- and peroxide-containing disinfectants except sodium hypochlorite in one of 15 studies as well as three mouthrinses and citrus botanical extract achieved the standard (≤500 c.f.u. ml-1). The included studies were of low (1/18), moderate (6/18) and high (11/18) quality.Conclusion. Independent water reservoirs are recommended for disinfecting DUWLs using distilled water. Flushing DUWLs should be combined with disinfections. Nearly all the chlorine-, chlorhexidine- and peroxide-containing disinfectants, mouthrinses and citrus botanical extract meet the standard for disinfecting DUWLs. Alkaline peroxide would lead to tube blockage in the DUWLs. Regularly changing disinfectants can reduce the risk of occurrence of disinfectant-resistant strains of microbes.

Vascular graft infection (VGI) remains an important complication with a high mortality and morbidity rate. Currently, studies focusing on the role of vascular graft coatings in the prevention of VGI are scarce. Therefore, the aims of this study were to survey and summarise key features of pre-clinical in vivo models that have been used to investigate coating strategies to prevent VGI and to set up an ideal model that can be used in future preclinical research.
A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Web of Science.
For each database, a specific search strategy was developed. Quality was assessed with the Toxicological data Reliability Assessment Tool (ToxRTool). The type of animal model, graft, coating, and pathogen were summarised. The outcome assessment in each study was evaluated.
In total, 4 667 studies were identified, of which 94 papers focusing on in vivo testing were included. Staphylococcus aureus was the organism most used (n = 65; 67.7%). Most of the graft types were polyester grafts. Rifampicin was the most frequently used antibiotic coating (n = 43, 48.3%). In the outcome assessment, most studies mentioned colony forming unit count (n = 88; 91.7%) and clinical outcome (n = 72; 75%). According to the ToxRTool, 21 (22.3%, n = 21/94) studies were considered to be not reliable.
Currently published in vivo models are very miscellaneous. More attention should be paid to the methodology of these pre-clinical reports when transferring novel graft coatings into clinical practice. Variables used in pre-clinical reports (bacterial strain, duration of activity coating) do not correspond well to current clinical studies. Based on the results of this review, a proposal for a complete and comprehensive set up for pre-clinical invivo testing of anti-infectious properties of vascular graft coatings was defined.

In this study, a systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted to analyse recent worldwide information about the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in vegetables and fruits to estimate the effect of the different processes such as washing, cutting or disinfection, and place of sampling. A systematic search was conducted for articles from 2014 to 2020 published to date regarding prevalence of Salmonella spp. in vegetables and fruits, without excluding material by location, or author. It was possible to determine eight categories for vegetables and fruits in comparison with the meta-analysis which showed five categories due to data availability. Results showed prevalence for Salmonella spp. of 0.1%, 0.2%, 13.7%, 0.1%, and 0% for fruits, leafy vegetables, mixed vegetables related to ready-to-eat salads (RTE), tubercles, and tomatoes, respectively. Moreover, categories such as fruits, tubercles, and tomatoes as associated with different types of preparations and places of sampling (Retail stores, fresh products wholesale, street markets, distribution centers, farms, and processing plants) did not present a significant combined effect on the prevalence of Salmonella spp. Likewise, leafy, and mixed vegetables showed differences associated with a type of processing, where leafy fresh unprocessed vegetables had a significant positive effect on the prevalence of the pathogen regarding the RTE products. These findings may be useful for the construction of a quantitative model of risk assessment as a means to characterize the differences among the sort of vegetable, fruit, type of processing, and place of sampling.

Bacteria will likely become our most significant enemies of the 21st century, as we are approaching a post-antibiotic era. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, allow us to fight infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria and create specific, cheap, and stable sensors for bacteria detection. Here, we summarize the recent developments in the field of phage-based methods for bacteria detection. We focus on works published after mid-2017. We underline the need for further advancements, especially related to lowering the detection (below 1 CFU/mL; CFU stands for colony forming units) and shortening the time of analysis (below one hour). From the application point of view, portable, cheap, and fast devices are needed, even at the expense of sensitivity.