Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Design and Realization of a Planar Interdigital Microsensor for Biological Medium Characterization

International audienceIn this work, we present the design of a planar interdigital microsensor for the characterization of biological mediums by impedance spectroscopy. We propose a theoretical optimization of the geometrical parameters of this sensor. The optimization allows to extend the measurement frequency range by reducing the polarization effect which is manifested by a double layer (DL). We present also a new method for a planar interdigital transducer to determine the parameters (relative permittivity, capacitance) of the double layer (DL) on the surface of the electrode loaded by a biological medium. The CoventorWare® software was used to simulate the model design of interdigital transducer in three dimensions (3D). The simulation results are coherent with the method proposed. Therefore, this method can be used to determine the parameters of double layers of a planar interdigital sensor in order to match its frequency band to the intented application

Immobilisation of bacteria onto magnetic nanoparticles for the decolorisation and degradation of azo dyes

International audienceAzo dyes are widely used in industries and their release in the environment contributes to the pollution of effluents. The authors aim to develop a new eco-friendly water treatment method for the degradation of azo dyes based on in situ magnetic separation and immobilisation of bacterial cells. The immobilisation was achieved using superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and offers the possibility of reusing bacteria by magnetic separation for several degradation cycles. The iron–oxide nanoparticles were synthesised by reverse co-precipitation. The Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis were immobilised using iron–oxide nanoparticles by adsorption and then separated with an external magnetic field. Transmission electron microscopy observation showed that the particles' diameter was ∼20 nm with a narrow size distribution. Moreover, the iron–oxide nanoparticles were adsorbed onto the surface in order to coat the cells. B. subtilis has proved its ability to decolorise and degrade several azo dyes at different values of pH, with the highest decolorisation rate for Congo red. Furthermore, immobilised cells have a degradation activity similar to that of free cells. The system provided a degradation rate up to 80% and could be reused for seven batch cycles

Immobilization of Bacillus licheniformis using Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles for the development of bacterial bioreactor

International audienceIn the biotechnology field, nanoparticles with a strong magnetic moment can bring attractive and novel potentialities. They are detectable, manipulable, stimulable by a magnetic field and they could be applied as nano-tracers for medical imaging and nano-vectors for transporting therapeutic agents to a target. For our part, we applied Fe3O4 nanoparticles to immobilize bacteria of Moroccan strains in order to develop bacterial bioreactor. For this aim, we got through the synthesis and characterization of magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles by co-precipitation in basic medium. The obtained nanoparticles were encapsulated in silica by sol-gel process. The results of this step allowed us to use Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles to immobilize Bacillus licheniformis by adsorption and separate it magnetically. The principle of this system gives us the opportunity to develop a bacterial bioreactor for industrial applications