Monitoring of indoor bioaerosol for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in different hospital settings

BackgroundSpore Trap is an environmental detection technology, already used in the field of allergology to monitor the presence and composition of potentially inspirable airborne micronic bioparticulate. This device is potentially suitable for environmental monitoring of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in hospital, as well as in other high-risk closed environments. The aim of the present study is to investigate the accuracy of the Spore Trap system in detecting SARS-CoV-2 in indoor bioaerosol of hospital rooms.MethodsThe Spore Trap was placed in hospital rooms hosting patients with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 36) or, as a negative control, in rooms where patients with documented negativity to a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 were admitted (n = 10). The monitoring of the bioaerosol was carried on for 24 h. Collected samples were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe estimated sensitivity of the Spore Trap device for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in an indoor environment is 69.4% (95% C.I. 54.3-84.4%), with a specificity of 100%.ConclusionThe Spore Trap technology is effective in detecting airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus with excellent specificity and high sensitivity, when compared to previous reports. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic scenario has suggested that indoor air quality control will be a priority in future public health management and will certainly need to include an environmental bio-investigation protocol

The tomato ethylene receptor LeETR3 (NR) is not involved in mediating ozone sensitivity. Causal relationships between ethylene emission, oxidative burst and tissue damage

• The causal relationships among ethylene emission, oxidative burst and tissue damage, and the temporal expression patterns of some ethylene biosynthetic and responsive genes, were examined in the Never ripe (Nr) tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) mutant and its isogenic wild type (cv. Pearson), to investigate the role played by the ethylene receptor LE-ETR3 (NR) in mediating the plant response to ozone (O3). • Tomato plants were used in a time-course experiment in which they were exposed to acute O3 fumigation with 200 nl l−1 O3 for 4 h. • The pattern of leaf lesions indicated similar sensitivities to O3 for cv. Pearson and Nr. In both genotypes, O3 activated a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-dependent oxidative burst, which was also ethylene-driven in Nr leaves. Ozone induced some ethylene and jasmonate biosynthetic and inducible genes, although with different timings and to different extents in the two genotypes. • The overall data indicate that Nr retains partial sensitivity to ethylene, suggesting only a marginal role of the NR receptor in mediating the complex response of tomato plants to O3

The Community of Practice: A Method for Cooperative Learning of Occupational Health and Safety Inspectors

Background: Workplace injuries in Italy still occur despite laws and safety norms. We need to understand the causes rooted in the context and social conditions, and need to improve the practice of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) inspectors of the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) of the Italian regional health boards. The aims of this study were to describe the setting up of a Community of Practice (CoP) for the production of best practices for injury prevention and to evaluate the motivation of OSH inspectors for participating in the CoP and the effects of CoP participation on their professional practice. Methods: Two workplace injury stories underwent peer review during each CoP meeting. We evaluated the CoP using a focus group and a questionnaire. Result: Between 2014 and 2021, the CoP met in 18 workshops. Over the 8-year period, the CoP grew from 20 to 150 participants. Overall, 30 stories underwent peer review and were published on the institutional website. The focus group participants stated that the reasons why they participated in the CoP were the need to share experience and to tackle new challenges. Conclusion: The CoP was found to be useful for improving professional practice by strengthening professional identity and contributing to the production of new knowledge

Valutazione dell’introduzione di un protocollo a gestione infermieristica per il trattamento ed il monitoraggio del paziente con iperglicemia in ospedale

Scopo. Valutare l’efficacia di un protocollo a gestione infermieristica di trattamento del paziente ospedalizzato con iperglicemia, in un reparto di medicina. Metodi. Dal marzo al novembre 2007 sono stati introdotti schemi di terapia routinaria e terapia insulinica intensiva endovena per ipo-/iperglicemie gravi in pazienti ospedalizzati. Risultati. 189 pazienti (19% dei ricoveri) erano iperglicemici all’ingresso dal PS. Età mediana (±IQR) 77 (70-84) anni, 41% uomini, diabete noto 74%, il 18% presentava decubiti o ulcere arti inferiori. La glicemia mediana all’ingresso era 144.5 (98-220) mg/dl. Il 36% era euglicemico (60-126 mg/dl), il 3% ipoglicemico (<60 mg/dl), il 9% aveva una glicemia tra 127 e 140 mg/dl, il 40% tra 141 e 280 mg/dl, 12% superiore a 280 mg/dl. Nei 14 casi che hanno richiesto lo schema insulinico intensivo endovena la glicemia è rientrata in un range di sicurezza (tra 80 e 250 mg/dl) entro 15 ore dall’inizio dell’infusione, non è si è verificato nessun caso di ipoglicemia pericolosa per la vita o di coma ipoglicemico. Alla 3a giornata in terapia standard, le glicemie mediane erano accettabili: 142 (98-185) mg/dl pre-colazione, 144 (107-200) mg/dl pre-pranzo, 131 (102-190) mg/dl pre-cena, 183 (123-230) mg/dl post-prandiale. Conclusione. I risultati dimostrano che è possibile e sicura una gestione infermieristica della glicemia nei pazienti diabetici ospedalizzati, tramite protocolli

Table_1_Monitoring of indoor bioaerosol for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in different hospital settings.DOCX

BackgroundSpore Trap is an environmental detection technology, already used in the field of allergology to monitor the presence and composition of potentially inspirable airborne micronic bioparticulate. This device is potentially suitable for environmental monitoring of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in hospital, as well as in other high-risk closed environments. The aim of the present study is to investigate the accuracy of the Spore Trap system in detecting SARS-CoV-2 in indoor bioaerosol of hospital rooms.MethodsThe Spore Trap was placed in hospital rooms hosting patients with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 36) or, as a negative control, in rooms where patients with documented negativity to a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 were admitted (n = 10). The monitoring of the bioaerosol was carried on for 24 h. Collected samples were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe estimated sensitivity of the Spore Trap device for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in an indoor environment is 69.4% (95% C.I. 54.3-84.4%), with a specificity of 100%.ConclusionThe Spore Trap technology is effective in detecting airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus with excellent specificity and high sensitivity, when compared to previous reports. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic scenario has suggested that indoor air quality control will be a priority in future public health management and will certainly need to include an environmental bio-investigation protocol.</p