The medical industry is challenged by the presence of microorganisms and the negative effects they cause. Deterioration, defacement and odors are all dramatic effects which occur from the microbial contamination of surfaces as varied as carpeting and medical non-woven fabrics. These surfaces can also act as a microbial "harbor", as most offer ideal environments for the proliferation of microorg...

background : dental unit waterlines (duwls) are ideal nvironment for development of microbial biofilms. microbial contamination of water in duwls is thought to be the result of biofilm formation as it could serves as a haven for pathogens. the aim of this study was to assess microbial quality of water in dental unit waterlines of dental units located at the dental school of isfahan university o...

Quick and accurate detection of microbial contamination is accomplished by a unique combination of leading-edge technologies described in this and the accompanying paper. In this contribution, a hand-held prototype instrument is described which is capable of statistically sampling the environment for microbial contamination and determining cell viability. The technology is sensitive enough to d...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Povidone-iodine (PVP -I) is applied for microbial decontamination of human eyes donated for transplantation. Concentrations and immersion times vary greatly. The effectiveness and toxicity of PVP-I were assessed for different decontamination protocols. METHODS Human donor eyes and corneas were immersed in different concentrations (5-100 mg/ml) of PVP-I for different times (2-3...

Decontamination, i.e. cleaning by removal of chemicals or germs, is a term commonly used for the process of treating devices, instruments and surfaces in order to ensure their safe operation. It is of exceptional importance in healthcare, food and pharmaceutical industry as well as in the areas of army and public defense. The decontamination process covers several steps like simple washing with...

Background: The criteria for the quality control of Iranian fresh produce are the total microbial count, Enterococcal count and the detection of Escherichia coli. The aim of this study was to assess microbial contamination of fresh vegetable and salad samples consumed in Tehran, Iran. Methods: From May to October 2013, freshly vegetable (n=100) and salads (n=100) samples were randomly co...

There are many standards and recommendations for breathing air quality associated with respiratory protection equipment, but little has been done regarding the possible microbial contamination of medical air. The present study demonstrates quantitatively and qualitatively that pipelines might be incriminated as source of microbial contamination of compressed and synthetic air for medical use. A...

We used a 93-year-old mine waste contamination gradient in alluvial soil to explore the relationship between ecosystem level functioning and community structure in a chronically stressed ecosystem. The sensitivity of broad functional parameters (in situ soil respiration, microbial biomass, above and below ground plant biomass) and microbial diversity [phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) abundance an...