There is increasing evidence that indoor air quality and contaminated surfaces provide an important potential source for transmission of pathogens in hospitals. Airborne hospital microorganisms are apparently harmless to healthy people. Nevertheless, healthcare settings are characterized by different environmental critical conditions and high infective risk, mainly due to the compromised immunologic conditions of the patients that make them more vulnerable to infections. Thus, spread, survival and persistence of microbial communities are important factors in hospital environments affecting health of inpatients as well as of medical and nursing staff. In this paper, airborne and aerosolized microorganisms and their presence in hospital environments are taken into consideration, and the factors that collectively contribute to defining the infection risk in these facilities are illustrated.

In the present work, a simple two-step method is proposed for mixed oxide synthesis aimed at the achievement of antibacterial nanomaterials. In particular, Cu, Zn and Co have been selected to achieve single-, double- and triple-cation oxides. The synthesized samples are characterized by XRD, IR, SEM and EDX, indicating the formation of either crystalline or amorphous hydrocarbonate precursors. The oxides present one or two crystalline phases, depending on their composition; the triple-cation oxides form a solid solution of tenorite. Also, the morphology of the samples varies with the composition, yielding nanoparticles, filaments and hydrangea-like microaggregates. The antibacterial assays are conducted against E. coli and indicate an enhanced efficacy, especially displayed by the oxide containing 3% Co and 9% Zn incorporated into the CuO lattice. The oxides with the highest antibacterial properties are tested for their cytotoxicity, indicating a low toxicity impact, in line with literature data.

Introduction: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the microbial communities in marine environments across different geographical regions, including the Mediterranean Sea (Northwest and Southwest), the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. The goal of this research is to examine the diversity and composition of microbial life in these ecosystems and investigate the impact of environmental factors on microbial communities.Materials and methods: High-throughput NGS sequencing techniques of the V3-V4 variable region of the 16S rRNA gene was employed to identify bacterial composition of the epipelagic communities in 45 water samples, using the MiSeq rRNA amplicon sequencing protocol (Illumina). Shannon index was used to described population diversity in samples.Results: We identified significant differences in the bacterial composition of these ecosystems, highlighting the dominance of Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and specific genera such as SAR11, Alteromonas, and Synechococcus. Variations in microbial communities were strongly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and salinity. Notably, the Mediterranean exhibited the highest microbial diversity, while the Atlantic displayed thelowest.Discussion: Our results reveal the complex interplay between microbial life and environmental conditions, emphasizing the need for long-term monitoring of these communities. These baseline data are essential for understanding the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pollution on marine ecosystems. By improving our understanding of microbial biodiversity and its connection to ecological and human health, this study contributes to the broader goal of planetary health, offering a foundation for future efforts to mitigate the effects of environmental alterations.

Careless use conditions of filter jugs were applied to simulate and evaluate the behavior of two ubiquitous aquatic bacterial species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter aerogenes. According to a reference protocol, nine different jugs of popular brands sold in the Italian market were used for the test. Separately, a suspension of the two bacteria was spiked in water used for filling the jugs. The concentration of the test organisms and total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) was measured daily in the filtered water along a period corresponding to the cartridge lifetime. Results showed a different trend of bacterial behavior. E. aerogenes was detectable exclusively on the first day after jug filling, while P. aeruginosa confirmed its persistence over time in all the jugs and its ability to potentially colonize surfaces and cartridges. The TAMC was detected at a concentration range from 10² to 10⁷ CFU/100 mL in all the tests, high values that were not far from those raised in bottled flat natural mineral water weeks after bottling.

The microbiological quality of water intended for human consumption in the EU is regulated by the recast Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 (DWD), which sets strict parametric values for intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli (E. coli), allowing no more than zero colony-forming units per 100 mL. Detection and enumeration of E. coli typically rely on culture-based reference methods or the most probable number approach, which require 1-2 days to produce results-potentially delaying timely action during contamination events. In contrast, molecular techniques can deliver results within hours. The DWD permits the use of alternative methods if they are as reliable as the reference method and developing and validating such methods requires multiple laboratory trials in line with ISO standard 16140-2. Following this, we conducted a representative EU study to validate a molecular method based on real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for rapid E. coli detection in drinking water. In a concerted action, the first of its kind for drinking water, nineteen laboratories across ten Member States participated. To ensure consistency, drinking water was artificially contaminated with E. coli. The alternative method showed slightly lower sensitivity than the reference method (91.1 % vs. 97.2 %) but delivered much faster results, making it a valuable screening tool. It can support rapid decision-making during contamination events, reducing the risk of waterborne outbreaks and protecting public health. For reliable routine performance, appropriate training in this alternative method is strongly recommended.