Background/Objectives: The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in food and clinical environments necessitates new, clean-label antimicrobials. This study assessed eight Greek native essential oils—oregano, thyme, dittany, rosemary, peppermint, lavender, cistus and helichrysum—for activity against six genetically and phenotypically diverse E. coli strains (reference, pNorm, mecA, mcr-1, blaOXA and O157:H7). We aimed to identify oils with broad-spectrum efficacy and clarify the chemical constituents responsible. Methods: Disk-diffusion assays measured inhibition zones at dilutions from 50% to 1.56% (v/v). MIC and MBC values were determined by broth microdilution. GC–MS profiling identified dominant components, and Spearman rank-order correlations (ρ) linked composition to activity. Shapiro–Wilk tests (W = 0.706–0.913, p ≤ 0.002) indicated non-normal data, so strain comparisons used Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA with Dunn’s post hoc and Bonferroni correction. Results: Oregano, thyme and dittany oils—rich in carvacrol and thymol—exhibited the strongest activity, with MIC/MBC ≤ 0.0625% (v/v) against all strains and inhibition zones > 25 mm at 50%. No strain-specific differences were detected (H = 0.30–3.85; p = 0.998–0.571; p_adj = 1.000). Spearman correlations confirmed that carvacrol and thymol content strongly predicted efficacy (ρ = 0.527–0.881, p < 0.001). Oils dominated by non-phenolic terpenes (rosemary, peppermint, lavender, cistus, helichrysum) showed minimal or no activity. Conclusions: Phenolic-rich EOs maintain potent, strain-independent antimicrobial effects—including against multidrug-resistant and O157:H7 strains—via a multi-target mode that overcomes classical resistance. Their low-dose efficacy and GRAS status support their use as clean-label food preservatives or adjuncts to antibiotics or bacteriophages to combat antimicrobial resistance.

This study examines at the prevalence and spread of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) and norovirus GI/GII in local and imported food products in Greece over a five-year period (2019–2024). A total of two hundred sixty-six food samples were evaluated using obligatory inspections and virus detection procedures, including 202 for Hepatitis A and 64 for Norovirus. High-risk categories analyzed were vegetables [138 (HAV), 17 (NoV)], fruits [16 (HAV), 7 (NoV)], soft fruits/berries [37 (HAV), 31 (NoV)], processed meals [4 (HAV), 4 (NoV)], and animal-based products [1 (HAV), 5 (NoV)]. Viral RNA was isolated using QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit and detected using established RT-qPCR procedures that met ISO requirements for high sensitivity and reproducibility. The results demonstrated HAV contamination mostly in vegetables (4.35% positive rate), with sporadic findings in other categories. Norovirus GI/GII was detected primarily in soft fruits/berries, with a category-specific positive rate of 6.45%. A temporal study revealed that HAV peaks in 2020, while Norovirus contaminations were detected in 2021 and 2024. The findings highlight the important need to incorporate viral testing into routine food safety procedures, especially for high-risk product categories. This study establishes a basic framework for public health initiatives that address gaps in foodborne virus surveillance in Greece. The study’s ramifications extend to global efforts to monitor and reduce foodborne virus contamination, pushing for higher regulatory requirements and targeted preventative actions.

Urban wastewater surveillance is a crucial tool for public health monitoring and environmental epidemiology. This study investigates the presence of pharmaceutical compounds and illicit drugs in the wastewater of Patras, Greece, aiming to identify consumption patterns and health indicators within the population. A plethora of antidepressants, antipsychotics, antibiotics, antidiabetics, and illicit drugs were detected and quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Key findings show significant levels of various substances such as venlafaxine, valsartan, metformin, rosuvastatin, acetaminophen, levetiracetam, gabapentin, cimetidine, caffeine, and nicotine. The results highlight prevalent public health trends and challenges. Additionally, the detection of illicit drugs such as cocaine (average 169.71 mg/day/1000 people) and methamphetamine (average 13.15 mg/day/1000 people) underscore the ongoing illicit drug circulation in the city, warranting closer public health monitoring. This research demonstrates the value of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) as an efficient, non-invasive method for tracking population health, lifestyle behaviors, and environmental contamination, offering critical insights for public health interventions and sustainable wastewater management strategies. Ultimately, this study reinforces the role of wastewater surveillance as a vital decision-support tool for protecting public health and shaping effective policy responses.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of alternative epidemiological tools capable of providing real-time, population-level insights into infectious disease dynamics. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a powerful, non-invasive method for tracking viral transmission within communities. While initially focused on SARS-CoV-2, WBE now offers the potential for multiplex surveillance of a broader range of respiratory pathogens. This study applied WBE to monitor the circulation of six major respiratory viruses such as Human adenovirus (HAdV), SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A and B, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) A/B, and Rhinoviruses, over a six-month period (ISO weeks 2022-40 to 2023-13) in the city of Patras, Greece. Weekly composite samples from a central wastewater treatment plant were analyzed via quantitative PCR, and viral genome concentrations were normalized per 100,000 inhabitants. The results revealed distinct circulation patterns: HAdV and SARS-CoV-2 were detected consistently throughout the period, while Influenza A peaked during the winter months, followed by Influenza B. RSV, however, appeared earlier in the season (first detectable from ISO week 2022-46) and overlapped with Influenza. Rhinoviruses displayed intermittent peaks, indicating multiple waves or persistent low-level transmission. Correlation analyses showed strong positive associations between influenza viruses, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2, suggesting synchronized seasonal trends. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified the viruses into three distinct groups: (1) an epidemic cluster including Influenza A/B, RSV, and Rhinoviruses; (2) a persistently present cluster represented by HAdV; and (3) a separate episodic cluster characterized by SARS-CoV-2. These groupings reflect differences in viral epidemiology and shedding behaviour. This study confirms the effectiveness of WBE in tracking the temporal dynamics of multiple respiratory viruses and provides evidence of its utility in supplementing traditional clinical surveillance systems. The consistent detection of underreported pathogens such as HAdV underscores the added value of environmental monitoring for public health preparedness and early warning applications. These findings advocate for the integration of WBE into routine respiratory virus surveillance frameworks.

Wastewater-based epidemiology, during the COVID-19 pandemic years, has been applied as a complementary approach, worldwide, for tracking SARS-CoV-2 virus into the community and used as an early warning of the prevalence of COVID-19 infection. The present study presents the results of the 2-year surveillance project, in the city of Patras, Greece. The purpose of the study was to monitor SARS-CoV-2 and implement WBE as an early warning method of monitoring Public Health impact. The presence of SARS-CoV-2, was determined and quantified in 310 samples using RT-qPCR assays. For the years 2022 and 2023, 93,5% and 78,7% of samples were found positive, respectively. Comparison of detection methods have been conducted to select the method with the highest recovery of the viral load. A seasonal variation of the virus was recorded, showing a recession in summer months confirming the country's epidemiological data as indicated by positive correlation of wastewater viral load with registered cases of COVID-19 infections during these years (p < 0.05) and moreover, sealed with a significant negative correlation observed with Daily Average (p < 0,01) and Daily Maximum Temperature (p < 0,01). More research was carried out to elucidate a possible association of physicochemical characteristics of wastewater with viral load showing positive correlation with Chlorides (p < 0,01) advocating possible increased use of chlorine-based disinfectants and Electrical Conductivity (p < 0,01) indicates that wastewater during periods of increased infections is more heavily loaded with ions from chemical and biological pollutants. No correlation found with rainfall and physicochemical indicators such as COD, BOD₅, Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen and Total Suspended Solids. According to the findings, WBE represent a useful tool in the management of epidemics based on an environmental approach and it can also shed light on the interacting parameters that capture Public Health since any infections that may lead to epidemics lead to a parallel change in the use of pharmaceuticals, antimicrobials, disinfectants and microbial load in urban wastewater.