<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Biofilms on food contact materials represent public health issues because they are resistant to cleaning and disinfection. This study aims to assess the <italic>Bacillus cereus</italic> biofilm formation capacity on silicone, polyethylene terephthalate, Teflon, and aluminium food contact materials. The biofilm biomass was analysed with the crystal violet assay method. We used the standard strain <italic>B. cereus</italic> CCM 2010, wild strain <italic>B. cereus</italic> 100 and spores of those two strains. The results show that both the vegetative form the bacteria and it spores form large amounts of biofilm on silicone, followed by polyethylene terephthalate, Teflon, and aluminium. More detailed analysis has shown that spores form more biomass on all materials in comparison to the vegetative form and that the standard strains form low levels of biofilm in contrast to the wild strains. Selecting proper material with the lowest biofilm formation potential can prevent or reduce food contamination and consequently increase food safety.</abstract>

Biofilm formation capacity of <italic>Bacillus cereus</italic> on silicone, polyethylene terephthalate, Teflon, and aluminium food contact materials

Editorial

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Background: Incorporating greenery into hospital environment contributes to the sustainable development goals by mitigating health, environmental and economic problems. Despite the increasing interest in plants, gardens and green roofs in general built environments, the benefits of greenery in hospital environment are still under-researched. The aim of this review was to summarize the relevant literature and describe the benefits of greenery in hospital environment.
Methods: The PubMed, Springer Link and CINAHL databases were searched to identify relevant studies and articles published between 2012 and 2023. The keywords used were hospitals, greenery, green systems, vegetation, and room plants. The language restriction was that articles were published in English.
Results: Following the PRISMA methodology, seven eligible studies were included in the literature review. Evidence shows that the presence of greenery affects patient health outcomes and the well-being of healthcare staff. Moreover, the healing and therapeutic effects greenery in the hospital environment have been identified. Greenery also has a positive psychological effect on healthcare workers and visitors. Humanizing healthcare spaces and connecting them with nature empowers patients, reduces stress and pain, and improves emotional well-being.
Conclusion: The biophilic design concept increases occupant connectivity to the natural environment through vegetation at the location, including implemented green building envelope systems (green walls and roofs) and the introduction of indoor plants. It should be incorporated into the established steps of hospital design. In summary, more research is needed, particularly on the potential impact of plants on hospital-acquired infections.
</abstract>

Advantages of greenery in hospital environment - a literature review

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Pathogenic bacteria of the genus <italic>Legionella</italic> cause atypical pneumonia known as Legionnaires’ disease and flu – like disease known as Pontiac fever. As pathogens of the respiratory system, these bacteria represent a public health problem and there is a need for examine new alternative ways to inactivate them. These bacteria live naturally in water and are transmitted by infectious aerosols. To purify the air, essential oils that show antimicrobial properties are widely used. The anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> activity of five exotic essential oils and five Mediterranean essential oils characteristic for coastal Croatia was examined. Model organism used in experiments was <italic>L. pneumophila</italic> (strain 130b). This experiment was conducting with modified version of sealed plate method using a BCYE medium. The exotic essential oil with highest anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> activity was Niaouli essential oil, and the best anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> activity among Mediterranean essential oils showed Immortelle essential oil. Anti- <italic>Legionella</italic> activity of four main chemical compounds was examined and compound that show significant highest anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> activity was α – pinene. Volatile components of essential oils have a great potential as anti-<italic>Legionella</italic> agents and further research are needed.</abstract>

Antimicrobial activity of the volatile phase of essential oils and their constituents on <italic>Legionella pneumophila</italic>

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This paper presents a case study on the management of a food fraud associated with health risks: the illegal use of sulphites in meat preparations and minced meat in Slovenia in 2019. The purpose is to highlight the shortcomings of existing systems for ensuring food safety in case of food frauds and highlight challenges for improvements.
Sulphites are food additives but also have significant allergenic potential, hence they may cause serious reactions in sensitized consumers. Labelling of foods treated with sulphites is mandatory, and their use in meat and meat preparations in Europe is not allowed. However, certain food business operators may intentionally add sulphites into meat preparations to improve the sensory properties; besides being a food fraud, this exposes unaware consumers to health risks.
The case started with the notification of an allergic-like reaction by a consumer following the consumption of a meat product. While the public authorities reacted by intensifying controls on markets and retailers, the analysis of risk management and risk communication aspects showed a number of shortcomings: slow response time; lack of recall of sulphite-treated meat products and of an in-depth risk assessment.
The evaluation of this case study identified violations of food law regulations and consumer protection legislation. Effective risk management requires an interdisciplinary approach, integrating timely and targeted official control and risk communication throughout the food chain to protect consumers from unfair practices. Consistent, effective, and transparent communication among all actors who share responsibility in ensuring food safety is necessary to achieve improvements.
This serious case of food fraud with actual risks to consumer health provided an opportunity for lessons to be learnt regarding managing health hazards from intervention to prevention.
</abstract>

Risk management and risk communication of an illegal use of sulphites in meat preparations

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The Covid-19 pandemic required the implementation of various preventive hygiene measures to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Various non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) were introduced worldwide. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s daily lives. Again, relatively simple hygiene measures have proven to be very effective and useful. The main objective of the present study was to find out how people implement the proposed individual prevention measures and how they perceive the administrative measures implemented during the pandemic. The paper presents the results of a web-based, non-representative cross-sectional study conducted between October 15 and November 17, 2020 in Slovenia during the Covid-19 lockdown. The completion of the survey coincided with the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, so it was to be expected that awareness of the importance of hand hygiene as well as other preventive measures was high among respondents. We find that people have changed their hygiene habits during the pandemic. Habits differ both between individual NPIs and between groups of respondents (age, gender and occupational structure of respondents). There are still opportunities to improve knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene and to implement all other NPIs.
</abstract>

A study on implementation and perception of preventive hygiene measures

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Food establishments are on the rise in the United Kingdom, producing a widevariety of cuisine to cater for a variety of tastes in a global market. However, asignificant proportion of the population will experience a foodborne illness atsome point in their lives, and in 2018 alone there were estimated to be 2.4million food borne illness related cases in the UK [1]with a resulting 180 deathsper year. Whilst Local Authorities monitor and inspect these establishmentsperiodically, the importance of those who work within food business cannot beunderestimated. As such the aim of this research study was to explore foodhandlers’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour towards food safety and foodhandling practices in restaurants within Liverpool. Using both convenience andsnowball sampling, the research employed a quantitative online questionnaire togather data from the target population of food handlers. The responses from 52participants were then analysed using a combination of Microsoft Excel andSPSS version 28. The results of the study reveal that food handlers in Liverpoolfood businesses have a generally satisfactory level of food safety knowledge;their attitudes expressed demonstrated a strong positive approach and theyengage in safe behaviour. However, the results show some areas of concern:knowledge surrounding harmful pathogens was lacking; behaviour in relation tothe use of mobile phones in the kitchen and attitudes towards attending workwhilst unwell. Therefore whilst the overall knowledge, attitude and behaviours offood handlers appears acceptable that does not mean they do not pose risk tocustomers. Whilst all participants had received training, this did not alwaystranslate into improved food handling knowledge, attitudes or behaviours.Training, therefore, must be tailored to reflect the needs to the individual withthe understanding that knowledge, attitudes and behaviours are linked.
</abstract>

A survey study toinvestigate food handler’sknowledge, attitudes andbehaviour towards foodsafety and food practicesin restaurants in Liverpool

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Teaching microbiological food safety and food safety in general at the primary school level is crucial, because behaviour is more easily influenced at that stage. The purpose of this review was to identify challenges in the education of primary school children related to microbiological food safety and to review the type of activities published and evaluated in the scientific literature targeting primary school children. The most frequently applied approach in the reviewed studies is target population-tailored workshops. The knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) model is most widely used for evaluation purposes, based mostly on the self-report and recall levels. Studies that compared theoretical and practical educational approaches unanimously demonstrated that theoretical awareness is not effective for changing and maintaining appropriate behaviour, whereas experiences had a significant impact. The review highlighted the differences and deficiencies in home economic teachers regarding formal education. The development of proper teaching methodologies and educators seems to be the key to the achievement of aware, confident, and skilled students (on the consumer level) during primary education.</abstract>

Challenges and strategies in the education of primary school children related to microbiological food safety – a review

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The year 2020 has been marked by the novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic on the 11th of March 2020 due to the spread of this very contagious virus throughout the world. Since the outbreak, we have gained many insights about the virus, its presence and persistence in the environment and its possible and most common transmission routes. Such knowledge about the virus is invaluable for establishing effective preventive and control measures (also referred to as Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs)) that have become a key to tackling this pandemic in the absence of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. In this review, we discuss five main groups of NPIs: 1) ventilation, 2) cleaning and disinfection, 3) hand hygiene, 4) physical distancing, and 5) protective masks. We explore their shortcomings and potential negative consequences that might occur as unwanted side effects.</abstract>

SARS-CoV-2: A critical review of preventive and control measures in the context of the virus’ characteristics

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The agricultural sector is important to Northern Ireland (NI) as it accounts for almost 10% of all jobs and 75% of all land usage. Despite a reduction in fatalities in other sectors, the number of fatalities in the agricultural sector in NI has remained stubbornly consistent. This research looked to use qualitative data to explore the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and factors that influence health and safety measures and controls. Using a snowball sampling technique, a number of semi structure interviews were undertaken with participants to explore these areas. The findings of these semi-structured interviews identified six key themes: the importance of health and safety; the impact of poor health and safety; different generational attitudes; fear; time management and finance. This revealed that although participants feel they have some level of knowledge around health and safety, they felt this was lacking. However, a lack of knowledge did not mean they were unaware of the importance of health and safety and its potential impacts, although they perceived that farmers of a different generation to themselves were more at risk. Participants also indicated they were willing to make value judgements, where the need for action and cost of health and safety outweighs the importance implementing appropriate measures and control. Therefore, despite understanding the importance of health and safety, until the cost benefit equation is rebalanced for farmers in NI they still face significant risks to their health and safety.</abstract>

“A farmer’s time is expensive”: A qualitative study exploring the knowledge attitudes and perceptions of farmers regrading health and safety in Northern Ireland

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Rotavirus is the important cause of acute gastroenteritis in pediatric patients. The aim of the present research was to determine the incidence of rotavirus infections in infants and children up to seven years of age in the town of Niš. Seasonal prevalence of rotavirus-associated acute gastroenteritis was also evaluated. An enzyme immunoassay (RIDASCREEN® Rotavirus; R-Biopharm AG, Darmstadt, Germany) was used to detect rotavirus in the stool specimens of 1,156 patients (newborns up to 7 years of age) presenting with gastroenteritis. Identification of bacteria and yeasts was performed by classical methods. The overall incidence of rotavirus in examined children was 5.97%. Among 144 hospitalized children, rotavirus infection was diagnosed in 28 (19.44%). In 1,012 children treated in outpatient setting for diarrheal diseases, rotaviruses were found in 41 (4.05%). The highest incidence of rotavirus infection was among the patients of one year of age. Among 1,156 pediatric children tested, bacterial pathogens were found in 6.31% and the most frequently isolated pathogens were <italic>Campylobacter</italic> spp. and <italic>Salmonella</italic> e<italic>nteritidis.</italic> The highest prevalence of GE was recorded in the colder season, peaking in April (15.94%). Rotaviruses are an important factor in the etiology of the acute diarrheal diseases, especially in children hospitalized during the winter/spring season.</abstract>

The incidence of rotavirus infection compared to bacterial infections in different age groups of pediatric patients with gastroenteritis

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Sanitarno inženirstvo International Journal of Sanitary Engineering Research

 Sanitarno inženirstvo / International Journal of Sanitary Engineering Research (IJSER) publishes the latest scientific achievements and results of applied research and...

 Sanitarno inženirstvo / International Journal of Sanitary Engineering Research (IJSER) publishes the latest scientific achievements and...