Sandra Burgassi

How much ozone bactericidal activity is compromised by plasma components

Aims:  Evaluation of bactericidal effect of different concentrations of ozone when used (a) as a gas, or (b) dissolved in saline. The addition of hydrogen peroxide or 4‐hydroxynonenal dissolved in saline was also tested, as well as the effect of human plasma.

What Is the Best Strategy for Enhancing the Effects of Topically Applied Ozonated Oils in Cutaneous Infections

Owing to diabetes, atherosclerosis, and ageing, there are several million patients undergoing skin lesions degenerated into infected ulcers with very little tendency to heal and implying a huge socioeconomical cost. Previous medical experience has shown that the daily application of ozonated oil eliminates the infection and promotes a rapid healing. The purpose of the study is the optimization of the antimicrobial effect of ozonated oils by testing in vitro four bacterial species and one yeast without or in the presence of different amounts of human serum. The results obtained suggest that a gentle and continuous removal of debris and exudate is an essential condition for the potent bactericidal effect of ozonated oils. In fact, even small amounts of human serum inactivate ozone derivatives and protect bacteria. The application of ozonated oil preparations is very promising in a variety of skin and mucosal infections. Moreover, ozonated oils are far less expensive than antibiotic preparations.

Automatic Vending-Machines Contamination: A Pilot Study

Hot-drinks vending machines are disseminated worldwide and millions of drinks are served every day. Because of a small number of studies on hot-drinks related illnesses, the aim of this pilot study was to identify the presence and load of bacterial species, potentially harmful for consumers, within hot-drinks vending machines external critical surfaces. This preliminary cross sectional study was carried out in April 2015 at the University of Siena, Italy. Samples were taken from the critical surfaces of 4 hot-drinks vending machines (VM); the analyzed VMs critical surfaces were: Dispense Areas, Nozzles and Glass-Holders. The samples were sown on selective culture media: Plate Count Agar (PCA) at 22°C and 36°C, Slanetz and Bartely Agar (SBA) and Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA). Total Viable Count (TVC) at 36°C and 22°C was assessed for mesophilic and psychrophilic contamination. Results were expressed in terms of average CFU/cm2. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed in order to assess which surface was the most contaminated. The nozzles resulted to be the most contaminated critical surface, showing average values over the limits in all the culture media (PCA 36°C, PCA 22°C, MSA and SBA). The statistical analysis showed that the nozzles were significantly more contaminated (p <0.05) than Dispense Areas and Glass-holders both in PCA 36°C and in PCA 22°C. Given the high number of CFU/cm2, VM may constitute a potential threat for consumers health, reason for which further studies are recommendable.

Hosting the unwanted: stethoscope contamination threat.

Aims: Stethoscopes represent a vehicle of bacteria and other microorganisms and may play a role in the spread of health -care associated infections (HAIs). We aimed to evaluate the contamination levels of