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Abstract An increasing production of natural rubber (NR) products has led to major challenges in waste management. In this study, the degradation of rubber latex gloves in a mineral salt medium (MSM) using a bacterial consortium, a mixed culture of the selected bacteria and a pure culture were studied. The highest 18% weight loss of the rubber gloves were detected after incubated with the mixed culture. The increased viable cell counts over incubation time indicated that cells used rubber gloves as sole carbon source leading to the degradation of the polymer. The growth behavior of NR-degrading bacteria on the latex gloves surface was investigated using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The occurrence of the aldehyde groups in the degradation products was observed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis. Rhodococcus pyridinivorans strain F5 gave the highest weight loss of rubber gloves among the isolated strain and posses latex clearing protein encoded by lcp gene. The mixed culture of the selected strains showed the potential in degrading rubber within 30 days and is considered to be used efficiently for rubber product degradation. This is the first report to demonstrate a strong ability to degrade rubber by Rhodococcus pyridinivorans.

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An increasing production of natural rubber (NR) products has led to major challenges in waste management. In this study, the degradation of rubber latex gloves in a mineral salt medium (MSM) using a bacterial consortium, a mixed culture of the selected bacteria and a pure culture were studied. The highest 18% weight loss of the rubber gloves were detected after incubated with the mixed culture. The increased viable cell counts over incubation time indicated that cells used rubber gloves as sole carbon source leading to the degradation of the polymer. The growth behavior of NR-degrading bacteria on the latex gloves surface was investigated using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The occurrence of the aldehyde groups in the degradation products was observed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis. Rhodococcus pyridinivorans strain F5 gave the highest weight loss of rubber gloves among the isolated strain and posses latex clearing protein encoded by lcp gene. The mixed culture of the selected strains showed the potential in degrading rubber within 30 days and is considered to be used efficiently for rubber product degradation. This is the first report to demonstrate a strong ability to degrade rubber by Rhodococcus pyridinivorans.

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INTRODUCTION:: Acinetobacter baumannii is a major pathogen causing infections in intensive care units (ICUs). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the presence of A. baumannii in an ICU environment and gloves from ICU workers and to characterize the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates in comparison with those isolated from ICU patients at the same hospital. METHODS:: ICU samples were collected from March to November 2010. Isolates biochemically characterized as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex were evaluated by PCR targeting the 16S rDNA and bla OXA-51 genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion method, and carbapenem-resistant isolates were also evaluated for the minimum inhibitory concentration of imipenem using broth microdilution. The presence of the bla OXA-23 gene was evaluated in isolates with reduced susceptibility to carbapenems. RESULTS:: A. baumannii was detected in 9.5% (84) of the 886 samples collected from the ICU environment, including from furniture, medical devices, and gloves, with bed rails being the most contaminated location (23.8%; 20/84). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii was found in 98.8% (83/84) of non-clinical and 97.8% (45/46) of clinical isolates. Reduced susceptibility to carbapenems was detected in 83.3% (70/84) of non-clinical and 80.4% (37/46) of clinical isolates. All isolates resistant to carbapenems harbored bla OXA-23. CONCLUSIONS:: We found a strong similarity between the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of non-clinical and clinical A. baumannii isolates. Such data highlight the ICU environment as a potential origin for the persistence of MDR A. baumannii, and hence the ICU may be a source of hospital-acquired infections caused by this microorganism.

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Abstract INTRODUCTION: Acinetobacter baumannii is a major pathogen causing infections in intensive care units (ICUs). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the presence of A. baumannii in an ICU environment and gloves from ICU workers and to characterize the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates in comparison with those isolated from ICU patients at the same hospital. METHODS: ICU samples were collected from March to November 2010. Isolates biochemically characterized as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex were evaluated by PCR targeting the 16S rDNA and bla OXA-51 genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion method, and carbapenem-resistant isolates were also evaluated for the minimum inhibitory concentration of imipenem using broth microdilution. The presence of the bla OXA-23 gene was evaluated in isolates with reduced susceptibility to carbapenems. RESULTS: A. baumannii was detected in 9.5% (84) of the 886 samples collected from the ICU environment, including from furniture, medical devices, and gloves, with bed rails being the most contaminated location (23.8%; 20/84). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii was found in 98.8% (83/84) of non-clinical and 97.8% (45/46) of clinical isolates. Reduced susceptibility to carbapenems was detected in 83.3% (70/84) of non-clinical and 80.4% (37/46) of clinical isolates. All isolates resistant to carbapenems harbored bla OXA-23. CONCLUSIONS: We found a strong similarity between the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of non-clinical and clinical A. baumannii isolates. Such data highlight the ICU environment as a potential origin for the persistence of MDR A. baumannii, and hence the ICU may be a source of hospital-acquired infections caused by this microorganism.

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Objetivou-se quantificar as unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC) das luvas de látex para procedimento no início, meio e fim das caixas, no enluvamento real e controle, e descrever o perfil de sensibilidade e resistência da cepa bacteriana de maior frequência nas luvas calçadas pelos profissionais. Estudo comparativo e prospectivo realizado em uma unidade de terapia intensiva de um hospital-escola do interior do estado de São Paulo, em julho de 2006. A coleta das amostras microbiológicas das luvas foi realizada por meio da digito-pressão. Avaliaram-se microbiologicamente 186 pares de luvas, 93 no grupo controle e 93 na situação real de enluvamento. No controle, a média de UFC foi de 4,7 e na situação real de enluvamento 6,2. Não foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes nas UFC dos pares no inicio, meio e fim das caixas. A cepa Staphylococcus spp foi a mais frequente e o perfil de resistência variou de 1,8 a 26%.

This comparative and prospective study aimed to quantify the colony-forming units (CFUs) on latex procedure gloves, at the beginning, middle and end of boxes, in real and control gloving procedures, and to ascertain the resistance profile of the bacterial strain most frequently identified on gloves worn by health workers. The study was carried out in the intensive care unit of a teaching hospital in São Paulo State, in July 2006. Microbiological samples were collected by finger press. In total, 186 pairs of gloves were tested, 93 in the control group and 93 in real gloving procedures. In the control, CFUs averaged 4.7 and in real gloving procedures, 6.2. There was no statistically significant difference in CFUs on glove pairs at the beginning, middle and end of the boxes. Staphylococcus spp was the most frequent strain. The resistance profile ranged from 1.8 to 26%.

Estudio comparativo y prospectivo que tuvo como objetivos cuantificar las unidades formadoras de colonias (UFC) de los guantes de látex para procedimiento en el inicio, medio y fin de las cajas en la situación real de colocación y control, y describir el perfil de resistencia de la cepa bacteriana identificada en mayor frecuencia en los guantes usados por los profesionales. El estudio fue realizado en una unidad de terapia intensiva de un hospital-escuela del interior del estado de São Paulo - Brasil, en julio de 2006. La recolección de las muestras microbiológicas fue realizada por medio de digito-presión. Fueron evaluados microbiológicamente 186 pares de guantes, 93 en el grupo control y 93 en la situación real de colocación. En el control, la media de UFC fue de 4,7 y en la situación real de colocación 6,2. No fueron observadas diferencias estadísticamente significantes en las UFC de los pares en el inicio, medio y fin de las cajas. Staphylococcus spp. fue la cepa más frecuente. El perfil de resistencia varió de 1,8 a 26%.

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BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was evaluating the microbial flora of nurses' healthy (n = 30) and damaged hand (n = 30) by frequent handwashing and/or wearing of gloves. METHODS: Hand cultures were obtained both before and after washing hands with nonantimicrobial soap, through the sterile polyethylene bag method. RESULTS: The bacteria counts of the hands of professionals with damaged hands were higher than those with healthy hands, and those with damaged hands presented higher frequency of Staphylococcus aureus, 16.7% versus 10%; gram-negative bacteria, 20% versus 6.7%; and yeast, 26.7% versus 20%, respectively, as well as the sum of these microorganisms. The presence of Staphylococcus haemolyticus was only seen in nurses with damaged hands (P = .02), and enterococci were not recovered from the hands of any volunteer. The presence of antimicrobial-resistant S aureus and gram-negative bacteria was also greater among damaged hands. CONCLUSION: The irritation caused on the skin by frequent washing and/or wearing of gloves is associated with changes in hands microbial flora, and their potential risks should be considered when institutions/users are selecting products/formulations to assure hands skin health and consequent compliance with their own hygiene procedures.

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