Browsing by Author "Cabo-Verde, Sandra"
Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Bacteria load a surrogate to assess occupational exposure to bioaerossols?Publication . Monteiro, Ana; Santos, Mateus dos; Faria, Tiago; Viegas, Carla; Cabo-Verde, SandraIn feed production, pug farms and swine slaughterhouses, the workers are exposure to bioaerosols. The aim of this study, was to asses occupational exposure to bacterial load (air and surfaces) in one feed production industry, in two pig farms and in one swine slaughterhouse. In addition, the authors intended also to analize the results together with the air fungal load already reported. Air samples were collected through an impcation method, while surface samples were collected by the swabbing method. The pig farms demonstrated to be the setting with the highest bacterial load. Bacterial load should not be a surragte to assess accupational exposure to bioaerosols, since bacterial and fungal load didn't present the same load trend, mainly in the feed industry and in clean and dirty slaughterhouse.
- Bacterial contamination in health care centers: differences between urban and rural settingsPublication . Monteiro, Ana; Almeida, Beatriz; Paciência, Inês; Rufo, João Cavaleiro; Ribeiro, Edna; Carolino, Elisabete; Viegas, Carla; Sousa-Uva, António; Cabo-Verde, SandraThis study aims to assess the airborne bioburden of rural and urban Portuguese Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) using active and passive sampling methods and identify the potential differences in airborne microbiota between both environments. The highest total aerobic mesophilic bacterial load in indoor air was found in the Vaccination Room (448 CFU.m−3) in the Rural PHCC and in the Waiting Room (420 CFU.m−3) for Urban PHCC. The total coliform contamination level in indoor air was detected only in the Cleaning Supplies Room (4 CFU.m−3) in the Urban PHCC. The most frequent bacteria genera identified was Micrococcus (21% Rural PHCC; 31% Urban PHCC). The surface samples showed the highest total aerobic mesophilic bacterial contamination in the Treatment Room (86 × 103 CFU.m−2) from the Rural PHCC and in the Front Office (200 × 103 CFU.m−2) from the Urban PHCC. The electrostatic dust cloth (EDC) samples showed the highest bacterial load in the Urban PHCC. Total aerobic mesophilic bacterial load in settled dust and in the Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) filter samples in the Urban PHCC (8 CFU.g−1 and 6 × 103 CFU.m−2) presented higher values compared with the Rural PHCC (1 CFU.g−1 and 2.5 × 103 CFU.m−2). Urban PHCC presented higher bacterial airborne contamination compared with the Rural PHCC for the majority of sampling sites, and when compared with the indoor air quality (IAQ) Portuguese legislation it was the Rural PHCC in two sampling places that did not comply with the established criteria.
- Bioburden in indoor SPAs airPublication . Monteiro, Ana; Cardoso, J.; Mergulhão, A.; Moreira, J.; Almeida, Beatriz; Viegas, Carla; Cabo-Verde, SandraThe indoor environment of Portuguese thermal spas can influence the health of users and their attending staff. These facilities can be a source of microorganism and can constitute a public health concern. When significant indoor or outdoor airborne bacteria sources do not exist, the most critical factor that contributes to indoor bacteria levels is the human presence. Airborne fungal contaminants are increasingly gaining importance due to the health hazards caused by their spores or metabolites. Fungal contamination indoors often contributes to building-related diseases. The aim of this study was to assess bioburden in two Portuguese thermal spas and to develop protocols and recommendations for bioburden control.
- Compliance of indoor air quality during sleep with legislation and guidelines: a case study of Lisbon dwellingsPublication . Canha, Nuno; Alves, Ana Carolina; Marta, Catarina Simão; Lage, Joana; Belo, Joana; Faria, Tiago; Cabo-Verde, Sandra; Viegas, Carla; Alves, Célia; Almeida, Susana MartaThis study aimed to provide a comprehensive characterization of the indoor air quality during the sleeping period of 10 couples at Lisbon dwellings, using a multi-pollutant approach, and to understand how the compliance with legislation and guidelines was to assure good indoor air quality. The assessment of indoor air quality was conducted in the cold season using real-time monitors during the sleeping period for comfort parameters (temperature and relative humidity) and air pollutants (carbon dioxide - CO2, carbon monoxide - CO, formaldehyde - CH2O, total volatile organic compounds - VOCs, and particulate matter - PM2.5 and PM10), together with an active sampling of bioaerosols (fungi and bacteria) before and after the sleeping period. Lower compliance (less than 50% of the cases) with the Portuguese legislation was found for temperature, CO2 (3440 ± 1610 mg m-3), VOCs (1.79 ± 0.99 mg m-3), and both bioaerosol types. In 70% of the cases, PM2.5 (15.3 ± 9.1 μg m-3) exceeded the WHO guideline of 10 μg m-3. All bedrooms presented air change rates above the recommended minimum value of 0.7 h-1, highlighting that good indoor air quality during sleep is not guaranteed.
- Exposição ocupacional a bioaerossóis em unidades de confecção de alimentosPublication . Faria, Tiago; Monteiro, Ana; Cabo-Verde, Sandra; Viegas, CarlaO presente estudo pretende avaliar a exposição ocupacional a contaminação fúngica e bacteriana em unidades de confecção de alimentos. Cinco amostras de ar de 250L foram colhidas pelo método de impacto, em meio extract agar (MEA) adicionado com cloranfenicol (0.05%) utilizadas para pesquisa fúngica e com o meio Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) com nistatina (0.2%) para pesquisa de bactérias mesófilas totais e meio Violet Red Bile Agar (VRBA) para bactérias da família das Enterobacteriaceae. Foram também realizadas amostras de superfície nos mesmos locais. Nas unidades A e B algumas colheitas de ar para deteção de fungos apresentaram mais UFC.m-3 do que a colheita do ar exterior. No caso das bactérias praticamente todas foram superiores ao exterior, ao contrário das bactérias Gram-negativas que não foram encontradas no ar exterior. Em relação às superfícies, foi reduzido o número de amostras onde se encontraram fungos, já no caso da contaminação bacteriana, praticamente todas as amostras apresentaram contaminação. Os géneros de fungos mais prevalentes no ar foram unidade A e B (Penicillium sp. 84.7% - 99.6% e Cladosporium sp. 9.7% - 0.3%), Unidade C (Cladosporium sp. 54.3% e Mucor sp. 9.3%). Nas superfícies os mais prevalentes foram na unidade A Talaromyces sp. 100%, na unidade B Monascus ruber 100% e na unidade C Chrysonilia sp. 50%.
- Fungi, bacteria and pollens seasonally quantified at 3 basic schools in Lisbon: evaluation of ventilation needPublication . Canha, Nuno; Ribeiro, Marcos; Freitas, Maria do Carmo; Almeida-Silva, Marina; Almeida, Susana Marta; Cabo-Verde, Sandra; Wolterbeek, H. Th.Nowadays, most individuals spend about 80% of their time indoor and, consequently, the exposure to the indoor environment becomes more relevant than to the outdoor one. Children spend most of their time at home and at school and evaluations of their indoor environment are important for the time-weighted exposure. Due to their airways still in development, children are a sensitive group with higher risk than adults. Larger impact in health and educational performance of children demand indoor air quality studies of schools. The aim of this study was to assess the children exposure to bioaerosols. A methodology based upon passive sampling was applied to evaluate fungi, bacteria and pollens; its procedures and applicability was optimized. An indoor air study by passive sampling represents an easier and cheaper method when comparing with the use of automatic active samplers. Furthermore, it is possible to achieve important quality information without interfering in the classroom activities. The study was conducted in three schools, representative of different environments in the Lisbon urban area, at three different periods of the year to obtain a seasonal variation, to estimate the variability through the city and to understand the underneath causes. Fungi and bacteria were collected indoor and outdoor of the classrooms to determine the indoor/outdoor ratios and to assess the level of outdoor contamination upon the indoor environment. The children's exposure to pollen grains inside the classrooms was also assessed.
- Microbiota and particulate matter assessment in Portuguese optical shops providing contact lens servicesPublication . Viegas, Carla; Faria, Tiago; Pacífico, Cátia; Santos, Mateus dos; Monteiro, Ana; Lança, Carla; Carolino, Elisabete; Viegas, Susana; Cabo-Verde, SandraThe aim of this work was to assess the microbiota (fungi and bacteria) and particulate matter in optical shops, contributing to a specific protocol to ensure a proper assessment. Air samples were collected through an impaction method. Surface and equipment swab samples were also collected side-by-side. Measurements of particulate matter were performed using portable direct-reading equipment. A walkthrough survey and checklist was also applied in each shop. Regarding air sampling, eight of the 13 shops analysed were above the legal requirement and 10 from the 26 surfaces samples were overloaded. In three out of the 13 shops fungal contamination in the analysed equipment was not detected. The bacteria air load was above the threshold in one of the 13 analysed shops. However, bacterial counts were detected in all sampled equipment. Fungi and bacteria air load suggested to be influencing all of the other surface and equipment samples. These results reinforce the need to improve air quality, not only to comply with the legal requirements, but also to ensure proper hygienic conditions. Public health intervention is needed to assure the quality and safety of the rooms and equipment in optical shops that perform health interventions in patients
- Prevalence of airborne pathogenic bacteria in Portuguese healthcare facilitiesPublication . Monteiro, Ana; Ribeiro, Edna; Cabo-Verde, Sandra; Viegas, CarlaHealth care facilities create an optimal environment for the growth and spread of potentially pathogenic microorganisms particularly associated with nosocomial infections. Several outbreaks of Legionella pneumophila recorded in healthcare facilities and associated diseases have been considered a severe public health issue. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of airborne pathogenic bacteria, in healthcare units with different typologies.
- Use of gamma radiation in sheep butter manufacturing process for shelf-life extensionPublication . Santos, Inês Carvalho; Pinto, Joana; Pimenta, Andreia I.; Madureira, Joana; Matos, Paula; Viegas, Carla; Raposo, António; Margaça, Fernanda; Cabo-Verde, SandraGamma-irradiated sheep cream (1 kGy) was used to produce butter that was analysed during refrigerated storage up to 90 days in shelf-life extension studies including sensory, microbiological and water content assessments. The water content of the sheep butter made with irradiated fermented cream was 10% higher than that of control butter. A slower increase in bacterial load during storage was detected for the butter manufactured with irradiated fermented sheep cream compared with control butter; however, fungi increased at similar rates in both cream-irradiated and control butters during storage. The sensory evaluation suggested, in general, the acceptance of the irradiated samples by the panellists. The microbiocidal potential of gamma radiation of fermented sheep cream was highlighted, but was not reflected in extension of shelf-life of the butter produced. The traditional manufacturing process itself was found to be a major vehicle for microbial contamination of this dairy product, preventing its shelf-life extension.