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Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are commonly defined as adverse events resulting from the provision of healthcare. The reduction of risk arising from the spread of pathogenic microorganisms in the hospital environment is a considerable challenge in the context of the proper functioning of the medical services sector. The financial costs of hospitals resulting from HAI are a serious problem for the Polish healthcare system. The spread of strains with a high level of drug resistance in individual hospitals is associated with the local epidemiological situation. In 2015–2017, there was a high increase in the number of infections caused by New Delhi strains. The highest increase due to this strain occurred in Mazowieckie and Podlasie provinces. The dynamics of infection caused by New Delhi strains throughout Poland in 2015–2016 indicated an increase of 278.7%. In 2017, the phenomenon of antibiotic abuse in all regions of Poland was 24% higher than the EU average. One of the reasons is the insufficient number of diagnostic tests ordered by both general practitioners and doctors representing hospital care. In 2016–2017, the average number of microbiological tests in diagnosing hospital infections performed annually within the entire territory of Poland was 50% lower than in European Union countries and the number recommended by WHO. Increased, and at the same time inappropriate antibiotic therapy led to a build-upof drug resistance among bacterial species of significant clinical importance. The current epidemiological situation imposes the necessity for constant HAI control and broadly understood rationalization of the guidelines of hospital antibiotic policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the research was to determine the effects of artificial infiltration as an initial water treatment process at the river water intake. The effects were determined with respect to removal of chemical admixtures as well as lowering microbiological parameters. The impact of the seasons and operating conditions of the intake on the achievement of stabilized infiltration effects was investigated. The research was carried out on a water intake for a town with a population of 500,000 in Central Poland. The field research installation was used for the tests. The metering wells (piezometers) were drilled along the water flow path from the pond to the collecting well. The effects of infiltration were assessed in terms of the changes of the physical, chemical and microbiological parameters of infiltration water, compared to river water. The test results confirmed that the infiltration process improves the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of water. The water after the infiltration process exhibits similar characteristics to groundwater. The infiltration effects are affected by the phase of the pond operation cycle. This was visible in the case of organic compounds, the removal of which were the lowest at the beginning of pond operating cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was carried out in a full-scale water treatment plant (WTP) in Poland to which water is supplied from ground and infiltration water intakes. The WTP has recently launched the second stage of the water treatment process based on the combination of ozonation and biologically activated carbon (BAC) filtration. The samples of water and the filter bed were collected once a month. Physical and chemical analyses were carried out, as well as the identification of bacterial species by way of biochemical diagnostics. The investigation proved that the examined carbon filter was biologically active. A correlation between the decrease in the dissolved oxygen concentration and the efficiency of carbon compounds removal was found. It was concluded that the total number of psychrophilic bacteria had impact on the biofiltration efficiency. The microbiological activity of treated water was rising during filtration, while the microbiological activity of the filter bed was relatively stable. Two microorganisms, Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens, belonging to bacterial species typically inhabiting BAC filters, were identified. The research showed the absence of any members of the Enterobacteriaceae family in water or the filter bed. Studies have confirmed that FDA test is fast, simple and inexpensive, so it can be an effective tool in the routine control of biodegradation of organic matter in biofilter beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new concept of disinfection traditionally applied in water treatment systems. The new definition of this process results from the change in its functionality, aims and methods, which guarantee high quality of water supply. The literature review and technical practice demonstrate a demand for disinfection to act as a functional element of the integrated water distribution system and an active intermediate link between the technology of water treatment and the water distribution network. The presented concept of a disinfection process enables evaluation of water treatment, increases its effectiveness in integrated water treatment systems. Such defined disinfection addresses water conservation and its biological stability within the water supply network. The presented here new concept of disinfection assigns its new role and function in the integrated water distribution system. The controlling and diagnostic function of the disinfection defined in the paper provides a transparent and comprehensive method, with considerable application in experimental design, as well as practical solutions for integrated water distribution systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the results of bioaerosol analyses conducted in the area of 9 wastewater treatment plants (WTTPs) in the Wielkopolska Region (Poland) with different capacities (from 500 to 200,000 m¹ /day). The abundance of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, Staphylococcus, Actinobacteria, Pseudomonas fuorescens, coliform bacteria, and microscopic fungi in different plant sites and the control site were analysed. Microscopic fungi exhibited the highest contribution to air contamination and their highest median value was found in WWTP No. 5, which reached 6,700 colony forming units (CFU/m¹) of air. Psychrophiles and mesophiles were the most abundant bacterial groups. It was established that the highest concentration of bioaerosols was observed during the mechanical treatment of wastewater at sewage sludge treatment sites and near bioreactors. The Rav parameter, which represents the ratio of average annual microbial abundance in the air to the average annual microbial abundance in the background at the control site, was a very good indicator of air contamination rate. This parameter may be analysed with respect to bacteria (Rav B), microscopic fungi (Rav F), and all microorganisms (Rav M). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annual Set the Environment Protection / Rocznik Ochrona Środowiska is the property of Koszalin University of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper discusses the origins and tradition of disinfection process application in water treatment systems paying special attention to its complexity and methodological problems. Disinfection was presented as the main objective of water treatment technology that guarantees safe microbiological water quality. A new approach to the process of disinfection was proposed as a result of the expansion of its functions and objectives as a foundation for drinking water quality safety. It was demonstrated that disinfection should become an integral part of the whole water supply system, comprising both water treatment technology and distribution system. Such an approach results from the position of disinfection process in the system, as an indirect link between the technological system and distribution network. The concept also assumes use of disinfection to monitor and diagnose safety of the water supply system as a whole. Attention was also paid to the research tasks accompanying design and operation of the disinfection process in combination with a reliable evaluation of biological water stability in water networks. The article presents the analysis of methodological criteria of the disinfection process affecting chemical oxidant and dose selection, contact time, dosing site location as well as by-product identification and reduction in their formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, problems of atmospheric air contamination become increasingly important. Aerobiology, an interdisciplinary science has even developed to study microorganisms and biological materials related to the atmospheric air, including their release to the atmosphere, transport, distribution, deposition as well as effects they have on plants, animals and humans. The biological molecules most often analyzed in the air include bacteria, fungi, viruses, plant pollens, toxins and allergens as they constitute the largest bioaerosol fraction in the air. They play a special role in explaining etiology, pathogenesis and spread mechanisms of many epidemics where the air and specifically bioaerosol play an important role as carrying pathogens, toxins or allergens. With this specifically in mind, the paper discusses the process of formation, transmission and harmfulness of bioaerosols originating from such municipal facilities as wastewater treatment plants or solid waste processing facilities. Primary and secondary bioaerosols may be distinguished in this group, whereas based on the emission source, they may be of natural and anthropogenic origin. The bioaerosol molecules range from 0,001 µm to 250 μm. Due to their role in the spread of pathogens and ease with which they enter the respiratory system of humans or animals, a notably increased interest in these molecules could be observed during recent years. In their research on aerosol and bioaerosol formation process, authors focus on the bursting mechanism of the air bubbles passing through a liquid and release of bioaerosols located in the membrane, and on the liquid-air interface, into the atmosphere. The aerosol particles released into the atmosphere undergo direct sedimentation or remain in the air, where they are transported by wind even over considerable distances. Deposition of aerosol particles may be dry or wet and increases with the particle size. Presence of aeration chambers and their shape play an important role in the release of some bioaerosol particles into the air and their transport. It is emphasized that potential sources of harmful bioaerosols in the air include mainly municipal objects (wastewater treatment and solid waste processing plants), where aerosols carrying pathogenic bacteria, fungi and toxins are generated, while composition and concentration of a given bioaerosol has a significant impact on air quality in the vicinity of such objects. As bioaerosols may be emitted to the surrounding air at different stages of the wastewater treatment, they are the most commonly studied group of hazardous and bothersome agents occurring in the vicinity of treatment plants. Unfortunately, there is a lack of revised regulations in place regarding the microbial air contamination in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ecological Engineering / Inżynieria Ekologiczna is the property of Polish Society of Ecological Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Air emissions of nuisance odors and bioaerosols are a serious problem related to an impact of municipal facilities on their employees, nearby residents and the natural environment. The article presents an overview of odor and microbiological nuisance assessment and elimination methods at the Central Sewage Treatment Plant Kozieglowy near Poznan. In particular, research results were presented on numbers of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, mannitol-positive and mannitol-negative Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas fluorescens (4 °C and 26 °C), actinobacteria, coliform and microscopic fungi from the air samples collected in all seasons at the eight sampling stations. Based on the research results it was established that in the area of the treatment plant there were facilities potentially emitting odors and microorganisms into the air, including the bar-screen building and grit chamber. The research confirmed that hermetization of the plant technological facilities significantly contributed to effective reduction of microorganism emission into the environment. It was confirmed that in the territory and around the municipal facilities (sewage treatment plants, waste processing sites, etc.) a maximal odor and bioaerosol emission reduction was required, which might be achieved via hermetization of the most nuisance facilities. Additionally, an appropriate equipment exploitation and safety at work regulations should be obeyed, while knowledge on health risks must be regularly refreshed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In spring and summer 2010, the water pollution of river Warta was analysed at 3 stations located at 12,28 km section of this river. The researches included analyses of 16 physical-chemical (eg. pH, conductivity, nitrogen and phosphorus concentration, oxygen concentration, BOD5), 8 biological (eg. abundance of heterotrophic bacteria, seston dry mass, chlorophyll a, plankton composition) and some hydrological parameters. All analyses were conducted according to an established methodology (Polish Standards and Standard Methods). The results of the study show, that along with river flowing through the Poznań, water pollution increases. The sewage inflow from the catchment area of the basin has significant influence on water quality of the Warta River. The sanitary bacteriological analyses of water indicate an intensive faecal wastes' flow into the river. The concentration of chlorophyll a, seston dry mass, and the presence of Cyanobacteria confirm the river eutrophication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents microbiological air pollution around wastewater treatment plants in Slupca, Kostrzyn, and Wrzesnia, and the Complex Wastewater Treatment and Wastes Composting Plant in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland. The samples of air were collected using the sedimentation and aspiration methods. The largest group of microorganisms in the monitored air were psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria and microscopic fungi. The number of psychrophilic bacteria ranged from 78 to 225,000 CFU/m³, the number of mesophilic bacteria varied in the range from 0 to 195,000 CFU/m³ and the fungi - from 0 to 65,700 CFU/m³ of air. The amount of other bacteria (Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and coliforms) ranged from 0 to 87,500 CFU/m³. A great number of bacteria and fungi has been detected near sewage aeration tanks, places of sludge disposal, and grit chambers. The interpretation of the results has been conducted according to the Polish Standards, which classify the degree of air pollution in reference to the number of microflora in the air. A change in air pollution has been noted depending on the season and climatic conditions (wind strength in particular). Research has shown that coliform bacteria, although not included in the Polish Standard, constitutes a good indicator of microorganisms' emission from sewage into the air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]