Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2020-71-3327
Metal-loaded zeolite remediation of soils contaminated with pandrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Jasna Hrenović
orcid.org/0000-0001-8513-3993
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zagreb, Croatia
Svjetlana Dekić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zagreb, Croatia
Jelena Dikić
orcid.org/0000-0002-3454-735X
; University of Belgrade, Innovation Centre of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade, Serbia
Snježana Kazazić
; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division of Physical Chemistry, Zagreb, Croatia
Goran Durn
orcid.org/0000-0002-6986-5112
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, Zagreb, Croatia
Nevenka Rajić
; University of Belgrade Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract
Due to the development of resistance to antimicrobial agents, bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii is nowadays a leading cause of nosocomial outbreaks. Clinically relevant A. baumannii outside hospital settings including natural soils affected by human waste represents a public-health risk for humans and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of metal-loaded zeolites to eliminate viable A. baumannii from artificially contaminated natural soils. A. baumannii isolate was subjected to the activity of natural zeolitised tuff (NZ) and Cu-modified (CuNZ) or Ag-modified zeolite (AgNZ) in wet, slightly acidic terra rossa and slightly alkaline red palaeosol. A. baumannii survived in terra rossa and red palaeosol supplemented with 1 wt% of NZ for seven days and four months, respectively. The addition of 1 wt% of CuNZ to terra rossa and red palaeosol shortened the survival of A. baumannii to three and 14 days, respectively. The addition of 0.1 wt% of AgNZ to both soils resulted in complete removal of viable A. baumannii within 1 h of contact, while the total native heterotrophic bacterial counts remained high. Since AgNZ is prepared with a simple modification of cost-effective and environmentally friendly natural zeolite, it is a promising material for the remediation of soils contaminated with pandrug-resistant A. baumannii.
Keywords
copper; environment; natural zeolite; pathogens; public health; silver
Hrčak ID:
239262
URI
Publication date:
17.6.2020.
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