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Risk assessment of the mechanical spread of bacterial pathogens due to Lasius neglectus ants infesting a tertiary
H Frickmann1, S Hurtig2, A R Greine2
1Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, Rostock, Germany; Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Introduction:
Mechanical spread of microbial pathogens has been investigated in cockroaches, but less well in ants. Considerably less information is available for ants. An investigation into ant-borne mechanical pathogen transmission was triggered by an infestation of a tertiary care hospital with Lasius neglectus ants.
Methods:
The L. neglectus infestation of the orthopaedic surgery department, the ear-nose-throat clinic and the eye clinic as well as of outdoor areas was monitored and correlated with seasonal and weather influences. Microbial colonization on the ants' exoskeleton as well as in homogenates of complete insects and decolonization dynamics of artificial Staphylococcus aureus colonization on the exoskeleton was assessed.
Results:
In a low-level infestation setting, L. neglectus activity showed seasonal variations and was positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.7515; P=0.0368) but not with precipitation (r = 0.4699, P=0.2431). Colonization with environmental commensals dominated, while exoskeleton colonization with bacteria with potential aetiological relevance for nosocomial infections was higher for ants from the inpatient setting (6%) than from outdoor areas (0%). Artificial colonization of the exoskeleton with S. aureus vanished to values statistically indistinguishable from baseline within 72 h.
Conclusions:
Low colonization rates with aetiologically relevant bacteria and rapid spontaneous decolonization in the case of contamination make ant-borne transmissions to patients unlikely.
Insights
Ants like Lasius neglectus are unlikely to transmit hospital-acquired infections. Studies show low colonization of harmful bacteria on ants and rapid self-decolonization, making patient transmission improbable.
Area of Science:
- Medical entomology
- Hospital epidemiology
- Microbial transmission
Background:
- Mechanical pathogen spread by cockroaches is known, but less studied in ants.
- An investigation into ant-borne pathogen transmission was prompted by a hospital infestation of Lasius neglectus ants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Lasius neglectus ants in mechanical pathogen transmission within a hospital setting.
- To assess microbial colonization on ants and their decolonization dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring of Lasius neglectus infestation in hospital departments and outdoor areas, correlating with weather.
- Assessing microbial colonization on ant exoskeletons and in homogenates.
- Evaluating decolonization rates of Staphylococcus aureus on ant exoskeletons.
Main Results:
- Ant activity correlated positively with temperature but not precipitation.
- Hospital-acquired bacteria were found on 6% of ants from inpatient settings, versus 0% outdoors.
- Artificial Staphylococcus aureus colonization on ant exoskeletons disappeared within 72 hours.
Conclusions:
- Low colonization rates with relevant bacteria suggest ants are unlikely pathogen vectors.
- Rapid spontaneous decolonization reduces the risk of ant-borne transmission to patients.
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