Emilie Bédard

Microbial communities were cooling tower-specific, with higher bacterial diversity in biofilm than in water. L. pneumophila was detected in both biofilm and water samples, with Echinamoeba uniquely present in L. pneumophila culture-positive systems.

Rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) are multi-purpose green infrastructure and elements of the built environment that require spatial siting and planning. This spatial planning necessitates incorporating technical, social, economic, and environmental values to promote stakeholder involvement and motivate public and political authorities to adopt the system. Integrating Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can provide a framework to achieve this objective. This study used a GIS-MCDA tool to develop a spatial suitability model (SSM) for RWHS in the Canadian urban and rural context. The suitability maps generated through the model were compared with findings from a community survey conducted in the areas where the SSM was applied. The survey captured users’ satisfaction and perceptions of the benefits and challenges of operating RWHS in urban and rural contexts. The results showed that Montreal, as a proxy for Canadian cities, has a medium suitability for implementing RWHS, with an average suitability score of 0.418. However, in areas where the need for system adoption is greatest, suitability scores can reach up to 0.820. In urban settings, the SSM was strongly influenced by building characteristics, particularly considering the opportunities offered by RWHS to reduce potable water consumption and maximize rainwater use, whereas drought vulnerability emerged as the primary determinant in rural settings. The study suggested that identifying spatially suitable sites for RWHS implementation can support more efficient systems and broader adoption in both urban and rural settings.

Antimicrobial resistance monitoring in wastewater represents a key challenge, especially in light of the multiple methods available. Our study assessed the impact of selected sample processing techniques on microbial diversity and antimicrobial resistance gene recovery from wastewater. We analyzed 38 subsamples derived from 12 wastewater samples collected across three wastewater treatment plants over 4 months. We compared the effects of different centrifugation volumes (50, 250 mL), speeds (3,400 × g vs 15,000 × g ), and pellet versus filter concentration methods, as well as the performance of two DNA extraction kits—DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Kit and DNeasy PowerLyzer Kit (Qiagen, DE)—on wastewater samples. Additionally, we compared the performance of two DNA quantification instruments, NanoDrop One and Invitrogen Qubit 4 (Thermo Scientific, US). The analysis involved 16S rRNA gene sequencing on an Illumina MiSeq platform (PE250, 10M reads) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) of 11 selected antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Higher centrifugation speeds and larger sample volumes lead to improved DNA yield. Pellets generally exhibited higher (1.32 times) ARG recoveries compared to filters. DNA quantification methods showed strong positive correlation (Pearson R = 0.78, Spearman ρ = 0.81, P < 0.01) with each other and with qPCR data. The approach implemented in this study (centrifuging 200 mL samples at 15,000 × g , followed by extraction with the DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Kit) shows promise for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring. IMPORTANCE: To monitor the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) is crucial for anticipating and mitigating the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Urban wastewater provides community-level data to inform timely interventions. By establishing a method that balances efficiency and feasibility, this protocol represents a step toward a standardized wastewater surveillance (WS) framework for AMR, enhancing our ability to safeguard community health.

Background: Often referred to as a silent pandemic, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is gradually expanding worldwide. Addressing this escalating threat requires collaborative efforts from governments, stakeholders and community members; thus, fostering widespread public knowledge is crucial. We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) related to AMR in a diverse cohort from the province of Quebec, Canada, to identify critical gaps in targeted educational interventions. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted from April 2022 to August 2023. Participants included individuals 18 years or older from urban areas in Quebec, focusing on the cities of Montreal and Laval. The data were collected using a questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization’s ‘Antibiotic Resistance: Multi-country Public Awareness Survey’. Results: The study engaged 1774 participants and revealed a fair understanding of AMR, with misconception rates varying from 9.9% to 58.3%. However, significant knowledge gaps were identified. When asked about following the recommended length of treatment and daily dosage of antibiotics, 13.8% affirmed not fully adhering. When asked if medication was stopped once symptoms started to disappear, 7.3% responded ‘always’ and 20.4% ‘sometimes’. Additionally, 12.5% reported taking oral antibiotics without a prescription. Notably, men, younger audiences (18–34) and individuals with lower formal education were more prone to risky AMR-related behaviours. Conclusions: This study reveals significant gaps in public understanding and practices related to AMR in Quebec. Enhanced public education campaigns, stricter antimicrobial use regulations and tailored educational programmes targeting high-risk groups are recommended. An improved understanding of AMR can significantly contribute to global efforts to combat this pressing health issue.

Sinks contaminated with opportunistic pathogens are a source of hospital-acquired infections, responsible for morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Understanding pathogen behavior in sinks is essential for preventing their spread. Only a few studies have examined how sink environments affect pathogen distribution through changes in drain microbiota. This research uses an integrative approach to study three major bacterial pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , and Serratia marcescens . Sink drains in two NICUs were sampled during 2-month and 5-month periods. The diversity and abundance of opportunistic pathogens were determined at the genotypic level. Their occurrence was analyzed considering microbial communities, water parameters, faucet design, and sink usage. P. aeruginosa , S. marcescens , and S. maltophilia were found in 47%, 39%, and 67% of drain samples, respectively. Low genotype diversity was observed within sinks, with 1–3 genotypes per species/sample. Dominant genotypes persisted throughout the sampling periods, showing the persistence of opportunistic pathogen strains in drains. Quantification of the studied bacterial sequence types ranged from 10 ³ to 10 ⁷ DNA copies/mL. The heterogeneous spatial distribution of the three species between individual sink drains was primarily attributed to changes in community composition, chlorine concentrations, and faucet design. We isolated a strain of Delftia tsuruhatensis (Dt1S33), whose presence in the sink environment was negatively correlated with the three opportunistic pathogens. Dt1S33 reduced the capacity of the pathogens to form biofilms in laboratory co-cultures. These findings underscore the key roles of biotic and abiotic factors in the colonization of sink drains by pathogens. IMPORTANCE: Hospital sinks are critical reservoirs for opportunistic pathogens (OPs), increasing the risk of healthcare-associated infections, especially in vulnerable populations such as neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. Our study found that 39%–67% of sink drains were persistently colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Serratia marcescens , and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , with a limited number of genotypes dominating for months. Colonization patterns in drains varied between NICUs, mainly influenced by microbial community composition and sink design. Notably, Delftia tsuruhatensis presence was negatively correlated with OP colonization and inhibited OP biofilm formation in vitro . These results highlight the interplay of abiotic and biotic factors in sink colonization and suggest that antagonistic bacteria could help reduce pathogen persistence. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing targeted interventions to mitigate infection risks in high-risk hospital settings.

The One Health (OH) approach recognizes the interconnectedness of the health of people, animals, plants/crops and ecosystems, and is central to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The 7th Environmental Dimension of Antimicrobial Resistance Conference (EDAR7), held in Montreal in May 2024, exemplified this approach by convening international experts and stakeholders to discuss AMR research and policy progress. EDAR7 workshop #8 focused on 1) barriers to establishing effective OH AMR research programs, 2) gaps in OH AMR research priorities, and 3) potential solutions/approaches or ‘tools’ to ensure programs develop in accordance with OH principles and generate insightful data that maximizes limited resources. Key workshop outcomes included identifying critical principles for OH AMR research programs and highlighting the pivotal role of sustainable data management strategies. Additionally, the importance of considering AMR policy and risk assessment needs when planning and designing research was emphasized. Discussions explored specific tools and approaches that support the standardized and harmonized collection and analysis of data, and associated challenges of integrating genomics data into current risk assessments and models. Synthesis of the workshop’s discussions outlined critical considerations that interdisciplinary OH AMR research programs and networks should prioritize to enhance the impact of their outputs.