Characterization of the microbial inventory at Cologne/Bonn Airport and possible decontamination methods

Abstract

Understanding microbiomes in public areas, such as airports, is crucial for public health and safety. Airports are gathering places for diverse microorganisms, which pose the potential risk of global spread of pathogenic microorganisms. This study focused on the Cologne/Bonn airport to analyze microbial biodiversity, and potential resistances present among these bacteria. In this study advanced methods like MALDI-TOF MS, for microbial identification and LAMP, for rapid on-site identification of microorganisms, including clinically relevant pathogenic organisms, viruses and antibiotic resistance genes, were used. The study revealed the identification of 22 bacterial strains, and 2 viral strains from different airport locations. In connection to this the characteristics of 5 bacterial species, towards tolerances of known decontamination methods, as chemical cleaning products along with their survivability on surfaces was investigated. This highlights the need for effective sanitation measures. Alternative decontamination methods, such as UV-C, blue light, and chitosan coatings, were evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling microorganisms without posing harm to human health. The chemical cleaning agents were effective against most strains but were less effective against spore-forming isolates. UV-C significantly reduced the microbial load but did not eradicate all isolates. Blue light exhibited inconsistent results, showing varying degrees of effectiveness against E. coli. And the chitosan surface coating proved effective against E. coli. These approaches offer promising solutions for maintaining hygiene in high-traffic public areas.