title: Evidence for the absence of Staphylococcus aureus in land applied biosolids.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen both within the hospital setting and as a community-acquired infection. Recently there has been concern that land applied biosolids may transmit S. aureus. However, no scientific data are available to document whether biosolids are a source of S. aureus. To determine if S. aureus is present in biosolids, we collected samples from 15 sites across the United States. Samples analyzed were as follows: 3 raw untreated sewage samples and 2 undigested primary sewage sludge samples; 23 different biosolid samples; and 27 aerosols obtained during biosolid land application (biosolid aerosols). Although S. aureus were detected in raw sewage samples, none were found in any of the treated biosolids nor in any biosolid aerosol samples. These results suggest that biosolids are not a likely source of S. aureus human exposure or infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. rusin@ag.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rusin
authors.forename: Sheri L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Charles P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Gerba
authors.forename: Ian L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Pepper
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000383:Agriculture; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D012722:Sewage