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Detection and culture of Bartonella quintana, Serratia marcescens, and Acinetobacter spp. from decontaminated human body lice.

As part of a survey for trench fever among homeless people in Marseilles, France, we attempted isolation of Bartonella quintana from body lice. A decontamination protocol of immersion in 70% ethanol with 0.2% iodine was devised and was tested with a laboratory colony of body lice. Lice which had been experimentally contaminated with either Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, or Acinetobacter spp. were successfully decontaminated, and this process did not prevent the culture of B. quintana from these lice. One hundred sixty-one lice obtained from homeless patients were studied by the protocol. B. quintana was isolated on axenic medium from 15 of 161 body lice and was detected in 41 of 161 lice by PCR. Acinetobacter spp. and Serratia marcescens were also isolated from body lice. The sensitivities of PCR and culture of B. quintana were 98 and 36%, respectively. These procedures may be useful for epidemiologic studies of trench fever and for the recovery of strains for characterization and comparison.

Acinetobacter↗

Evaluation of decontamination methods and growth media for primary isolation of Mycobacterium ulcerans from surgical specimens.

We evaluated four decontamination methods and one nondecontamination procedure in combination with four egg-based media for the primary isolation of Mycobacterium ulcerans from tissue specimens. With mycobacterial recovery and contamination rates of 75.6 and 2.4%, respectively, the combination of the oxalic acid decontamination method with Lowenstein-Jensen medium supplemented with glycerol yielded the best results.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Improved laboratory safety by decontamination of unstained sputum smears for acid-fast microscopy.

Tubercle bacilli may survive in unstained heat-fixed sputum smears and may be an infection risk to laboratory staff. We compared the effectiveness of 1% and 5% sodium hypochlorite, 5% phenol, 2% glutaraldehyde, and 3.7% formalin in killing Mycobacterium tuberculosis present in smears prepared from 51 sputum samples. The smears were decontaminated by the tube and slide techniques. Phenol at 5%, glutaraldehyde at 2%, and buffered formalin at 3.7% for 1 min (tube technique) or for 10 min (slide technique) were effective in decontaminating sputum smears and preserved cell morphology and quantitative acid-fast microscopy results.

Decontamination↗

Bacteriological monitoring of Salmonella enteritidis carrier birds after decontamination using enrofloxacin, competitive exclusion and movement of birds.

Two hundred and forty, four-week-old laying birds naturally infected with Salmonella enteritidis PT33 (Pasteur Institute phage typing system) were randomly divided twice (before and during the treatments) to obtain four separately housed groups of 60 birds and to study the efficacy of three decontamination treatments: enrofloxacin either with or without the movement of birds to a clean area, and enrofloxacin combined with movement of birds and a competitive exclusion treatment. The control group remained untreated. In each group contamination with S enteritidis was checked bacteriologically, every week from two months before until two months after the treatments began. All the samples taken from all the birds before the treatments began were S enteritidis-positive. After the treatments it was not possible to isolate salmonella either from the environment or from the faeces of the three treated groups. All the birds were humanely sacrificed at 22 weeks of age and samples of liver, spleen, ovaries and caeca were analysed for the presence of salmonella. The results demonstrated that although antibiotic therapy, the movement of birds into a clean house and competitive exclusion, either combined or not, had some efficacy in reducing infection levels, it was not possible to decontaminate all the birds completely.

Animal Husbandry↗

Recovery and survival of nontuberculous mycobacteria under various growth and decontamination conditions.

The survival of microorganisms of the Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare, and M. scrofulaceum (MAIS) complex was evaluated after various soil and water decontamination regimens. Survival was reduced by growing cells in natural waters compared with laboratory media and by inclusion of malachite green in media as an antifungal agent. Decontamination with benzalkonium chloride, while reducing survival significantly less than 1% NaOH, failed to eliminate many fungi. Recovery from soil was further reduced by transfer losses and by irreversible cell adsorption onto particulates.

Decontamination↗

Survey of 99mTc contamination of laboratory personnel: hand decontamination.

Decontamination after exposure to various 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals was tested with serial hand washings both with and without soap. All radiopharmaceuticals were removed more effectively with soap and the degree of decontamination related closely to the number of washings. The affinity of the radiopharmaceuticals for the skin varied, depending upon the labeled material, and only macroaggregated albumin was effectively removed to less than 1% of its original activity with soap. Activity transfer to the opposite hand could be substantial with macroaggregated albumin and sulfur colloid if soap is not used.

Decontamination↗

Decontamination and control of infection in theatre.

Decontamination covers all aspects of reprocessing of reusable equipment. It is understandable that patient well-being is perceived to take precedence over infection control. Unfortunately the spread of infection is based on the opportunity for organisms able to move from a controlled area to the patient or staff. Continued vigilance and adherence to good practice is essential to combat the ever-present problem. This article covers the problem of local decontamination within the theatre complex, and sources of potential infection are identified and discussed.

Air Conditioning↗

Decontamination and disposal of PCB wastes.

Decontamination and disposal processes for PCB wastes are reviewed. Processes are classed as incineration, chemical reaction or decontamination. Incineration technologies are not limited to the rigorous high temperature but include those where innovations in use of oxident, heat transfer and residue recycle are made. Chemical processes include the sodium processes, radiant energy processes and low temperature oxidations. Typical processing rates and associated costs are provided where possible.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Decontamination of reusable instruments in primary care.

Staff who undertake effective decontamination in non-centralized settings such as general practices must be provided with training and easy-to-follow guidance. In this article we present a distillation of the current guidance in an industrial quality control format of fishbone charts. A fishbone chart (or cause-and-effect chart) depicts all the causes of an outcome in a logical way to facilitate the identification of a specific problem. We developed our fishbone chart to include instructions that, if followed, would achieve safe and effective cleaning and sterilization. A survey of those given the charts showed high user acceptability: 76% found the fishbone better than existing guidelines - although the response rate was low at 46%. The charts will enable those involved in decontamination of instruments, including managers and infection control staff, to audit the facilities, equipment and practices. The use of industrial quality tools may assist other specialties that require complicated and comprehensive guidelines to be presented in a more user-friendly design.

Cross Infection↗

Decontaminating dental instruments: testing the effectiveness of selected methods.

The decontamination of dental instruments before sterilization is designed to safeguard dental personnel from exposure to bloodborne pathogens and to remove gross contamination. The authors studied the relative effectiveness of decontamination methods that included ultrasonic cleaning, presoaking with an enzymatic cleaner and dishwashing. Results indicated that the most effective methods involved presoaking followed by cleaning. However, no single procedure eliminated detectable concentrations of blood contamination.

Analysis of Variance↗

Pilot-plant study of wastewater sludge decontamination using a ferrous sulfate bioleaching process.

The objective of this research was to investigate the performance of the ferrous sulfate bioleaching (FSBL) process in a pilot plant for decontamination and stabilization of wastewater sludge. Batch and continuous experiments, conducted with two 4-m3 bioreactors using indigenous iron-oxidizing bacteria (20% v/v of inoculum) with addition of 4.0 g ferrous sulfate heptahydrate per liter of sludge initially acidified to pH 4.0, were sufficient for effective heavy metal (cadmium, copper, manganese, zinc, and lead) removal yields. The average metal removal yields during the FSBL process were as follows: cadmium (69 to 75%), copper (68 to 70%), manganese (72 to 73%), zinc (65 to 66%), and lead (16%). The FSBL process was also found to be effective in removing both fecal and total coliforms (abatement > 5 to 6 log units). The nutrients content (nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium) were also preserved in decontaminated sludge.

Acidithiobacillus↗

Radiation decontamination unit for the community hospital.

"Freestanding" radiation decontamination units including surgical capability can be developed and made operational in small/medium sized community hospitals at relatively small cost and with minimal plant reconstruction. Because of the development of nuclear power plants in relatively remote areas and widespread transportation of radioactive materials it is important for hospitals and physicians to be prepared to handle radiation accident victims. The Radiological Assistance Program of the United States Department of Energy and the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center Training Site of Oak Ridge Associated Universities are ready to support individual hospitals and physicians in this endeavor. Adequate planning rather than luck, should be used in dealing with potential radiation accident victims. The radiation emergency team is headed by a physician on duty in the hospital. It is important that the team leader be knowledgeable in radiation accident management and have personnel trained in radiation accident management as members of this team. The senior administrative person on duty is responsible for intramural and extramural communications. Rapid mobilization of the radiation decontamination unit is important. Periodic drills are necessary for this mobilization and the smooth operation of the unit.

Accidents↗

Infectious complications in patients undergoing marrow transplantation: a prospective randomized study of the additional effect of decontamination and laminar air flow isolation among patients receiving prophylactic systemic antibiotics.

99 patients with hematological malignancies underwent allogeneic marrow transplantation from HLA-identical sibling donors and were randomized to receive one of two forms of infection prophylaxis while granulocytopenic: (1) prophylactic systemic antibiotics in a conventional hospital room (PSA, 50 patients) or (2) decontamination, isolation in a laminar air flow room and the administration of prophylactic systemic antibiotics (LAF + PSA, 49 patients). Only 1 patient (3%) in the LAF + PSA group acquired septicemia while granulocytopenic compared to 11 (24%) patients in the PSA group (p less than 0.005). Three patients (6%) in the LAF + PSA group acquired major localized infections compared to 9 (18%) in the PSA group (p = 0.06). There was no significant difference in days in hospital post transplant, days of granulocytopenia, days of fever, incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease, interstitial pneumonitis or overall survival. We conclude that the use of prophylactic systemic antibiotics added to decontamination and laminar air flow isolation of patients undergoing marrow transplantation significantly reduces the incidence of septicemia in the granulocytopenic period.

Adolescent↗

Fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium DT 104, and Listeria monocytogenes in fresh meat decontamination fluids at 4 and 10 degrees C.

Bacterial pathogens may colonize meat plants and increase food safety risks following survival, stress hardening, or proliferation in meat decontamination fluids (washings). The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium DT 104, and Listeria monocytogenes to survive or grow in spray-washing fluids from fresh beef top rounds sprayed with water (10 or 85 degrees C) or acid solutions (2% lactic or acetic acid, 55 degrees C) during storage of the washings at 4 or 10 degrees C in air to simulate plant conditions. Inoculated Salmonella Typhimurium DT 104 (5.4 +/- 0.1 log CFU/ml) died off in lactate (pH 2.4 +/- 0.1) and acetate (pH 3.1 +/- 0.2) washings by 2 days at either storage temperature. In contrast, inoculated E. coli O157:H7 (5.2 +/- 0.1 log CFU/ml) and L. monocytogenes (5.4 +/- 0.1 log CFU/ml) survived in lactate washings for at least 2 days and in acetate washings for at least 7 and 4 days, respectively; their survival was better in acidic washings stored at 4 degrees C than at 10 degrees C. All inoculated pathogens survived in nonacid (pH > 6.0) washings, but their fate was different. E. coli O157:H7 did not grow at either temperature in water washings, whereas Salmonella Typhimurium DT 104 failed to multiply at 4 degrees C but increased by approximately 2 logs at 10 degrees C. L. monocytogenes multiplied (0.6 to 1.3 logs) at both temperatures in water washings. These results indicated that bacterial pathogens may survive for several days in acidic, and proliferate in water, washings of meat, serving as potential cross-contamination sources, if pathogen niches are established in the plant. The responses of surviving pathogens in meat decontamination waste fluids to acid or other stresses need to be addressed to better evaluate potential food safety risks.

Air↗

[General infection prevention in abdominal surgery with special reference to intestinal decontamination].

In surgery prophylaxis for infection is necessary, because patients are immunocompromised due to the underlying disease and the operation while at the same time being increasingly exposed to potentially pathogenic germs. Prophylaxis is based on the control of endogenous and exogenous microorganisms. For this purpose either systemic or locally active topical agents may be employed. Systemically active substances are applied with the aim to kill and eliminate invasive microorganisms in deep tissue levels, either by their own biological activity or by stimulating specific or unspecific host immune reactions. Local topical measures in contrast are to prevent the primary contact between microorganisms and host. The central pillar of systemic measures is the perioperative systemic antibiotic prophylaxis, immunonutrition is beginning to gain importance, and in the future possibly substances such as G-CSF, which directly stimulate the immune system, may be employed. Standard topical measures are sterilization and desinfection while decontamination of the digestive tract has until now not found a wide spread acceptance. For certain indications especially high risk surgical resections with anastomoses at the level of the oesophagus or the lower rectum it is possible to eliminate endogenous intestinal microorganisms effectively using topical decontamination in combination with systemic antibiotics and improve the surgical results, especially anastomotic healing.

Abdomen↗

Soil decontamination at the Montevecchio-Levante mine site with experimental washing and leaching techniques.

The soils in the neighbourhood of the Rio Montevecchio-Sitzerri, a stream that flows in the valley below the tailings pond of the Montevecchio-Levante mineral processing plant (SW Sardinia, Italy) are severely contaminated by heavy metals, to the extent that traditional land uses are compromised. Consequently urgent measures are needed both to abate the pollution at source and rehabilitate the contaminated land. This paper is concerned with the problem of soil decontamination using washing and leaching techniques. Laboratory experiments have been conducted in mechanically agitated reactors, using citric acid and acetic acid solutions and brine of hydrochloric acid and calcium chloride. The influence of both reagent concentration and solid-to-liquid ratio has been assessed, and in the most significant cases, the attack kinetics has been determined. The tests showed the brine to be the most effective for removing metals from the soils. Based on the findings of the investigations, the possibility of decontamination by heap leaching has been simulated in the laboratory using the column technique.

Acids↗

A chemical decontamination plan for an emergency department.

How a hospital with limited resources successfully implemented an effective emergency decontamination program. While the article addresses chemical decontamination specifically, the author believes the plan would be useful in managing potential victims of bioterrorism.

Bioterrorism↗

Limiting the use of gastrointestinal decontamination does not worsen the outcome from deliberate self-poisoning.

AIM: To review the current epidemiology of patients with deliberate self-poisoning presenting to Christchurch Emergency Department, and to compare this with 1996, 1992, and 1989 data. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of computer and case records over the twelve-month period of 1999 was conducted and compared with published data from 1996,1992 and 1989. RESULTS: There were 561 presentations of deliberate self-poisoning to Christchurch Hospital, representing 0.87% of total presentations (compared with 1.1% in 1996, 1.2% in 1992, and 1.0% in 1989). The female to male ratio was 2.2:1.0 (compared with 1.9:1.0, 1.5:1.0, and 2.1:1.0). The principal drugs ingested were antidepressants 30.8% (compared with 20.1%, 24.4%,15.7%), paracetamol 23.5% (compared with 16.7%, 16.9%, 10.6%), benzodiazepines 23.0% (compared with 11.1%, 23.6% 22.8%) and antipsychotics 17.8% (compared with 10.7%, 16.1%, not reported). Gastrointestinal decontamination was performed in only 14.4% of patients (compared with 61%, 73%, 61%). Activated charcoal was given alone in 13.2% (compared with 54%, 46%, 0.4%), activated charcoal and gastric lavage in 0.7% (7%, 26%, 53%), a whole bowel irrigation in 0.5% (not recorded in previous papers). 70.4% were admitted (compared with 69%, 59%, 64%), 7% to intensive care (10.2%, 10.6%, 18%). There were two deaths (compared with 6, 2 and 2). CONCLUSIONS: Over the time periods studied the drugs ingested and admission rates remain similar, although a large proportion are now being observed in the emergency short stay ward, reducing admission rates to the ward and intensive care. Trends in gastrointestinal decontamination have changed dramatically over the four time periods, but there has been no worsening in the outcome of patients with deliberate self-poisoning.

Acetaminophen↗