Methanogenic activity test as an aid in evaluating performance and stability of anaerobic bioreactors.

The correlation between methanogenic activity and anaerobic reactor performance is intuitive. In this paper, an attempt has been made to suggest a new parameter, defined on the basis of the relative activity of acetoclastic and hydrogen oxidising methanogens, to aid in evaluating the performance and stability of anaerobic reactors. Performance of three bench scale reactors was assessed at different relative populations of the trophic groups of methanogens as estimated through acetoclastic and total methanogenic activity tests. Results indicated that the acetoclastic to total methanogenic activity ratio 0.7 yielded stable and optimal reactor performance. The acetoclastic and total methanogenic activity tests provide a simple technique that may aid in evaluating the performance and stability of anaerobic bioreactors.

Bio-medical waste management in the U.T., Chandigarh.

Investigations were carried out to assess the generation and disposal of biomedical waste in the various medical establishments in the urban and rural areas of the U.T. Chandigarh. It was found that there were 474 medical establishments in the U.T., Chandigarh including Nursing Homes, Clinics, Dispensaries, Pathological labs., Hospitals, Veterinary Institutions and Animal houses. The total quantity of bio-medical waste generated in Chandigarh is 811.35 kg/day and the rate of generation of bio-medical waste varies from 0.06 kg/day/bed to 0.25 kg/day/bed. Though the major hospitals are equipped with incinerators, proper bio-medical waste management system is yet to be implemented. The medical establishments in the rural area and smaller ones in the urban area dispose off their bio-medical waste along with municipal solid waste and no waste management system exists. It is recommended that an integrated waste management plan using the three incinerators installed at the major hospitals can safely dispose off the total bio-medical waste generated in the city.

Audit of aminoglycosides usage.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate the usage patterns of aminoglycosides in pediatric patients for their appropriateness. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted over a period of six months at J.S.S. Hospital, Mysore. Patients who received parenteral aminoglycosides and below the age of 12 years were included in this study. RESULTS: A total of 197 pediatric patients were evaluated for the appropriateness and was found to be 72%, 86%, 85%, 43% & 53% for indication, dose, duration, safety and cost effectiveness respectively. Majority of the patients were treated with gentamicin (53%). The most frequent indication was respiratory tract infections (50%). CONCLUSION: Effort was made to encourage judicious and quality use of aminoglycosides among the pediatricians of J.S.S. Hospital to ensure better patient care by implementation of the aminoglycosides guidelines.