ABSTRACT
Ice-making machines have occasionally been implicated in nosocomial infection. We have examined the ice-making machines in our hospital both bacteriologically and for their general state of cleanliness and repair. Results were variable but, in most cases few organisms of significance were found. Some design features are considered and recommendations for the purchase, maintenance, cleaning and use of these machines are included.
Subject(s)
Equipment Contamination , Equipment and Supplies, Hospital , Ice , Water Microbiology , Cross Infection/etiology , England/epidemiology , Equipment Design , Humans , Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital , Water SupplyABSTRACT
Infections with Micrococcus spp. in six patients and Stomatococcus mucilaginosus in one patient are described. Two of the Micrococcus infections occurred in leukaemic patients with indwelling lines, six episodes occurred in three patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and one occurred in a patient with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Stomatococcus was isolated from fluid draining from a sub-dural haematoma. Colony morphology, oxidase reaction and resistance to nitrofuration were useful in differentiation of micrococci from staphylococci. Incidence and risk factors for micrococcal infections appear similar to those for infections with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), but the literature is confused due to changes in the definitions of these genera.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection/microbiology , Micrococcus/isolation & purification , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Coagulase/isolation & purification , Equipment Contamination , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/adverse effectsABSTRACT
An outbreak of infection with Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus) on a burns unit described. The control measures taken are outlined, and the route of spread of infection is discussed along with possible preventative measures.
Subject(s)
Burn Units/standards , Cross Infection/transmission , Intensive Care Units/standards , Streptococcal Infections/transmission , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Disease Outbreaks , England/epidemiology , Humans , Streptococcal Infections/epidemiology , Streptococcal Infections/prevention & control , Streptococcus pyogenesABSTRACT
Strains of Streptococcus pyogenes from an outbreak of infection on a burns unit (15), a collection of routine isolates from another hospital(12) and isolates from a national survey of throat infections in children in the community(4) were examined blind by pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (Py-MS). The outbreak strains (M22 T12) previously found to give identical typing results in conventional tests, formed a closely similar cluster and were distinct from other hospital and community strains. One hospital and one community strain were loosely associated with this cluster. Another cluster comprised six antibiotic-susceptible strains and two community strains. Six strains did not fall within the clusters; four were antibiotic-resistant strains isolated in hospital, one an antibiotic-resistant strain isolated in the community, and one a susceptible hospital strain. Results show that Py-MS is a potentially valuable method for rapid comparison of strains in studies of infection.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Typing Techniques , Cross Infection/microbiology , Disease Outbreaks , Streptococcal Infections/microbiology , Streptococcus pyogenes/classification , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Humans , Mass Spectrometry/methods , Streptococcal Infections/epidemiology , Streptococcus pyogenes/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
During a one-year period, 236 intravascular catheter tips were investigated by culturing the outside by rolling the tips on the surface of blood agar plates, the inside by flushing with nutrient broth, and finally by culture after ultrasonication. Clinical information was collected prospectively by visiting the ward and symptoms and signs of catheter infection were correlated with the results of the catheter cultures. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the organisms that were most frequently isolated from the catheters. The results of culture showed a clear bimodal distribution, and counts of 100 colony-forming units (cfus) and culture from the inside of the catheters were the best predictors of infection. Almost all infected catheters were colonized both on the inside and outside.
Subject(s)
Catheters, Indwelling , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bacterial Infections/diagnosis , Bacterial Infections/etiology , Bacteriological Techniques , Catheters, Indwelling/adverse effects , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Staphylococcal Infections/diagnosis , Staphylococcal Infections/etiologyABSTRACT
The milk kitchen at Sheffield Children's Hospital has recently been modernized to update equipment and practices. Microbiological assessments before, during and after this upgrading are described. Limits for viable counts in pasteurized feeds are suggested and the practices adopted to minimize the contamination of feeds are described.
