ABSTRACT
The risk of cross-infection from reusable incontinence bedpads was assessed by determining their microbial content after one night's use by incontinent adults and after laundering using the standard foul wash procedure specified by the NHS Executive (NHS E, 1995) (which includes heat disinfection at 71 degrees C for 3 minutes). Measurements were made on a total of 145 bedpads from five different product designs. It was found that effective laundering destroyed all known pathogenic organisms, although some commensal flora were isolated in small numbers (mean 12.2 colony forming units/ml). It is concluded that laundering reusable incontinence pads using the foul wash procedure leaves pads safe for multiple patient reuse with no demonstrable risk of cross-infection.
Subject(s)
Bedding and Linens/microbiology , Cross Infection/etiology , Disinfection/methods , Equipment Contamination , Equipment Reuse , Laundry Service, Hospital/standards , Adult , Colony Count, Microbial , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Equipment Contamination/prevention & control , Equipment Design , Humans , Risk Factors , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The current wide choice of microscopes and the use of the microscope as a diagnostic tool is discussed. The formation of images and the aberrations which occur with lenses and the ways in which these are corrected are described. The functions of eye pieces and illuminating systems are presented. The requirements for microscopes in every day use, research microscopes and portable microscopes are described, and suggestions made as to how these requirements may be fulfilled. Brief comments on the care and maintenance of microscopes are made, and a list of manufacturers and suppliers appended.
Subject(s)
Microscopy/instrumentation , Female , Genital Diseases, Female/diagnosis , Genital Diseases, Male/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Urologic Diseases/diagnosisABSTRACT
The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of nalidixic acid, pipemidic acid, cinoxacin, oxolinic acid, flumequine, pefloxacin, acrosoxacin, amifloxacin, norfloxacin, enoxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were determined for a range of clinical isolates. MICs were determined using an agar dilution technique in Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with 10% lysed horse blood. The inoculum used was approximately 10(4) colony forming units, contained in 10 microliters Mueller-Hinton broth, which was applied to the agar plates using a multipoint inoculator. Following inoculation, plates were incubated in conditions appropriate for the organisms under investigation. The MIC of each antimicrobial for each isolate examined was determined as the lowest concentration of the antimicrobial which completely inhibited growth of the inoculum. The minimum concentrations required to inhibit the growth of 50% (MIC50) and 90% (MIC90) of the organisms examined were also determined. All of the more recently synthesised 4-quinolones showed considerably greater activity than the parent compounds, nalidixic acid, pipemidic acid and cinoxacin, against the range of organisms used in this study. Ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin were the two most active of the 4-quinolones examined.
Subject(s)
4-Quinolones , Anti-Infective Agents , Fluoroquinolones , Nalidixic Acid/analogs & derivatives , Quinolones , Bacteria/drug effects , Cinoxacin/pharmacology , Ciprofloxacin , Enoxacin , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Nalidixic Acid/pharmacology , Naphthyridines/pharmacology , Norfloxacin/analogs & derivatives , Norfloxacin/pharmacology , Ofloxacin , Oxazines/pharmacology , Oxolinic Acid/pharmacology , Pefloxacin , Pipemidic Acid/pharmacology , Quinolines/pharmacology , Quinolizines/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Large populations of rifampicin-sensitive strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been exposed in vitro to changing concentrations of rifampicin (RIF) in line with changes in the blood level of the drug observed during treatment, and to much lower concentrations. Experiments in which the organism was exposed to either 7 or 14 days of cyclically-changing rifampicin concentrations have resulted in the elimination of the M. tuberculosis test strains without the emergence of RIF resistance. The significance of these laboratory findings is discussed in relation to the debate as to whether rifampicin should be used in short courses for the treatment of non-tuberculous infections or whether it should be withheld for fear of inadvertently generating rifampicin-resistant strains of tubercle bacilli. It is argued that the evidence for withholding rifampicin from use in short courses against non-tuberculous infections is slight.
Subject(s)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis/drug effects , Rifampin/pharmacology , Bacterial Infections/drug therapy , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Rifampin/therapeutic use , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The Compu-pet 100 diluter/dispenser is a versatile and accurate instrument which can be employed for a wide variety of microbiological tests and techniques. Time in performing tests is often more than halved when the diluter is used. Large numbers of tests can be performed with minimal fatigue.
