ABSTRACT
The increasing animal numbers have a potential impact on the air quality of stables. The aim of this study was to assess the microbial load in the barn air from the day of entry of the chickens to the day of removal for slaughter. A total of 10 measurements in two fattening periods were conducted in a poultry farm with a capacity of 400 chickens in Styria, Austria. The samples were collected with an Air-Sampling Impinger for the investigation of mesophilic bacteria, staphylococci and enterococci. Chicken skin swab samples were collected to detect Staphylococcus aureus. The total colony forming units per cubic meter of mesophilic bacteria of the first measurement series of period I was 7.8 × 104 and increased to 1.4 × 108 at the end and at the fattening period II it increased from 2.5 × 105 to 4.2 × 107. In the measurement series of the fattening period I, the concentration of Staphylococcus spp. increased from 0 to 4.9 × 107 CFUs/m3 and from 0 to 2.1 × 107 CFUs/m3 in the fattening period II. Staphylococcus aureus could not be found on the chicken skin. An interesting finding was the increase of staphylococci while the intestinal enterococci were not detectable in the air of the barn toward the end of both fattening periods.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the short-term cardiovascular effects of plasmapheresis in seven patients (six surgical, one medical) with norepinephrine-refractory septic shock. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective observational study in a secondary community hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Plasmapheresis was performed as follows: blood flow, 120 ml/min; exchange volume, 10 fresh frozen plasma (ca. 2200 ml) at rate of 13 ml/min; anticoagulation, unfractionated heparin 200-300/IU/h. Five patients received one separation and two patients three separations. All patients received norepinephrine intravenously (0.6+/-0.7 micro g/kg per minute) to achieve a mean arterial pressure of 77+/-12 mmHg. All patients received ventilatory support; two had acute oligoanuric renal failure treated by continuous hemodiafiltration. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: We recorded heart rate, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, catecholamine dose, gas exchange, acid-base status, diuresis, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and Simplified Acute Physiological Score II. Except for transitory decreases in central venous pressure no changes were found in any variable. Six of seven patients died 5+/-3 days after the last plasmapheresis. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with norepinephrine-refractory septic shock no directional changes in measured variables were found in the first 24 h after a plasmapheresis. Thus, regarding the cost (ca. 1000 euros per separation) and possible risks the procedure needs rigorous evaluation even as "rescue therapy" in patients with septic shock.
