Brevibacillus laterosporus strain BPM3, a potential biocontrol agent isolated from a natural hot water spring of Assam, India.

A bacterial strain designated as BPM3 isolated from mud of a natural hot water spring of Nambar Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam, India, strongly inhibited growth of phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri, F. semitectum, Magnaporthe grisea and Rhizoctonia oryzae) and gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus). The maximum growth and antagonistic activity was recorded at 30°C, pH 8.5 when starch and peptone were amended as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. In greenhouse experiment, this bacterium (BPM3) suppressed blast disease of rice by 30-67% and protected the weight loss by 35-56.5%. The maximum disease protection (67%) and weight loss protection (56.5%) were recorded when the bacterium was applied before 2 days of the pathogen inoculation. Antifungal and antibacterial compounds were isolated from the bacterium which also inhibited the growth of these targeted pathogens. The compounds were purified and on spectroscopic analysis of a purified fraction having R(f) 0.22 which showed strong antifungal and antibacterial activity indicated the presence of C-H, carbonyl group, dimethyl group, -CH(2) and methyl group. The bacterium was characterized by morphological, biochemical and molecular approaches and confirmed that the strain BPM3 is Brevibacillus laterosporus.

The study of bacterial flora of different types in hospital waste: evaluation of waste treatment at Aiims Hospital, New Delhi.

Bio-medical waste management rules were formulated in response to the worldwide public concern over medical waste. The practice of separation into different types of waste in health care institutes should be evaluated more scientifically. Due to a lack of data from the Indian sub-continent, this study was initiated at a tertiary care hospital. Samples were collected from different types of waste at the hospital, at different time intervals, for microbiological evaluation. The results reveal that the microbial flora isolated from infectious waste and general waste from the hospital are similar. The samples from general waste in this study reveal many types of pathogens. The bacteria present in the waste initially was low in quantity, but they replicated rapidly over time so that significant numbers were detected by 24 hours, due to environmental factors which were favorable for growth during this period. This study strongly suggests that waste should be removed from the hospital within 24 hours of its generation to prevent environmental contamination caused by any accidental spillage of waste. General waste generated in the hospital should be treated similar to infectious waste, as it can be equally hazardous.

Knowledge, attitude and practices towards HIV among nurses in a tertiary care teaching hospital: two decades after the discovery.

Accidental transmission of HIV infection to health care workers during occupational exposure is a real threat today. The first such case in India has been documented by NACO recently. Adequate knowledge about the disease and practice of safety measures are our best bet to reduce such transmission. A survey was carried out amongst over 500 nurses in a tertiary care referral hospital in Delhi to assess their knowledge, attitude and practices towards HIV/AIDS. While overall knowledge was satisfactory, there were gaping holes in vital areas. The conversion of their theoretical knowledge into safe practices was shockingly poor. It was due to attitude problems as much as inadequate supplies. High incidence of accidental exposures in the near past and complete ignorance of post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines was another highlight of this study. Despite tremendous efforts put in by the Government as well as various Non-Governmental Organizations, we are completely ill equipped to fight the menace of occupational HIV transmission. In order to fight this menace, "safe practices" have to be made a "way of life" for HCWs. Our health care planners need to take note of it and our teaching and training programmes need complete re-orientation to achieve this goal.

Planning and designing of hospital laboratory services for a district hospital (200-300 beds).

The hospital Laboratory is a valuable investment and an economic asset to the health services. The average length of hospital stay is reduced by a rapid return of Laboratory results which facilitates early diagnosis, permits a more rapid patient turnover and accurately controls treatment.

Universal precautions--a critical review.

The route of HIV transmission are now well defined. For health care workers the major occupational risk is from parenteral exposure to infected blood or other body fluids. To prevent such exposures, it would be prudent for HCWs to assume that all patients are potentially infected and a set of precautions applicable universally be followed in contacts with all patients. The provisions of "Universal Precautions" apply to blood, CSF, genital secretions and all body fluids. It is essential that barrier protection and washing of hands be practiced, body fluids be handled with care, correct sterilization and disinfection procedures be followed and a suitable system of waste disposal be evolved. Although the Universal Precautions have been useful in abating some of the more extreme behavior associated with treating AIDS patients and in establishing a rational approach to infection control, some of the recommendations have not been found to be efficacious or cost effective. Preventive measures recommend on the basis of demonstrated efficacy and aimed at routes of exposure that represent true risk are needed. The risks for occupational infection with blood borne pathogens have been a source of concern for health care workers (HCWs) because of their frequent and often substantial exposure to patient blood and body fluids. HCWs have long been identified as a group "at risk" for occupationally acquired Hepatitis B infection. With the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, both HCWs and policy makers have become increasingly concerned about occupational risk from blood borne infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)