Efficacy of sporicidal wipes for inactivation of a Bacillus anthracis surrogate.

AIMS: To evaluate five commercially available sporicidal wipes and two disinfecting wipes for their ability to inactivate Bacillus atrophaeus spores deposited onto various material surfaces. METHODS AND RESULTS: Decontamination efficacy of the wipes was initially tested on glass Petri dishes (150 mm diameter). Following exposure for a specified time of contact, survival of the spores was assessed by quantification of the remaining viable spores, both on the coupon surface and on the towelette itself, with efficacy quantified in terms of mean log reduction. Based on these data, five wipes were down-selected for evaluation on a larger scale, using 36 × 36 cm coupons of five different material types. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that sodium hypochlorite-based sporicidal wipes were most effective, having completely inactivated the Bacillus spores on the glass Petri dish and several materials. Additionally, results demonstrate that the manufacturer-prescribed contact times for Clostridium difficile achieved a 6 log10 reduction of B. atrophaeus spores. Moreover, commercially available disinfecting wipes were not able to kill Bacillus spores as evaluated. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These data show the potential of sporicidal wipes for decontamination of small, contained areas of biological contamination and may help on-scene coordinators develop remediation plans following a biological terrorism event.

What should men living with haemophilia need to know? The perspectives of Canadian men with haemophilia.

Haemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder affecting approximately 3000 Canadian men (Walker 2012). To manage their disease effectively individuals must be knowledgeable about the disease, bleed prevention strategies, treatment approaches, and complications. Data on individuals' knowledge levels are scarce. The availability of such data could lead to better educational strategies for disease management. The aim of this study was to determine current knowledge levels, needs and gaps among Canadian individuals with haemophilia to facilitate optimal disease management. A survey was disseminated to adult males with haemophilia at three Haemophilia Treatment Centres (HTCs) in Canada. Self-reported current knowledge levels and knowledge seeking were measured. Survey respondents reported highest levels of knowledge in the following areas: identifying and treating a bleed, haemophilia and physical activity, travel, career issues and genetics. Lower levels of knowledge were reported in the areas of sexual activity, product safety, information about factor, haemophilia and ageing, advocacy, timing of prophylactic infusions, and new or alternative therapies. Treating a bleed was the most commonly sought information, followed by information about factor, product safety, identifying a bleed and other health care issues. There was a positive correlation between knowledge seeking and severity of disease. HTC attendance was associated with knowledge seeking, and HTCs were the most frequented knowledge source, followed by the Canadian Haemophilia Society website. Canadian men were well informed; the HTC's role in knowledge sharing was recognized. Timing of infusions, sexual activity and ageing are areas which should be targeted in knowledge sharing.

PGG-glucan, a soluble beta-(1,3)-glucan, enhances the oxidative burst response, microbicidal activity, and activates an NF-kappa B-like factor in human PMN: evidence for a glycosphingolipid beta-(1,3)-glucan receptor.

PGG-Glucan, a soluble beta-(1,6)-branched beta-(1,3)-linked glucose homopolymer derived from the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is an immunomodulator which enhances leukocyte anti-infective activity and enhances myeloid and megakaryocyte progenitor proliferation. Incubation of human whole blood with PGG-Glucan significantly enhanced the oxidative burst response of subsequently isolated blood leukocytes to both soluble and particulate activators in a dose-dependent manner, and increased leukocyte microbicidal activity. No evidence for inflammatory cytokine production was obtained under these conditions. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that PGG-Glucan induced the activation of an NF-kappaB-like nuclear transcription factor in purified human neutrophils. The binding of 3H-PGG-Glucan to human leukocyte membranes was specific, concentration-dependent, saturable, and high affinity (Kd approximately 6 nM). A monoclonal antibody specific to the glycosphingolipid lactosylceramide was able to inhibit activation of the NF-kappaB-like factor by PGG-Glucan, and ligand binding data, including polysaccharide specificity, suggested that the PGG-Glucan binding moiety was lactosylceramide. These results indicate that PGG-Glucan enhances neutrophil anti-microbial functions and that interaction between this beta-glucan and human neutrophils is mediated by the glycosphingolipid lactosylceramide present at the cell surface.

Respiratory services department at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital.

In 20 years, this department has grown from a small office with a staff of one to a facility staffed by 44 respiratory therapists and divided into four sections: respiratory therapy, respiratory laboratory, respiratory rehabilitation, and anesthesia. Computer programs complement the department's many services.