Short communication: effect of storage and preservation on total bacterial counts determined by automated flow cytometry in bulk tank goat milk.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of different storage conditions on total bacterial count (TBC) determinations made in goat bulk tank milk using an automated flow cytometry method. The storage conditions tested were storage temperature (refrigeration at 4 and 10 degrees C or freezing at -20 degrees C), the use of a preservative (no preservative, NP; azidiol, AZ; or bronopol, BR), and the age of the milk samples for each analytical condition (storage times at 4 degrees C: from 0 h to 5 d for NP; and from 0 h to 22 d for AZ and BR; storage times at 10 degrees C: from 24 h to 2 d for NP and from 24 h to 22 for AZ and BR; storage times at -20 degrees C: from 24 h to 22 d for NP, AZ, and BR). Significant effects on individual bacterial count (IBC) variation were shown by the bulk tank milk sample, preservative, storage temperature, interaction preservative x storage temperature, and milk age within the interaction preservative x storage temperature. In preserved samples, the highest IBC were obtained for AZ and the lowest counts were obtained in samples preserved with BR. Because of the variation in IBC recorded in BR-preserved samples, we recommend that BR should not be used for TBC determinations using the automated flow cytometry method. The NP samples stored at 4 and 10 degrees C showed significantly higher IBC at 24 h postcollection, also invalidating these analytical conditions for TBC analyses. The practical implications of our findings are that goat milk samples preserved with AZ and stored at 10 or 4 degrees C are appropriate for TBC by the BactoScan flow cytometry method for up to 24 h and 11 d postcollection, respectively.

Short communication: Detection limits of non-beta-lactam antibiotics in goat's milk by microbiological residues screening tests.

This study compares the performance of 4 antimicrobial residue screening tests [brilliant black reduction test AiM (Analytik in Milch Produktions- und Vertriebs GmbH, München, Germany), Delvotest MCS (DSM Food Specialties, Delft, the Netherlands), Eclipse 100 test (ZEU-Inmunotec SL, Zaragoza, Spain), and Copan Milk Test (Copan Italia S.p.a., Brescia, Italy)] used to detect 20 antimicrobial agents (aminoglycosides, macrolides, tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and quinolones) in goat's milk, according to International Dairy Federation guidelines. Composite milk samples from 30 antibiotic-free goats were used to prepare spiked milk samples and 11,520 analytical determinations were carried out. According to a logistic regression model, agreement coefficients were greater than 98% for most of the antibiotics, with higher b values obtained for macrolides. Neither tetracyclines nor quinolones were detected at European Union maximum residue limits. Only the Copan Milk Test and the Delvotest MCS were able to detect 3 antimicrobials below their maximum residue limits (neomycin, tylosin, and sulfadimethoxine). Given that these tests are used in control programs for goat's milk, our results indicate their sensitivity would need to be improved to guarantee safety for consumers.

Detection limits of four antimicrobial residue screening tests for beta-lactams in goat's milk.

This study was conducted to compare the detection limits (DL) of several antibiotic residue screening tests with the maximum residue limits (MRL) authorized by the EU according to the guidance for the standardized evaluation of microbial inhibitor tests of the International Dairy Federation. Composite antibiotic-free milk samples from 30 primiparous Murciano-Granadina goats in good health condition were used to prepare test samples spiked with different concentrations of each antimicrobial. In total, 5,760 analytical determinations of 10 beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillin-G, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cloxacillin, oxacillin, dicloxacillin, cefadroxyl, cefalexin, cefoperazone, and cefuroxime) were performed using 4 antibiotic residue screening tests: the brilliant black reduction test BRT AiM (AiM-Analytik in Milch Produktions-und Vertriebs GmbH, München, Germany), Delvotest MCS (DSM Food Specialties, Delft, the Netherlands), Eclipse 100 (ZEU-Inmunotec SL, Zaragoza, Spain), and the Copan Milk Test (CMT; Copan Italia SpA, Brescia, Italy). For each method, we estimated the detection limits of the antimicrobial agents using a logistic regression model. Using the CMT and Delvotest on samples spiked with the 8 antibiotics for which MRL were available, DL were at or below the MRL. The BRT test provided DL at or below the MRL for all of the agents except cefalexin, whereas the Eclipse 100 method failed to detect 4 antibiotics (ampicillin, amoxicillin, cloxacillin, and cefoperazone) at MRL or below. Logistic regression-determined levels of agreement were highest for the CMT method (98.6 to 100%) and lowest for Eclipse 100 (66.3 to 100%). In general, agreement levels indicated good correlation between observed results and those predicted by logistic regression. The lowest b values (closely related to test sensitivity) were recorded for the cephalosporins (0.074 to 0.430) and highest for penicillin G, ampicillin, and amoxicillin (11.270 to 11.504). Delvotest and CMT best fulfilled IDF criteria for the ideal test for detecting antibiotic residues in milk.

[Nursing diagnosis. Keys for its development]. / Diagnóstico de enfermería. Claves para su desarrollo.

The authors carried out a study of the taxonomy used at the 1990 NANDA Conference. A few of the authors findings were some diagnostic labels were found to be imprecise; some of the diagnostic labels relate to causes which would only allow nurses to work in collaboration with other medical team professionals; other labels described symptoms which were hard to define objectively or were non-verifiable, imprecise and vague defining the problem. As a conclusion to this study, the authors contend that in order to develop nursing diagnostics it is necessary to validate the existing labels, develop new labels, make diagnostic tests serve as an appraisal and detection instrument, and to develop the critical symptoms necessary for identifying diagnostic labels. This study is based on a paper presented at the "First International Symposium on Nursin Diagnostics" which was celebrated in Barcelona.