[Focus on the role of ventilation and ultraviolet rays in preventing nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis in health care facilities. Groupe de travail sur la prévention de la transmission nosocomiale de la tuberculose (Direction Générale de la Santé)]. / Le point sur la place de la ventilation et des ultraviolets dans la prévention de la transmission nosocomiale de la tuberculose sur les lieux de soins. Groupe de travail sur la prévention de la transmission nosocomiale de la tuberculose (Direction Générale de la Santé).

Recent episodes of nosocomial tuberculosis, sometimes due to multiresistant strains, in HIV infected patients in the USA has led to the need for new prevention measures against the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health care facilities. Tuberculosis is transmitted in Pflügge droplets generated when contagious persons cough. After drying, the droplets become aerosolized solid particles which are rapidly dispersed by air flow within the patient's room. People exposed to the same air are thus at high risk of being contaminated. If the air pressure in the patient's room is higher than the rest of the facility, the air coming form the room may contaminate personnel and other patients elsewhere in the facility. Infecting particles can be eliminated rapidly if the room air is ventilated outdoors. If the ventilation is strong enough so that air constantly circulates from the corridor into the room, infecting particles can no longer diffuse to the rest of the ward. It is also possible to use ultraviolet C light to disinfect the air, either within the room or within the ventilation system. These two basically simple systems are the fundamental environmental and prevention measures needed to limit tuberculosis spread in health care facilities. These methods are however technically complex, costly and require constant evaluation and maintenance by specialized personnel. In addition the potential side effects of ultraviolet waves could considerably reduce their application. These environmental methods, which are complementary methods, only have a meaning if the elementary measures for preventing the transmission of tuberculosis are correctly applied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Debridement: an essential component of traumatic wound care.

The harmful influences of devitalized tissue on wound defenses are documented and the importance of wound debridement in the care of the traumatic wound is stressed. All devitalized soft tissues damaged the host's defenses and encouraged the development of infection. The capacity of divitalized muscle, fat, and skin to enhance infection was comparable. The infection-potentiating effect of skin was enhanced by exposing it to a dry thermal injury. The mechanisms by which devitalized soft tissue enhanced infection are several. The devitalized soft tissue acts as a culture medium promoting bacterial growth. In addition, the devitalized tissue inhibits leukocyte phagocytosis of bacteria and subsequent kill. Finally, the anaerobic environment within the devitalized tissue may also limit leukocyte function.

A rapid technic for quantitating wound bacterial count.

An improved technic has been developed to predict rapidly the critical number of bacteria in tissues. This technic gave reliable and accurate measurements for wounds containing more than 2 X 10(5) organisms per gram of tissue. It is fortuitous that 10(6) bacteria is the critical number of bacteria that will induced clinical infection in experimental animals and humans. The rapid slide technic is now being utilized routinely in our medical center to determine graft bed receptiveness, predict the safety of wound closure, and monitor the course of burns.

Inhibition of nonspecific defenses by soil infection potentiating factors.

This study was undertaken to examine the effect of soil infection potentiating factors on the defense system of the tissue. Using an in vitro model, leukocyte phite. This damaging effect on leukocyte function was a result of an interaction between the leukocyte and the clay particles. Montmorillonite also interfered with nonspecific humoral defenses. Exposure of serum to clay rapidly eliminated its bactericidal bodies occurred without any damage to the serum opsonins.

Streptococcal cellulitis of the scrotum and penis with secondary skin gangrene.

Cellulitis of the scrotum and penis is caused, in the majority of instances, by a beta hemolytic streptococci without a discernible portal of entry. Clostridium, occasionally, will result in this disease as a manifestation of a perirectal abscess. In either instance, fluid accumulates rapidly in the closed space between Colles' and Buck's fascia, producing intense swelling of the scrotum. If this compartment is not immediately decompressed by linear incisions, devascularization of the scrotal and penile skin will often occur, resulting in gangrene. Immediate treatment of the bacterial infection with penicillin also is essential. If gangrene does develop, radical debridement of the necrotic tissue as well as a wide margin of adjacent inflamed skin must be undertaken. Continual monitoring of the microflora of the debrided would is essential for the selection of the appropriate antibiotic against any secondary intruders. Coverage of the granulating would is accomplished when the would bacterial count is below 10-5 per gram of tissue.