Hazard Group 3 agent decontamination using hydrogen peroxide vapour in a class III microbiological safety cabinet.

AIMS: This study investigated the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) at inactivating hazard group 3 bacteria that have been presented dried from their growth medium to present a realistic challenge. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hydrogen peroxide vapour technology (Bioquell) was used to decontaminate a class III microbiological safety cabinet containing biological indicators (BIs) made by drying standard working suspensions of the following agents: Bacillus anthracis (Ames) spores, Brucella abortus (strain S99), Burkholderia pseudomallei (NCTC 12939), Escherichia coli O157 ST11 (NCTC 12079), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (strain H37Rv) and Yersinia pestis (strain CO92) on stainless steel coupons. Extended cycles were used to expose the agents for 90 min. The HPV cycle completely inactivated B. anthracis spores, B. abortus, B. pseudomallei, E. coli O157 and Y. pestis when BIs were processed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Whilst M. tuberculosis was not completely inactivated, it was reduced by 4 log10 from a starting concentration of 106 colony-forming units. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that HPV is able to inactivate a range of HG3 agents at high concentrations with associated organic matter, but M. tuberculosis showed increased resistance to the process. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This publication demonstrates that HPV can inactivate HG3 agents that have an organic load associated with them. It also shows that M. tuberculosis has higher resistance to HPV than other agents. This shows that an appropriate BI to represent the agent of interest should be chosen to demonstrate a decontamination is successful.

[Schistosomiasis in school children in the Bandafassi region of East Senegal]. / Bilharzioses au Sénégal oriental prévalence chez les enfants de la région de Bandafassi.

This epidemiological study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of intestinal and urinary schistosomiasis in children from 6 to 14 years old in the district of Bandafassi of east Senegal. The stools of 505 children from 10 villages were examined. In addition water holes that might serve as biotopes for the intermediate host snails, i.e., Biomphalaria sp. and Bulinus sp., were located and tested. Findings demonstrated the existence of permanent foci of S. mansoni deep within the bush of the Bandafassi district. Sporadic distribution of praziquantel has been effective but not sufficient to eradicate permanent S. mansoni foci in test sites.

[Therapeutics indications and prognosis of eclampsia at Dakar University Teaching Hospital]. / Indications thérapeutiques et pronostic de l'éclampsie au CHU de Dakar.

OBJECTIVE: To study the factors of risk of complications and evaluate the quality of medical and obstetrical management of eclampsia. METHODOLOGY: We performed a retrospective analysis of all cases of eclampsia recorded during the ante- or per partum period from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2001 at the gynecological and obstetrical clinic at Dakar University Teaching Hospital. RESULTS: Eclampsia had concerned 78 patients, with an incidence of 8 per 1000 childbirth. The epidemiological profile was primipara (68%), young (average age: 20 years), 36 weeks pregnancy or more (60,3%), evacuation in a state of post critical coma (74.3%), on average after 2 seizures, without medical assistance (64%) with an average diastolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg. Examinations with strong prognosis value like blood count, creatininemia, coagulation, hepatic transaminases and uricemia were not available in emergency (only 24% of all cases). Medicines prescribed included, nicardipine (63%) and magnesia sulfate (53%); this medical treatment was satisfactory in 34.6% of the cases. Cesarean section was performed in 50%. The prognosis was marked by 17.9% maternal mortality and a perinatal mortality of 359 per 1000 births. The principal risk factors of maternal and perinatal complications were early-onset eclampsia, large number of seizures and late obstetrical treatment. CONCLUSION: Prehospital treatment and availability of early cesarean section must be better organized to improve the prognosis of eclampsia.