Biosafety Practices When Working with Bats: A Guide to Field Research Considerations.

Introduction: Field work with bats is an important contribution to many areas of research in environmental biology and ecology, as well as microbiology. Work with bats poses hazards such as bites and scratches, and the potential for exposure to infectious pathogens such as rabies virus. It also exposes researchers to many other potential hazards inherent to field work, such as environmental conditions, delayed emergency responses, or challenging work conditions. Methods: This article discusses the considerations for a thorough risk assessment process around field work with bats, pre- and post-occupational health considerations, and delves into specific considerations for areas related to biosafety concerns-training, personal protective equipment, safety consideration in field methods, decontamination, and waste. It also touches on related legal and ethical issues that sit outside the realm of biosafety, but which must be addressed during the planning process. Discussion: Although the focal point of this article is bat field work located in northern and central America, the principles and practices discussed here are applicable to bat work elsewhere, as well as to field work with other animal species, and should promote careful considerations of how to safely conduct field work to protect both researchers and animals.

Risk factors associated with mortality in patients infected with influenza A/H1N1 in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Influenza virus pandemics vary dramatically in their severity and mortality. Thus, it is very important to identify populations with high risks of developing severe illness to reduce mortality in future pandemics. The purpose was to determine the mortality-associated risk factors in hospitalized Mexican patients infected with influenza A/H1N1. RESULTS: The risk factors associated with mortality were: male sex [odds ratio (OR) = 5.25, confidence interval (CI) = 1.22-28.95], medical attention delayed >3 days (OR = 9.9, CI = 1.51-64.52), anti-flu therapy delayed >3 days (OR = 10.0, CI = 1.07-93.43), admission to intensive care unit (ICU) (OR = 9.9, CI = 1.51-64.52) and creatinine levels >1.0 mg/dL when admitted to hospital (OR = 11.2, CI = 1.05-120.32). After adjusting for the effects of potentially confounding variables in a logistic regression model, delayed medical attention (OR = 13.91, CI = 1.09-41.42, p = 0.044) and ICU hospitalization (OR = 11.02, CI = 1.59-76.25, p = 0.015) were the only predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Early medical attention is essential for reducing the mortality risk in patients with influenza A/H1N1, while a requirement for ICU management increases the risk.

Nocardia harenae, an uncommon causative organism of mycetoma: report on two patients.

Mycetoma is the most frequently diagnosed deep mycosis in Mexico and is caused, in 86% of cases, by Nocardia brasiliensis. Worldwide, Nocardia harenae has not been previously reported as a causative agent of human mycetoma. Herein we report, to our knowledge, the first two human cases of mycetoma due to N. harenae in a clinical setting. The strains were identified by phenotypic and molecular techniques. Both cases were characterized by long-lasting mycetoma that had previously been failed to be cured and had shown resistance to therapy. However, in our hospital, a multidrug therapy proved to be effective in these cases.