Haemostatic discs demonstrate physical efficacy against microbes commonly associated with central-line-associated bloodstream infections.

BACKGROUND: Vascular access devices form an essential component in the management of acute and chronic medical conditions. Introduction and ongoing management of these devices are linked with bundles of care aimed at reducing associated risks including bleeding and infection. AIM: To evaluate the antimicrobial potential of the potassium ferrate haemostatic disc on Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria and on Candida albicans. METHODS: The impact of the potassium ferrate disc was compared with the often-used chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) impregnated disc to evaluate the potential efficacy of the potassium ferrate disc as an alternative to CHG in cases with an increased risk of active bleeding. RESULTS: In the presence of anticoagulated blood, we observed an inhibitory effect of the haemostatic disc on microbial growth for microbial strains commonly associated with vascular access device related infections. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the potassium ferrate disc may provide dual clinical benefits with both haemostatic and antimicrobial action observed during in-vitro testing.

Re-assessing microbiomes in the low-biomass reproductive niche.

The female reproductive tract represents a continuum between the vagina and the upper genital tract. New evidence from cultivation-independent studies suggests that the female upper genital tract is not sterile; however, the significance of this for reproductive health and disease remains to be elucidated fully. Further, diagnosis and treatment of infectious reproductive tract pathologies using cultivation-independent technologies represents a largely unchartered area of modern medical science. The challenge now is to design well-controlled experiments to account for the ease of contamination known to confound molecular-based studies of low-biomass niches, including the uterus and placenta. This will support robust assessment of the potential function of microorganisms, microbial metabolites, and cell-free bacterial DNA on reproductive function in health and disease. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Molecular microbial studies of low-biomass niches require stringent experimental controls to reveal causal relations in reproductive health and disease.