Surgical Helmets Used During Total Joint Arthroplasty Harbor Common Pathogens: A Cautionary Note

BackgroundThe use of personal-protection surgical helmet/hood systems is now a part of the standard surgical attire during arthroplasty in North America. There are no protocols for the disinfection of these helmets.MethodsThis is a prospective, single-center, observational study. Helmets worn by 44 members of the surgical team and foreheads of 44 corresponding surgical personnel were swabbed at three distinct time points. In addition, 16 helmets were treated with hypochlorite spray to determine if pathogens could be eliminated. Swabs obtained were processed for culture and next-generation sequencing (NGS).ResultsOf the 132 helmet samples, 97 (73%) yielded bacteria on culture and 94 (71%) had evidence of bacterial–deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) on NGS. Of the swabs sent for bacterial identification at the three time points, at least one from each helmet was positive for a pathogen(s). Of the 132 forehead samples, 124 (93%) yielded bacteria on culture and 103 (78%) had evidence of bacterial-DNA on NGS. The most commonly identified organism from helmets was Cutibacterium acnes (86/132) on NGS and Staphylococcus epidermidis (47/132) on culture. The most commonly identified organism from the foreheads of surgical personnel was Cutibacterium acnes (100/132) on NGS and Staphylococcus epidermidis (70/132) on culture. Sanitization of helmets was totally effective; no swabs taken the following morning for culture and NGS identified any bacteria.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that surgical helmets worn during orthopedic procedures are contaminated with common pathogens that can potentially cause surgical site infections. The findings of this study should at the minimum compel us to develop protocols for the disinfection of these helmets.     

Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteremia in a chemotherapy day care unit due to intrinsic contamination of an antiemetic drug

Background: In the end of 2009, a large number of patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy at the day care unit of a private hospital in Mumbai, India developed Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) blood stream infection (BSI). Objective: The objectives were to identify the source of the outbreak and terminate the outbreak as rapidly as possible. Materials and Methods: All infection control protocols and processes were reviewed. Intensive training was started for all nursing staff involved in patient care. Cultures were sent from the environment (surfaces, water, air), intravenous fluids, disinfectants and antiseptics and opened/unopened medication. Results: A total of 13 patients with cancer with tunneled catheters were affected with BCC BSI. The isolates were of similar antimicrobial sensitivity. No significant breach of infection control protocols could be identified. Cultures from the prepared intravenous medication bags grew BCC. Subsequently, culture from unused vials of the antiemetic granisetron grew BCC, whereas those from the unopened IV fluid bag and chemotherapy medication were negative. On review, it was discovered that the outbreak started when a new brand of granisetron was introduced. The result was communicated to the manufacturer and the brand was withdrawn. There were no further cases. Conclusions: This outbreak was thus linked to intrinsic contamination of medication vials. We acknowledge a delay in identifying the source as we were concentrating more on human errors in medication preparation and less on intrinsic contamination. We recommend that in an event of an outbreak, unopened vials be cultured at the outset.     

The Relationship Between Air Pollution and Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers in Taiwan

Introduction

For never-smokers (smoked <100 lifetime cigarettes), lung cancer (LC) has emerged as an important issue. We aimed to investigate the effects of prevalence changes in tobacco smoking and particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (PM_2.5) levels on LC in Taiwan, in relation to contrasting PM_2.5 levels, between Northern Taiwan (NT) and Southern Taiwan (ST).

生物安全柜的控制

生物安全柜是重要的一级屏障设备，适当的控制方式对生物安全柜的防护能力是很重要的。文中主要介绍了生物安全柜的控制要点和几种控制方式及其特点。     

港九海底铁路建设中的减压病——工作条件与发病关系探讨

本文介绍香港九龙海底铁路建设中高气压作业与减压病发病情况。该工程有11条坑道,共计259 448个高压工作日,减压288 140人次,发生减压病1 534例。根据不同的工作压力,以暴露次数、高压工作日数及暴露4小时以上次数3种方法分别计算减压病发病率。结果表明:各种方法计算出的发病率都有随工作压力增高而上升的趋势,说明现用的减压表对不同的工作压力达不到同样的预防效果。本文还对3大主要工种和14个小工种的减压病作了分析。     

纯氧和空气复苏患儿24个月随访观察

目的 探讨纯氧和空气复苏对新生儿发育的影响,为新生儿复苏用氧选择提供依据.方法 对2005年1月-2007年1月在保定市妇幼保健院进行窒息复苏的30例患儿在24个月时进行随访,依据复苏用氧浓度分为纯氧复苏组(20例)和空气复苏组(10例),内容包括出生时胎龄、出生体重、身长、头围、阿氏评分(1 min,5 min)、心率(1 min,5 min)、随访时体重、身长、头围及运动发育标志(坐、爬、站、走时间).结果 出生时患儿身体数据差异无统计学意义,24个月随访,患儿身高、体重、头围及运动发育标志差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 空气复苏对新生儿窒息患者是安全有效的.     

CT在外伤性胃肠道穿孔急诊中的价值

目的:探讨急诊外伤性胃肠穿孔的CT征象及诊断价值。方法:收集18例经手术证实的外伤性胃肠道穿孔的临床资料及CT征象,分析与总结胃肠道破裂穿孔CT扫描的各种有价值的表现。结果:18例外伤急诊患者中,胃、十二指肠、空回肠与结肠穿孔各1,2,12,3例,其中空回肠为多处破裂,CT主要征象为腹腔散在积液征、游离气腹征、肠系膜与肠壁增厚模糊征、造影剂外溢征。结论:CT扫描在外伤性胃肠道穿孔急诊患者的检查中有定性诊断价值,综合分析各种征象,会明显提高CT的诊断正确率。     

An XPS and SEM evaluation of six chemical and physical techniques for cleaning of contaminated titanium implants

The purpose of the present study was to analyse clinically failed and retrieved implants prior to and after cleaning by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray induced photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as compared to unused controls. Six different chemical and physical techniques for cleaning of contaminated titanium implants were evaluated: 1) rinsing in absolute ethanol for 10 min, 2) cleaning in ultrasonic baths containing trichloroethylene (TRI) and absolute ethanol, 10 min in each solution, 3) abrasive cleaning for 30 s, 4) cleaning in supersaturated citric acid for 30 s, 5) cleaning with continuous CO2-laser in dry conditions at 5 W for 10 s, 6) cleaning with continuous CO2-laser in wet conditions (saline) at 5 W for 10 s. SEM of failed implants showed the presence of contaminants of varying sizes and XPS showed almost no titanium but high carbon signals. XPS of unused titanium implants showed lower levels of titanium as previously reported, probably due to contamination of carbon which increased with time in room air. Cleaning of used implants in citric acid followed by rinsing with deionized water for 5 min followed by cleaning in ultrasonic baths with TRI and absolute ethanol gave the best results with regard to macroscopical appearance and surface composition. However, as compared to the unused implants the results from an element composition point of view were still unsatisfactory. It is concluded that further development and testing of techniques for cleaning of organically contaminated titanium is needed.