Oxidase test reagents are notoriously unstable, but they can be held ready for use if frozen or if reagent-impregnated filter paper is kept dry.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Metallo beta-lactamase (MBL)-mediated resistance to carbapenems is an emerging threat in hospital isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Though there are several screening methods to detect this enzyme production, the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) does not have performance standards documented so far. There is not enough information from the In...

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Sufficient adhesion between silorane/methacrylate-based composites and methacrylate impregnated glass fiber increases the benefits of fibers and enhances the mechanical and clinical performance of both composites. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the compatibility of silorane and methacrylate-based composites with pre-impregnated glass fiber by using flex...

OBJECTIVES The antimicrobial efficacy of an iodine-impregnated incise drape against MRSA was evaluated in a skin model. The permeation of iodine from this drape into the skin was also assessed. METHODS The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated in ex vivo studies following application of the surgical incise drape for various times on the surface of donor skin, which was inoculated with either 1...

BACKGROUND Mortality following hip hemiarthroplasty is in the range of 10-40% in the first year, with much attributed to post-operative complications. One such complication is surgical site infection (SSI), which at the start of this trial affected 4.68% of patients in the UK having this operation. Compared to SSI rates of elective hip surgery, at less than 1%, this figure is elevated. The aim ...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the long-term impact of pediatric central line care practices in reducing PICU central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLA-BSI) rates and to evaluate the added impact of chlorhexidine scrub and chlorhexidine-impregnated sponges. METHODS A 3-year, multi-institutional, interrupted time-series design (October 2006 to September 2009), with historical control data, wa...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of using central venous catheters (CVCs) impregnated with the combination of minocycline and rifampin on nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSIs), morbidity, and mortality in cancer patients in the ICU. DESIGN Prospective surveillance study consisting of the following two time periods: September 1997 through August 1998 (ie, fiscal year [FY] 1998); and from Se...

Olive Mill Wastewater (OMWW) treatment is considered to be one of the main challenges that Mediterranean countries face. Although several procedures and technologies are mentioned in the literature, these techniques have several disadvantages or have been limited to laboratory pilot validation without posterior industrial projection. Recently, an advanced environmental friendly strategy for the...