Benign Bacteria Block Mosquitoes From Transmitting Zika, Chikungunya Viruses
July 3rd 2016Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have confirmed that a benign bacterium called Wolbachia pipientis can completely block transmission of Zika virus in Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species responsible for passing the virus to humans.
E. coli Might Be the Ideal Transport for Next-Gen Vaccines
July 3rd 2016Most people recoil at the thought of ingesting E. coli. But what if the headline-grabbing bacteria could be used to fight disease? Researchers experimenting with harmless strains of E. coli -- yes, the majority of E. coli are safe and important to healthy human digestion -- are working toward that goal. Specifically, they have developed an E. coli-based transport capsule designed to help next-generation vaccines do a more efficient and effective job than today's immunizations.
Individual Mycobacteria Respond Differently to Antibiotics Based on Growth and Timing
July 3rd 2016Tuberculosis is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world, infecting almost 10 million people each year. Treating the disease can be challenging and requires a combination of multiple antibiotics delivered over several months. This is due, in part, to variations in antibiotic tolerance among subpopulations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.
Sterile Processing, Infection Control and Zero Patient Harm: Collaboration Starts With Us
June 28th 2016For more than a millennia of medicine, the caregiver's oath has been, "Do no harm." Unfortunately for the sterile processing world, there are billions of microorganisms out there that are aiming at doing the exact opposite. The challenge is so great that most hospitals have entire departments dedicated to the mission of infection control, a practical sub-set of epidemiology concerned with preventing nosocomial (healthcare-associated) infections. Although there are countless areas of focus for these teams in a hospital setting, there are few more effective partners in winning the fight against infection than the sterile processing team.
The Dress Code for SPD Personnel and Scrub Laundering
June 28th 2016Q: My facility does not launder our scrubs, we must take them home. I have heard from other colleagues that their facilities provide and launder their scrubs. What is the recommended dress code for SPD in the clean/sterile areas and should our scrubs be laundered by the facility?A: I can understand your confusion. Unfortunately, not all facilities comply with the standards and therefore do not provide laundered scrubs to sterile processing staff. I do not really understand the non-compliance by facilities when one considers that SPD personnel are preparing sterile product for use on patients. Therefore very effort should be made to keep bioburden levels to a minimum.
Phone-Based Microscopes Work Well in the Field With Minimal Training
June 28th 2016Handheld, mobile phone-based microscopes can be used in developing countries after minimal training of community laboratory technicians to diagnose intestinal parasites quickly and accurately. A first of its kind, community-based study carried out in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa found that two different handheld microscopes could both effectively rule in individuals infected by parasites - important in allocating resources for public health screening - but varied in their sensitivity to detect all cases of an illness, in comparison to a conventional laboratory microscope. The study, "Accuracy of Mobile Phone and Handheld Light Microscopy for the Diagnosis of Schistosomiasis and Intestinal Protozoa Infections in Côte d'Ivoire," is published online in the open access journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases on June 27, 2016.