Mean Number Of Colony-forming Units Research Articles

Comparison of two swab types for recovery of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida auris from gloves and gowns.

Known concentrations of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida auris were applied on gloves and gowns then sampled with E-swabs and BBL liquid Amies swabs. The mean numbers of colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) obtained from culture of the 2 swab types were not different, suggesting that either can be used for recovery of these two pathogens from personal protective equipment.

What is essential remains invisible to the eyes? Blood pressure cuffs colonized by bacterial diversity.

Using sphygmomanometers to measure blood pressure is a common practice in the healthcare context. The disinfection and maintenance of these devices is essential in clinical practice to prevent the proliferation of microorganisms. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in sphygmomanometer cuffs in the clinical setting. A cross-sectional study was carried out. Five types of healthcare centers, selected through convenience sampling, participated in this study. Samples were collected from the inside of sphygmomanometer cuffs, and labeled and delivered to the laboratory for analysis. The samples were incubated in an oven at 35.5°C for 24h. A total CFU count was carried out on the plates that were cataloged as positive. Colonies that showed growth were identified using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry technology. Of the total sample, (N = 372), 69.1% were positive and were isolated. In 30.9% (n = 115), no bacterial development was found within 48h. A total of 257 microorganisms were found. The mean number of colony-forming units was 29.62 (SD = 32.33). The socio-health centers had the highest amount of bacterial contamination in the cuffs. In regards to the type of microorganisms, 31.5% (n = 81) found were Bacillus cereus, followed by 26.8% (n = 69) of Staphylococcus hominis and 9.7% (n = 25) were Pantoea agglomerans, among others. Statistically significant differences were found between the type of microorganism and the hours elapsed since the last disinfection (X2(19) = 44.582; p = 0.001). Statistically significant differences were found between the time elapsed since the last disinfection and the type of sphygmomanometer (X2 (2) = 117.752; p = 0.000). Despite the fact that most hospitals and health centers have established infection control policies and protocols, the results of this study indicate the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in blood pressure cuffs in the clinical setting.

The effects of Ziziphus Spina leaves' Hydro-Alcoholic Extract Vaginal Cream and Clotrimazole on Candida albicans in Wistar Rats.

In vitro, Ziziphus Spina-Christi (ZSC) leaves have been shown to have antimicrobial and antifungal effects. This study aimed to examine the effects of Ziziphus Spina leaves hydro-alcoholic extracts with Clotrimazole against Candida albicans in female rats. Four groups of rats were infected vaginally with C. Albicans, and 1 group not infected was considered negative control. The infected groups received the following treatments: 2 groups were treated with vaginal 5%, or 10%, of Ziziphus Spina extract creams. One group received 1% clotrimazole, and 1 group did not receive any treatment considered a positive control. The mean number of colony-forming units (CFUs) before the intervention was 195.83 ± 395.126 in the 5% ZSC group, 346.33 ± 396.719 in the 10% ZSC group, 345.17 ± 507.431 in the clotrimazole group, 212.20 ± 148.304 in the positive control group (P = .604), and 0 in the negative control group (P = .003). After 1 week, the average number of CFUs considerably dropped to 65.14 ± 36.03 in the 5% ZSC group, 1.43 ± 3.60 in the 10% ZSC group, and 0.43 ± 1.13 in the clotrimazole group. The number in the positive control group remained unchanged (212.20 ± 148.304) (P = .005). After 2 weeks, the average number of CFUs was 0 in the 10% ZSC group, Clotrimazole and negative control groups and was 4.57 ± 23.99 in the 5% ZSC group (P < .001). Our findings indicated that the effectiveness of Vaginal creams containing 10% Ziziphus Spina is similar to Clotrimazole in eliminating C. Albicans.

ROLE OF POVIDONE-IODINE-SOAKED GAUZE IN PREVENTING INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING TRANS RECTAL DIGITAL GUIDED PROSTATE BIOPSY

Objective: To identify the role of povidone iodine-soaked gauze following transrectal digital guided prostate biopsy in the prevention of infectious complications. Methodology: This prospective comparative study was conducted in the urology department of Lady Reading Hospital including 201 patients. Patients who had indications for prostate biopsy, including an elevated pros­tate-specific antigen (PSA) or abnormal prostatic nodule on digital rectal findings were included. Patients were distributed into two groups by the closed envelop method. Group, I (n=101) received a povidone-iodine-soaked gauze intrarectally along with xylocaine lubricant for 5 minutes just before biopsy, while group 2 (n=100) did not receive povidone-soaked gauze. The transrectal digital guided prostate biopsy guided method was used in this study. The rectal swab was taken before using povidone-soaked gauze and after doing biopsy in both groups The bacterial colonies were counted in swabs before using povidone-soaked gauze and after biopsy using biopsy Mueller-Hinton agar medium. Results: The mean age of group 1 was 64 years (range, 39–80) and group 2 was 61.7 years (range, 35–82). The average PSA values were 7.3 ng/ml and 8.34 ng/ml in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The rate of infectious complications in group1 was 0.9% (n=1) whereas in group 2 was 10% (n=10). A single-use of povidone-soaked rectal gauze significantly lowered the risk of infectious complications P&lt;0.05. There was a 99.9% decrease in the mean number of colony-forming units after rectal preparation. Conclusion: Findings concluded that using povidone iodine-soaked gauze before doing digital guided prostate biopsy is a significant method to minimize complications.

Effect of octenidine mouthwash on plaque, gingivitis, and oral microbial growth: A systematic review

ObjectiveOctenidine dihydrochloride is an antimicrobial cationic surfactant compound. We conducted a systematic review to determine the efficacy of octenidine‐based mouthwash on plaque formation, gingivitis, and oral microbial growth in subjects with or without periodontal disease.Materials and MethodsPubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies. The review was conducted per PRISMA guidelines. Only randomized controlled trials and observational studies comparing octenidine with placebo or other mouthwashes in healthy subjects with or without periodontal disease, were considered for this review. The endpoints included percentage reduction in plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), absolute reduction in the mean number of colony‐forming units (CFU/ml [log10]) and adverse effects (AEs; tooth staining/mucosal tolerance).ResultsTen randomized controlled and six observational studies fulfilled the selection criteria. Twice or thrice daily rinsing with 0.1% octenidine for 30–60 s produced significant reduction in plaque, gingivitis and oral microbial growth. Compared to control mouthwash or baseline, 0.1% octenidine inhibited plaque formation by ~38.7%–92.9%, which was either equal or greater than that of chlorhexidine gluconate. 0.1% octenidine reduced gingivitis by ~36.4%–68.37% versus control mouthwash or baseline and microbial growth by 0.37–5.3 colony‐forming units (vs. chlorhexidine: 0.4–4.23 colony‐forming units). Additional benefits of 0.1% octenidine were significant reduction in the number of bleeding sites, papilla bleeding index, sulcus bleeding index, and gingival fluid flow.ConclusionWithin the limitations of this study, there exists moderate evidence that 0.1% OCT was found to be an effective antiplaque agent. Octenidine inhibited plaque formation upto 93% and gingivitis upto 68% versus placebo and was either superior or comparable to chlorhexidine. Octenidine was well‐tolerated and safe and can be an effective alternative to CHX and other contemporary mouthwashes.

Development of a multispecies periodontal biofilm model within a stirred bioreactor

The objective of this work was to develop a subgingival biofilm model using a stirred bioreactor. Discs of bovine teeth were adapted to a stirred bioreactor filled with a culture medium containing bacterial species associated with periodontal health or disease. After anaerobic incubation, the biofilms growing on the substratum surfaces were collected and analyzed. The mean number of Colony-forming Units (CFUs) varied, but with no difference between 3 and 7 days of biofilm formation (p > 0.05). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis showed a uniform biofilm layer covering the cement layer of the root surface containing bacteria with diverse morphology. In checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization, bacterial species were identified in both biofilms. In conclusion, a subgingival biofilm model was developed using a stirred bioreactor, allowing the in vitro reproduction of complex microbial communities. This is an advanced model that may be useful to mimic complex clinical periodontal biofilms.

Progress not panacea: vancomycin powder efficacy and dose evaluated in an in vivo mouse model of spine implant infection

BACKGROUNDIntrawound vancomycin powder (VP) has been rapidly adopted in spine surgery with apparent benefit demonstrated in limited, retrospective studies. Randomized trials, basic science, and dose response studies are scarce. PURPOSEThis study aims to test the efficacy and dose effect of VP over an extended time course within a randomized, controlled in vivo animal experiment. STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGRandomized controlled experiment utilizing a mouse model of spine implant infection with treatment groups receiving vancomycin powder following bacterial inoculation. METHODSUtilizing a mouse model of spine implant infection with bioluminescent Staphylococcus aureus, 24 mice were randomized into 3 groups: 10 infected mice with VP treatment (+VP), 10 infected mice without VP treatment (No-VP), and 4 sterile controls (SC). Four milligrams of VP (mouse equivalent of 1 g in a human) were administered before wound closure. Bioluminescence imaging was performed over 5 weeks to quantify bacterial burden. Electron microscopy (EM), bacterial colonization assays (Live/Dead) staining, and colony forming units (CFU) analyses were completed. A second dosing experiment was completed with 34 mice randomized into 4 groups: control, 2 mg, 4 mg, and 8 mg groups. RESULTSThe (+VP) treatment group exhibited significantly lower bacterial loads compared to the control (No-VP) group, (p<.001). CFU analysis at the conclusion of the experiment revealed 20% of mice in the +VP group and 67% of mice in the No-VP group had persistent infections, and the (+VP) treatment group had significantly less mean number of CFUs (p<.03). EM and Live/Dead staining revealed florid biofilm formation in the No-VP group. Bioluminescence was suppressed in all VP doses tested compared with sterile controls (p<.001). CFU analysis revealed a 40%, 10%, and 20% persistent infection rate in the 2 mg, 4 mg, and 8 mg dose groups, respectively. CFU counts across dosing groups were not statistically different (p=.56). CONCLUSIONSVancomycin powder provided an overall infection prevention benefit but failed to eradicate infection in all mice. Furthermore, the dose when halved also demonstrated an overall protective benefit, albeit at a lower rate. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEVancomycin powder is efficacious but should not be viewed as a panacea for perioperative infection prevention. Dose alterations can be considered, especially in patients with kidney disease or at high risk for seroma.

Dose-response effect of chlorhexidine on a multispecies oral biofilm formed on pure titanium and on a titanium-zirconium alloy

This study aimed to test the dose-response effect of chlorhexidine on multispecies biofilms formed on commercially pure titanium (cpTi) and titanium-zirconium (TiZr) alloy. Biofilms were formed on cpTi and TiZr discs and treated two times per day with five different chlorhexidine concentrations (0.12, 0.20, 0.50, 1, 2%). The biofilms were collected for microbiological, biochemical and microscopic analyses. The significance of differences among groups was evaluated by linear regression, ANOVA, Bonferroni and Tukey tests. The mean number of colony-forming units decreased as the chlorhexidine concentration increased for both cpTi and TiZr (p < 0.05). The maximum effect was observed with the 0.5% concentration. Confocal microscopy images suggested an increase in the number of dead bacterial cells with increased chlorhexidine concentration. The biofilm pH increased after chlorhexidine exposure (p < 0.05). Chlorhexidine showed an antimicrobial dose-response effect in controlling biofilm on cpTi and TiZr. 0.5% chlorhexidine can be used to achieve the maximum antimicrobial effect on both materials.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Effect of Diode laser 980 nm, Triple Antibiotic Past, and Calcium Hydroxide on Enterococcus Faecalis Biofilm

Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-biofilm capacity of Diode laser 980 nm, triple antibiotic mixture and calcium hydroxide.Methods: Eighty five single-rooted teeth with mature apices were prepared using Protaper Universal rotary nickel titanium system till size # F4 then contaminated with E.faecalis. Irrigation done using 2.5% sodium hypochlorite followed by 17% EDTA. Samples were divided into 4 groups (n= 20) according to the irrigant activation method. Laser group,TAP group, Ca(OH)2group and the control group. Residual bacteria were plated onto Brain Heart Infusion media and determined as colony-forming units (CFU mL-1). Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA followed by performance of Tukey post hoc tests. Significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean numbers of colony-forming units among all groups. However, none of the activation methods was able to kill E. faecalis biofilm completely. The Laser group behaved most effectively among all groups.Conclusion: The adjunctive use of 980nm laser is an effective method for bacterial reduction after chemo-mechanical instrumentation of the root canal.

Efficacy of titanium dioxide nanoparticle spray to disinfect mobile phones used by endodontist: A bacteriological study.

Aim:The objectives of this study were to determine the bacterial contamination of the mobile phones that were used by the endodontist in comparison with the general dentist and also to determine the usefulness of titanium dioxide nanospray (TiO2 NS) in mobile phone decontamination.Materials and Methods:Samples from the 60 mobile phones were taken using moist sterile swabs before, 10 min, and 1 week after the use of TiO2 NS. Before collection of the swabs, the participants' informed consent was obtained. Samples obtained were cultured on blood agar to identify bacterial isolates.Results:All 60 mobile phone cultures were found to be culture positive. There was a significant reduction in the mean number of colony-forming units after decontamination with TiO2 NS (P < 0.001).Conclusions:The results from this study showed that the mobile phones may act as an important source of nosocomial pathogens and TiO2 NS would be an effective decontaminant. Therefore, it is important for dental professionals to practice routine mobile phone disinfection protocol to reduce the chances of occurrence of nosocomial infections.

Traffic flow and microbial air contamination in operating rooms at a major teaching hospital in Ghana

Current literature examining the relationship between door-opening rate, number of people present, and microbial air contamination in the operating room is limited. Studies are especially needed from low- and middle-income countries, where the risk of surgical site infections is high. To assess microbial air contamination in operating rooms at a Ghanaian teaching hospital and the association with door-openings and number of people present. Moreover, we aimed to document reasons for door-opening. We conducted active air-sampling using an MAS 100® portable impactor during 124 clean or clean-contaminated elective surgical procedures. The number of people present, door-opening rate and the reasons for each door-opening were recorded by direct observation using pretested structured observation forms. During surgery, the mean number of colony-forming units (cfu) was 328cfu/m3 air, and 429 (84%) of 510 samples exceeded a recommended level of 180cfu/m3. Of 6717 door-openings recorded, 77% were considered unnecessary. Levels of cfu/m3 were strongly correlated with the number of people present (P=0.001) and with the number of door-openings/h (P=0.02). In empty operating rooms, the mean cfu count was 39cfu/m3 after 1 h of uninterrupted ventilation and 52 (51%) of 102 samples exceeded a recommended level of 35cfu/m3. The study revealed high values of intraoperative airborne cfu exceeding recommended levels. Minimizing the number of door-openings and people present during surgery could be an effective strategy to reduce microbial air contamination in low- and middle-income settings.

EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECT OF DIODE LASER 980 NM, ENDOVAC AND PASSIVE ULTRASONIC IRRIGATION DURING FINAL IRRIGATION

Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Diode laser 980 nm, EndoVac and passive ultrasonic irrigation ex vivo. Methods: One hundred and five maxillary central incisors were standardized to 15mm in length. All samples were prepared using Protaper Universal rotary nickel titanium system till size # F4 then contaminated with E. faecalis. The irrigation protocol used was 2.5% sodium hypochlorite followed by 17% EDTA. Samples were randomly divided into 5 groups (n= 20) according to the irrigant activation method. LAI group, Diode laser 980nm. API group, EndoVac system. PUI group, passive ultrasonic activation. The positive control group, in which the irrigating solution was not activated and the negative control group in which the samples were not subjected to irrigation or activation. Residual bacteria were collected with sterile paper point, plated onto BHI media and incubated (37 °C, 48 h) to determine the colony-forming units (CFU mL-1). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by performance of Tukey post hoc tests. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the changes in biofilm. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean numbers of colony-forming units among all groups. However, none of the activation methods was able to kill E. faecalis biofilm completely. The LAI group behaved most effectively among all groups.Conclusion: The adjunctive use of 980nm laser is an effective method for bacterial reduction after chemo-mechanical instrumentation of the root canal.

Adhesivity оf standard and biofilm cultures of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriaе strains

Background : Adhesion and ability to form a biofilm are considered among the leading pathogenicity factors of Corynebacterium diphtheriaе, responsible for bacterial carriage. It is exactly bacterial carriage that ensures the circulation of diphtheria pathogen strains in the inter-epidemic periods. Aim : To assess and compare adhesivity of standard and biofilm cultures of toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains. Materials and methods : We studied standard and biofilm (120 and 720 hour) cultures of C. diphtheriae strains. Their ability to form a biofilm was tested according to P. Watnick (2000). Adhesivity was assessed in the pharyngeal epithelial carcinoma Hep-2 cell culture with various time exposures (2, 8, and 18 hours). The amounts of C. diphtheriae adhered to Нер-2 cells were measured by culturing the swabs in the 20% serum agar with subsequent calculation of mean numbers of colony-forming units (CFU) per 1 mL. Results: All standard and biofilm cultures of the studied toxigenic strains of C. diphtheriae had adhesive properties of various degrees. The highest adhesivity was found in a circulating strain C. diphtheriae gravis tox+ (from 0.26±0.01 to 203.3±3.3 CFU/mL), which differed from the same parameters in other strains studied (from 0.03±0.003 to 0.20±0.01 CFU/mL). The lowest adhesivity after a 2-hour exposure was found both in the standard and biofilm cultures of C. diphtheriae gravis tox+ 6765, whereas after the exposure of 8 and 18 hours, the lowest adhesion properties were demonstrated by C. diphtheriae gravis with a “silent” tox gene and C. diphtheriae mitis tox+ 269. All cultures of toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains showed a statistically significant increase in their adhesivity (р≤0.05) by 8 and 18 hour of cultivation. Conclusion: Circulating C. diphtheriae gravis tox+ strain demonstrated the highest adhesivity among all toxigenic strains of the diphtheria pathogens studied.

Microbial flora on cell-phones in an orthopedic surgery room before and after decontamination

IntroductionCell-phones are the typical kind of object brought into the operating room from outside by hospital staff. A great effort is made to reduce the level of potentially contaminating bacteria in the operating room, and introducing these devices may run counter to good practice. The study hypothesis was that cell-phones are colonized by several strains of bacteria and may constitute a source of nosocomial contamination. The main study objective was to screen for bacterial colonies on the surfaces of cell-phones introduced in an orthopedic surgery room. The secondary objective was to assess the efficacy of decontamination. Material and methodSamples were taken from the cell-phones of hospital staff (surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, radiology operators, and external medical representatives) entering the operating room of the university hospital center orthopedic surgery department, Toulouse (France). Sampling used Count Tact® contact gel, without wiping the phone down in advance. Both sides of the phone were sampled, before and after decontamination with a pad imbibed with 0.25% Surfanios® Premium disinfectant. A nasal sample was also taken to investigate the correlation between Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal cavities and on the cell-phone. ResultsFifty-two cell-phones were sampled. Before decontamination, the mean number of colony-forming units (CFU) was 258 per phone (range, 0-1,664). After decontamination, it was 127 (range, 0-800) (P=0.0001). Forty-nine cell-phones bore CFUs before decontamination (94%), and 39 after (75%) (P=0.02). DiscussionCell-phones are CFU carriers and may thus lead to contamination. Guidelines should be drawn up to encourage cleaning phones regularly and to reduce levels of use within the operating room.

Incidence of endotracheal tube colonization with the use of PneuX endotracheal tubes in patients following cardiac surgery

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) develops in up to 25% of patients following cardiac surgery. Colonization of the endotracheal tube (ETT) contributes to VAP. The PneuX ETT has been shown to halve VAP in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This article reports on the secondary analysis of bacterial colonization in relation to VAP between the PneuX and standard ETTs. In this randomized controlled trial, patients were randomized on a 1:1 basis to Group A (PneuX ET, N=120) or Group B (standard ETT, N=120). Patients aged >70 years with or without impaired left ventricular function (<50%) undergoing elective and urgent cardiac surgery were included in this study. Incidence of postoperative VAP and analysis ofbacterial colonization within the ETT (N=234) were measured for patients requiring <24 h, 24-48 h and >48 h of intubation. Baseline patient demographics were comparable. VAP was lower in Group A compared with Group B (10.8% vs 21%; P=0.03). The incidence of VAP was lower at each time point for Group A. There was a lower incidence of ETT colonization in Group A for patients needing >48 h of intubation. There was no difference in the type of bacterial colonization (P=0.5) or the mean number of colony-forming units [4.35x107 (1.18x108) and 2.16x108 (1.24x109) in Groups A and B, respectively (P=0.8)]. Colonization of the ETT does not seem to play an important role in early-onset VAP. There is a tendency for reduced colonization in the PneuX ETT with longer intubation times. This may have an impact on reducing the incidence of late-onset VAP.

Clinical and bacteriological outcome of combined intravitreal injection of vancomycin and ceftazidime in experimentally induced endophthalmitis

Introduction Endophthalmitis, despite being rare, is the most serious complication of ocular surgery. Aminoglycosides, used in combination with vancomycin (VAN), were found to cause macular toxicity. Ceftazidime has been suggested as an alternative antibiotic because of its lower risk of retinal toxicity. Purpose of the study The purpose is to evaluate outcome of intravitreal injection (IVI) of VAN and ceftazidime combination versus ciprofloxacin on experimentally induced endophthalmitis. Materials and methods Twenty-one albino rabbits were divided into three groups as follows: group I received IVI of 0.1 ml saline, group II received IVI of VAN (1 mg/0.1 ml) and ceftazidime (2.25 mg/0.1 ml), and group III received IVI of ciprofloxacin (1 mg/0.1 ml). Right eyes were inoculated with 10 5 colony forming units (CFU)/0.l ml of Staphylococcus epidermidis . After 24 h, inoculated eyes were examined by indirect ophthalmoscopy for signs and severity of endophthalmitis according to the modified scheme of Peyman and Bassili, and IVI was provided. On day 3 of the study, inoculated eyes were re-examined clinically, vitreous samples were obtained for bacteriological examination, and if culture was positive, antibiotics were reinjected. On day 6, animals were killed, right eyes were enucleated, and contents of the posterior segment were inoculated on blood agar for evaluation of bacterial growth and counting the CFU. Results On day 3, frequency of animals having severe grades of conjunctival injection and corneal edema was significantly higher in groups I and III compared with group II, and not significantly higher in group I compared with group III. Frequency of animals showing good red reflex was significantly higher in group II compared with groups I and III, and not significant different in group III compared with group I. On day 3, the mean number of CFU was significantly lower in group II compared with groups I and III with significantly lower number in group III compared with group I. On day 6, all samples of group II were sterile, while mean number of CFU was significantly lower in group III compared with group III. Conclusion Combined therapy using VAN and ceftazidime provided proper clinical and bacteriological control of experimentally induced endophthalmitis, with significant difference from single-drug therapy.

Gastrointestinal Tract Colonization Dynamics by Different Enterococcus faecium Clades.

Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) generally precedes infection with antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecium We used a mouse GIT colonization model to test differences in the colonization levels by strains from different E. faecium lineages: clade B, part of the healthy human microbiota; subclade A1, associated with infections; and subclade A2, primarily associated with animals. After mono-inoculation, there was no significant difference in colonization (measured as the geometric mean number of colony-forming units per gram) by the E. faecium clades at any time point (P > .05). However, in competition assays, with 6 of the 7 pairs, clade B strains outcompeted clade A strains in their ability to persist in the GIT; this difference was significant in some pairs by day 2 and in all pairs by day 14 (P < .0008-.0283). This observation may explain the predominance of clade B in the community and why antibiotic-resistant hospital-associated E. faecium are often replaced by clade B strains once patients leave the hospital.

Microbiota formed on attached stainless steel coupons correlates with the natural biofilm of the sink surface in domestic kitchens

Stainless steel coupons are frequently used in biofilm studies in the laboratory, as this material is commonly used in the food industry. The coupons are attached to different surfaces to create a "natural" biofilm to be studied further in laboratory trials. However, little has been done to investigate how well the microbiota on such coupons represents the surrounding environment. The microbiota on sink wall surfaces and on new stainless steel coupons attached to the sink wall for 3 months in 8 domestic kitchen sinks was investigated by next-generation sequencing (MiSeq) of the 16S rRNA gene derived from DNA and RNA (cDNA), and by plating and identification of colonies. The mean number of colony-forming units was about 10-fold higher for coupons than sink surfaces, and more variation in bacterial counts between kitchens was seen on sink surfaces than coupons. The microbiota in the majority of biofilms was dominated by Moraxellaceae (genus Moraxella/Enhydrobacter) and Micrococcaceae (genus Kocuria). The results demonstrated that the variation in the microbiota was mainly due to differences between kitchens (38.2%), followed by the different nucleic acid template (DNA vs RNA) (10.8%), and that only 5.1% of the variation was a result of differences between coupons and sink surfaces. The microbiota variation between sink surfaces and coupons was smaller for samples based on their RNA than on their DNA. Overall, our results suggest that new stainless steel coupons are suited to model the dominating part of the natural microbiota of the surrounding environment and, furthermore, are suitable for different downstream studies.

Mobile Phone Hygiene: Potential Risks Posed by Use in the Clinics of an Indian Dental School

The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to determine the level and type of bacterial contamination of the mobile phones of dental personnel involved in direct patient care and to determine the usefulness of cleaning with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for decontamination. Dental faculty and trainees in an Indian dental school were asked to participate in a study in which a questionnaire concerning patterns of mobile phone use and disinfection was administered. Swabs from mobile phones of the participants were taken using moist sterile swabs and plated on blood agar plates. The bacteria isolated were identified by biochemical tests. Eighteen percent of the participants (n=9) reported using their phones while attending patients. Nearly 64 percent (n=32) used their mobiles for checking time, and 64 percent (n=42) reported never cleaning their phones. In total, fifty mobile phones were cultured for microorganisms: 98 percent (n=49) were culture-positive, and 34 percent (n=17) grew potentially pathogenic bacteria. There was significant reduction in the mean number of colony-forming units after decontamination with alcohol (p<0.001). The bacterial load was reduced by around 87 percent. The results of this study show that mobile phones may act as an important source of nosocomial pathogens in the dental setting. Therefore, it is important for dental school administrators to encourage higher compliance with hand-washing practices and routine surface disinfection through framing of strict protocols to reduce the chances of occurrence of nosocomial infections.

Decreased in the number and function of circulation endothelial progenitor cells in patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head

Introduction Once non-traumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) happened, vascular impairment and feeble collateral circulation are followed by poor outcomes. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may substantially contribute to vascular homeostasis such as vascular repair and new blood vessel growth. We investigated whether abnormalities in EPCs levels and functions are present in ANFH patients. Methods 54 ANFH patients were enrolled, including steroid-induced ( n = 21), alcohol-induced ( n = 15) and idiopathic ANFH ( n = 18), and 30 healthy subjects as control (HC). The numbers of circulation EPCs were determined by fluorescence-activated cell-sorting (FACS) analysis. EPCs cultured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells on fibronectin to induce the expression of receptors for acetylated low-density lipoprotein and ulex-lectin. EPCs colony-forming units (CFUs) were observed from 54 patients and 30 healthy controls. Migratory capacity to chemo-attractants (vascular endothelial growth factor) cellular senescence levels and in vitro angiogenesis ability were assessed in age-matched subjects ( n = 10 per groups). Results Mean numbers of circulating EPC were 1460 ± 265 cells/ml in HC, 545 ± 177 in ANFH, ( P < 0.001). Mean numbers of CFUs were 26.2 ± 6.2 in HC, 19.6 ± 7.7 in ANFH,( P < 0.001). Although there were not significant differences in circulating EPC and CFUs among the steroid-induced, alcohol-induced or idiopathic three groups, all these risk factors contributed to the decreased circulating EPCs numbers and CFUs. In addition, EPCs from ANFH patients showed reduced migratory capacity and increased cellular senescence compared with EPCs from normal subjects, furthermore the ability of angiogenesis in vitro was also impaired. Conclusion Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) numbers and functions are reduced in ANFH patients, suggesting that risk factors of ANFH may alter EPCs biology in angiogenesis and vascular repair.