Pediatric Tube Research Articles

Methods for optimal recovery of Malassezia furfur from blood culture.

Malassezia furfur, a recently described agent of catheter-associated sepsis, requires long-chained fatty acids for in vitro growth. To determine optimum conditions for recovery of the organism from blood culture, we compared a radiometric (BACTEC) with a lysis centrifugation-direct agar plating (Isolator) blood culture method. When blood culture isolates of M. furfur were suspended in phosphate-buffered saline and used as inocula, the BACTEC system detected the organisms radiometrically only when bottles were supplemented with lipid compounds; detection was often delayed (greater than or equal to 72 h) when small inoculum sizes were tested. The Isolator pediatric tube system detected growth of M. furfur within 48 h of plating onto a lipid-supplemented agar medium. Simulated blood culture experiments showed that the addition of whole human blood and Intralipid to the BACTEC 6B bottle was associated with rapid lysis of erythrocytes, accumulation of a chocolate brown sediment in the bottles, and fungicidal activity to the M. furfur isolates. In contrast, suspensions of M. furfur in whole human blood were stable for at least 8 h in Isolator tubes and quantitatively recoverable after plating onto agar. Of the two systems studied, the Isolator tube system provided a more suitable procedure for isolation of M. furfur from blood culture.

Pediatric tube system for collection of uncontaminated jejunal juice.

A tube system for collection of uncontaminated jejunal juice in children is described. It consists of an outer tube, the distal end of which is closed with a membrane, and an inner aspiration tube. When the outer tube is positioned at the site of aspiration, the membrane is perforated by applying air pressure through the outer tube. The tube was tested in 72 Danish children. With only one intubation having to be repeated, aspiration was achieved in all the children (95% confidence limits, 92.60-99.97%). The median intubation time was 10 min (range, 2-35 min). Mean time for aspiration of 1 ml of jejunal juice varied from 1 to 30 min (median, 5 min). The site of aspiration in the jejunum--expressed as the position of the tip of the inner tube--was from 0 to 6 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz (median, 3 cm). There were no complications.

Pediatric Tube System for Collection of Uncontaminated Jejunal Juice

Summary:A tube system for collection of uncontaminated jejunal juice in children is described. It consists of an outer tube, the distal end of which is closed with a membrane, and an inner aspiration tube. When the outer tube is positioned at the site of aspiration, the membrane is perforated by applying air pressure through the outer tube. The tube was tested in 72 Danish children. With only one intubation having to be repeated, aspiration was achieved in all the children (95% confidence limits, 92.60‐99.97%). The median intubation time was 10 min (range, 2‐35 min). Mean time for aspiration of 1 ml of jejunal juice varied from 1 to 30 min (median, 5 min). The site of aspiration in the jejunum—expressed as the position of the tip of the inner tube—was from 0 to 6 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz (median, 3 cm). There were no complications.

A paediatric nasotracheal tube connection (for use in prolonged nasotracheal intubation and ventilation of neonates).

A paediatric nasotracheal tube connection (for use in prolonged nasotracheal intubation and ventilation of neonates).

A paediatric tube and capsule for suction biopsy of the small intestinal mucosa designed for direct nasogastric intubation.

The use of a modified paediatric tube and capsule for suction biopsy of the mucosa of the small intestine is discussed. The tube is small in diameter and can be introduced through the nose without local trauma and with minimal discomfort. The intubation technique was followed in 72 instances to obtain suction biopsies from the proximal mucosa of the small intestine in protein-calorie malnourished children, and the results obtained with this instrument are also presented.