1,720,985 research outputs found
A new UV-LED device for automatic disinfection of stethoscope membranes
No full textBackground Stethoscopes are widely used by doctors and nurses. Poor stethoscope hygiene is a potential source of nosocomial infection. This study aimed to propose an innovative solution, based on the latest advances in ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs), for disinfecting stethoscope membranes automatically and efficiently. Methods Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis were sown on 28 stethoscope membranes and then transferred to Petri dishes. Treatment involved illuminating exposed Petri dishes with a UVC LED for 1 minute. For each microbe, the number of colony-forming units (cfu) at 36°C was compared in control and treated dishes using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess percent reductions in bacteria. Statistical significance was set at 99%. Results A significant reduction in cfu counts after UV treatment (P .01). Conclusion The stethoscope, symbol of medicine and health care professionals, has been demonstrated to be a carrier of microorganisms. The treatment technique was effective and efficient in disinfecting the membranes. These promising results represent a step forward toward eliminating stethoscope membrane contamination with an innovative approach
Unpleasant and stinking hosts
No full textBackground
Feet can suffer of several pathologies due to bacteria/fungal infections. Discomfort can be determinate by uncomfortable/tight shoes which can injure the feet and by the increase of bacteria/fungi due a reduction of the escape of the sweat into the air. Good hygiene is the first step in maintaining the feet in good health. While socks can easily be washed and disinfected, shoes, in many case, can not. For this reason procedures and substances which can hygienize the inner part of the shoes are a relevant aspect of primary prevention against foot infections and from strong odor.The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a hygienic compound for shoes in the reduction of bacteria/fungi contamination.
Methods
This is an ongoing study in which few subjects are treating for 5 consecutive days one of their shoes, with a natural guar compound for reducing the load of bacteria, and did not treat the other shoes.An overall of 40 samples per shoe have been collected and investigations have been conducted on overall bacteria count at 22 and 36 C°, and for Staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA), Enterococci (Ent), Escherichia Coli (EC), and fungi. The Wilcoxon matched pair test was used to assess statistical differences (p<0.05) between the treated/not treated shoes.
Results
Early results showed a decrease of the bacteria/yeasts and molds counts in the treated shoes compared to the untreated ones in all the comparisons. Reduction was statistical significant for overall bacteria count at 22 C°(p=0.043), 36 C°(p=0.043) and for Coliforms (p=0.0422). Reduction was obtained also on molds (p=0.0782), ranging from 3 to 0 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)\0.1ml for the treated shoes versus 42 to 13 CFU\0.1ml, on the untreated ones. EC decreased (p=0.0897), the treated shoes had a maximum of 2 CFU\0.1ml versus a mean of 18 CFU\0.1ml on the untreated shoes. PA was not found in any shoes.
Conclusion
The intervention can reinforce personal hygiene in reducing bacteria/fungi contamination. It could be useful i)to study a larger population to obtain more stable results, ii)to verify the possible advantages on people which are at higher risk/consequences of feet infection, such diabetes patients and iii)to estimate the cost/benefits of such intervention.
Keywords: shoes, contaminatio
Indagini microbiologiche su acque potabili sottoposte a trattamenti domestici di osmosi inversa
No full text
Portatori di Streptococchi beta-emolitici: ricerca epidemiologica tra gli alunni delle scuole materne ed elementari del Distretto S.S.1, U.S.L. 30 (area senese) - Nota 1
No full text- …
