PURPOSE The initial response of the pharmacy profession to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) chapter 797 and the current state of hospital pharmacy practice as it relates to implementing this chapter were studied. METHODS A stratified random sample of 600 hospital pharmacy directors across the nation were surveyed by mail. RESULTS A total of 251 surveys (41.8%) were returned. Larger hospital...

According to WHO, at any one time, around 50 per cent of medical equipment in lowand middle-income countries cannot be used because of lack of maintenance or spare parts.1 We have found that unwillingness or inability to repair equipment and put it back in use is also a major cause. New equipment is made available by different international non-government organisations (INGOs) competing with on...

OBJECTIVE In this study, we compare a new biological indicator that provides results within 3 hours with four conventional, 48-hour biological indicators and five chemical indicators. DESIGN Biological indicators tested included the conventional Attest 1262, Proof Plus, Assert, and Biosign, and the new Attest 1292 Rapid Readout biological indicator. Chemical indicators tested included Comply,...

not over conscientious in carrying out even those minutiae which they do understand. Bul^ for our own locally trained men most of whom have been many years with us, I must say that, with the introduction of high-pressure sterilisers, and a complete outfit in the way of operation coats, aprons, towels and rubber gloves, there has been corresponding carefulness in attending to the laws of surgica...

Although ethylene oxide gas is widely used as a sterilizing agent for medical instruments because of its disinfection property, the effects of its use in medical settings have not been clarified. In the present study, we measured the ethylene oxide gas concentration (EOGC) within a hospital sterilization unit and in the ambient air near the unit. Before the sterilizer was turned on (about 9:00)...

BACKGROUND Several health hazards including communicable diseases and skin conditions are associated with Barbers' profession to which their visitors are exposed. Thus, knowledge and practice of Barbers would play a vital part in prevention and control of these health hazards. So, the aim of this study is to assess knowledge and practice, and associated factors among barbers about biological ha...

To gauge the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and associated risk factors among inmates during their imprisonment, the authors recruited adult males in a long-stay Scottish prison into a cohort study between April 1999 and October 2000. On two occasions (at 0 and 6 months), saliva was collected for anonymous HCV antibody testing and risk behavior data were obtained through a self-...