BACKGROUND Infection and epidural abscess are important complications of epidural analgesia. Difficult insertion may be associated with an increased risk of bacterial contamination of the epidural needle or catheter. METHODS Bacterial contamination of epidural needles and trocars after difficult epidural insertion, defined as two or more skin passes, was assessed in 38 obstetric and ten gynae...

This study examined the hypothesis that the wearing of plastic aprons during direct patient contact would reduce significantly the number of bacteria carried on nurses' uniforms, and therefore reduce the probability of the transmission of nosocomial infections. Current nursing practices and overall bacterial uniform contamination levels were investigated, as well as the effects of the wearing o...

Reported are the results of a study in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to evaluate the bacterial contamination of the lacteal contents of feeding bottles prepared in urban households of low (LSE) and high (HSE) socioeconomic groups, involving 100 and 32 mothers of infants, respectively. Samples of the lacteal contents of the feeding bottles were cultured and the medians (25th and 75th percentiles) of the co...

Fresh and packaged food safety, especially of meat products has become a major issue because of microbial contamination. In the present study, an attempt has been made to isolate bacteria from fresh and packaged meat products from various sources and locations. The isolated bacterial samples were identified by Phenotypic, biochemical and molecular characterization. The veracity of the contamina...

Topical ophthalmic medications used on the ward and from the outpatient area have been taken and cultured for potential bacterial contamination in the laboratory. We examined 143 bottles used by patients who had had routine cataract surgery and trabeculectomy. We also examined for bacterial contamination 216 bottles of eyedrops used in the outpatient area of the hospital. No contamination was f...

OBJECTIVE It has previously been shown that microbial contamination of enteral feeds given to children in hospital and at home is common. This study therefore examined the effects of improvements in the enteral feeding protocol, coupled with an intensive staff training programme, on bacterial contamination. METHODS The enteral feeding protocol was modified by: priming the feeding set on an al...

AIMS To examine bacterial contamination of passenger aircraft and to identify aeroplane environments posing the greatest potential health risk. METHODS AND RESULTS DNA was extracted from ten environmental samples collected on four different flights (three domestic, one international) from a variety of surfaces frequently touched by passengers. PCR clone libraries were made from the DNA sample...

BACKGROUND Bacterial contamination of whole blood (WB) units can result in transfusion-transmitted infection, but the extent of the risk has not been established and may be underestimated in veterinary medicine. OBJECTIVES To detect, quantify, and identify bacterial microorganisms in 49 canine WB units during their shelf life. ANIMALS Forty-nine healthy adult dogs. METHODS Forty-nine WB u...

conclusions flushing dental unit waterlines are an effective measure in reducing the number of bacterial contaminants. results bacterial contamination was found in all 24 units at the beginning of daily activity with a mean colony count of 17850. the number of colonies decreased to 3250 following 30 seconds of flushing in 16 units and later to 1837 after flushing for two minutes in 13 units. in...

AIM This study aimed at investigating the microbial contamination of mobile phones in a hospital setting. METHODS Swab samples were collected from 40 mobile phones of patients and health care workers at the Alexandria University Students' Hospital. They were tested for their bacterial contamination at the microbiology laboratory of the High Institute of Public Health. Quantification of bacter...