UNLABELLED Ultrasound examinations are recognised as being safe. The greatest epidemiological threat during the performance of examination is the transfer of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms between patients and from personnel to patients. Colonization of the skin with opportunistic bacteria of immunocompromised and high risk patients may lead to infection following an ultrasound sca...

TO THE EDITOR—Patel et al [1] investigated the usefulness of the real-time fluorescence loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, RealAmp, as a point-of-care test in diagnosing malaria. In an accompanying editorial, Hsiang et al [2] highlighted some advantages and limitations of LAMP as a point-ofcare test. Molecular techniques are well known for their high sensitivity and specificit...

Background: This study aimed at analyzing microbial contamination in medical equipment, environment, and staff of a gastroenterology unit.    Methods: Samples of gastrointestinal imaging devices, the environment, and staff were collected using standard swab-rinse technique and biochemical or molecular characteristics of the isolates, their susceptibility to antibiotics, and similarit...

Contamination with radiopharmaceuticals in nuclear medicine centers in addition to being a health concern requires time-consuming decontamination efforts. According to NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) contamination should be monitored in nuclear medicine centers where radiopharmaceuticals are prepared and administrated at the end of each working session; otherwise, contamination spread...

The possible effect of contrails in modifying the weather is reconsidered in the light of information obtained from ground-level contrails in Alaska. It appears likely that inadvertent cloud seeding b y jet aircraft may be of the same order of magnitude as that attained in commercial cloud seeding operations. Further investigation is needed; but in the meantime, the possibility of contrail cont...

Aim e purpose of this study was to compare surface contamination resulting from standard syringe plungers and cylinders compared to using the EQUASHIELD® Syringe Unit. Method e contamination level of standard syringes was compared to that of EQUASHIELD® Syringe Units, after repeated pharmaceutical manipulations using an antineoplastic (Cyclophosphamide) drug. Results Signi cant levels of up to ...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in self-contamination rates and levels of contact and droplet protection associated with enhanced respiratory and contact precautions (E-RCP) and a personal protective system that included a full body suit, personal protective equipment and a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR). METHODS In this prospective, randomized, con...

The aim of this study was to evaluate air and surface contaminations, and internal contamination of healthcare workers during open-abdomen HIPEC using oxaliplatin. Platinum (Pt) was measured in urine of exposed workers and in multiple air and surface samples. Three successive HIPEC procedures were investigated in each of the two hospitals participating in the study. Analysis of air samples did ...

The microbiologic contamination can occur in all the steps of an intraoral conventional or digital radiographic examination, unless some measures to avoid the cross-infection are applied. Scientific articles have shown that during the radiograph taking procedure, there is contact with the patient’s oral fluids (saliva and blood) and, consequently, the contamination of the film or digital sensor...