Standards and controls for skin disinfection

The correct application of a suitable antiseptic is necessary to minimize the risk of surgical site infection. This class of infection accounts for about 15% of all health-care-associated infections in total and about 37% of the hospital-acquired infections of surgical patients.

The ideal antiseptic agent should be effective against a wide range of microorganisms; work within a fast onset of action; exert a long-term effect; and not be readily inactivated by organic material (e.g. blood). Moreover, it should have minimal toxic effects on the skin. Antiseptics can be classified as bactericidal (capable of killing most members of a population of microorganisms) or bacteriostatic (capable to inhibiting the growth of members of a population of microorganisms). In general, bactericidal products are preferred.

In relation to this, Tim Sandle has written a review article for The Clinical Services Journal. The reference is:

Sandle, T. (2016) Standards and controls for skin disinfection, The Clinical Services Journal, 15 (2): 25-28

For a copy, please contact Tim Sandle



 Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle

Competency Guidelines for Public Health Laboratory Professionals

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently issued a guidance document titled “Competency Guidelines for Public Health Laboratory Professionals: CDC and the Association of Public Health Laboratories.”

The summary reads:

“These competency guidelines outline the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for public health laboratory (PHL) professionals to deliver the core services of PHLs efficiently and effectively.

As part of a 2-year workforce project sponsored in 2012 by CDC and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), competencies for 15 domain areas were developed by experts representing state and local PHLs, clinical laboratories, academic institutions, laboratory professional organizations, CDC, and APHL. The competencies were developed and reviewed by approximately 170 subject matter experts with diverse backgrounds and experiences in laboratory science and public health. The guidelines comprise general, cross-cutting, and specialized domain areas and are divided into four levels of proficiency: beginner, competent, proficient, and expert.

The 15 domain areas are 1) Quality Management System, 2) Ethics, 3) Management and Leadership, 4) Communication, 5) Security, 6) Emergency Management and Response, 7) Workforce Training, 8) General Laboratory Practice, 9) Safety, 10) Surveillance, 11) Informatics, 12) Microbiology, 13) Chemistry, 14) Bioinformatics, and 15) Research.

These competency guidelines are targeted to scientists working in PHLs, defined as governmental public health, environmental, and agricultural laboratories that provide analytic biological and/or chemical testing and testing-related services that protect human populations against infectious diseases, foodborne and waterborne diseases, environmental hazards, treatable hereditary disorders, and natural and human-made public health emergencies.”

The document can be found here: CDC.

Posted by Tim Sandle

Microbes ramp up red-meat risk

An interesting study has been reported in Nature. Microbes in the gut help to boost the risk of colon cancer when haem, the pigment found in red meat, is present. Haem in the diet has been linked to an increased risk of colon cancer — the pigment damages cells lining the gut, which leads to excessive cell proliferation.

The reference is: Nature 524, 8 (06 August 2015) doi:10.1038/524008d

The digestive system is home to trillions of microbes. These microbes, collectively known as the microbiota, help break down our food, forming a variety of small compounds in the process. Researchers have revealed a pathway by which red meat can promote atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Essentially, bacteria in the gut convert L-carnitine, a nutrient abundant in red meat, into a compound called trimethylamine, which in turn changes to a metabolite named trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), which promotes atherosclerosis.

Posted by Tim Sandle

Risk of toothbrushes in communal bathrooms

Data confirms that there is transmission of fecal coliforms in communal bathrooms at Quinnipiac University and that toothbrushes can serve as a vector for transmission of potentially pathogenic organisms. This research is presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

"The main concern is not with the presence of your own fecal matter on your toothbrush, but rather when a toothbrush is contaminated with fecal matter from someone else, which contains bacteria, viruses or parasites that are not part of your normal flora," said Lauren Aber, MHS (Graduate Student, Quinnipiac University). Potential microorganisms that can be introduced are enteric bacteria and pseudomonads. Enteric bacteria are a family of bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, they are known to be normal flora found in the gut. They are also known to ferment glucose, fail to contain cytochrome in an oxidase test and many can reduce nitrates to nitrites. Pseudomonas group of bacteria are gram-negative aerobic rods commonly found in soil, water, plants and animals. They are part of the normal flora of the gut and also on the skin of humans.

For further details, see Medical Net

Posted by Tim Sandle

Medical conditions regarding heart failure

The increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases among adults causes interests in the study of pathologies of this functional system. In this context, it is envisaged that cardiovascular diseases, in addition to the clinical aspect, draw attention from a medical standpoint to the involvement of other organs belonging to other apparatus and systems. From this perspective, this study highlights the imagistic and structural aspects of cardiovascular disease and structural aspects of the disease prior to its installation, focusing on the organs involved with cardiovascular diseases. This study refers specifically to the conventional imagistic features that suggest heart failure and its evolution with possible decompensation. In order to extend this study, references to the normal structural aspects were made, regarding the organs and systems involved in the pathology of previously mentioned pathology, with their integrity before the onset of the disease.

This is the introduction to a new paper by Tim Sandle and colleagues from the Transilvania - University of Braşov.

The reference is:

Sandle, T., Gyurka, G.A. and Chesca, A. (2015) Medical conditions regarding heart failure, ACTA Medica Transilvanica, 20(1):39-41

If you are interested in reading a copy, please contact Tim Sandle.

Posted by Tim Sandle

CDC Releases 2014 Edition of "Yellow Book"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released the online version of the 2014 edition of CDC Health Information for International Travel, commonly known as the “Yellow Book.” Nicknamed for its yellow cover, this is the ultimate guide for healthy international travel. The most recent version includes special guidance for people who will be living long-term in areas with malaria. The 2014 edition also expanded its chapter on select destinations, providing insiders’ knowledge and specific health risks about popular tourist destinations.

A team of almost 200 experts update this health guide every two years. The Yellow Book provides the latest official CDC recommendations to keep international travelers safe and healthy. It includes a complete catalog of travel-related diseases and up-to-date vaccine and booster recommendations. The information in the book does not just stop with infectious diseases; it also includes advice about preventing and treating common travel-related ailments such as altitude illness, motion sickness, and jet lag. The book offers useful tips on topics such as traveling with pets, packing a travel health kit, avoiding counterfeit medications in foreign countries, and getting travel health and evacuation insurance for emergencies. In addition, the Yellow Book provides advice for people traveling with young children, individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and those traveling for humanitarian aid work or study abroad.

“International travel can be an incredible experience, but it has its risks and the hazards are ever-changing. The Yellow Book clearly and comprehensively gives the most updated health-related precautions and information for traveling internationally,” said Dr. Gary Brunette, chief of CDC’s Travelers’ Health Branch. “By following CDC recommendations, international travelers can stay healthy and safe so they can take full advantage of their traveling experiences.”

For further details see CDC

Posted by Tim Sandle

Global health review

Kevin M. De Cock , Patricia M. Simone, Veronica Davison, and Laurence Slutsker have written an interesting overview of global health trends and key issues for Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The abstract reads:

“Global health reflects the realities of globalization, including worldwide dissemination of infectious and noninfectious public health risks. Global health architecture is complex and better coordination is needed between multiple organizations. Three overlapping themes determine global health action and prioritization: development, security, and public health. These themes play out against a background of demographic change, socioeconomic development, and urbanization. Infectious diseases remain critical factors, but are no longer the major cause of global illness and death. Traditional indicators of public health, such as maternal and infant mortality rates no longer describe the health status of whole societies; this change highlights the need for investment in vital registration and disease-specific reporting. Noncommunicable diseases, injuries, and mental health will require greater attention from the world in the future. The new global health requires broader engagement by health organizations and all countries for the objectives of health equity, access, and coverage as priorities beyond the Millennium Development Goals are set.”

The article can be accessed on-line here: CDC

Posted by Tim Sandle

Multi drug resistant tuberculosis

Follow this link to download the extensive 2012 WHO report on tuberculosis. A comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the TB epidemic and progress in implementing and financing TB prevention, care and control at global, regional and country levels using data reported by 204 countries and territories that account for over 99% of the world’s TB cases.

Thanks to catchthemicrobe for the news.

Posted by Tim Sandle