A cluster of Mycobacterium wolinskyi surgical site infections at an academic medical center.

Objective: To study a cluster of Mycobacterium wolinskyi surgical site infections (SSIs).

Design: Observational and case-control study.

Setting: Academic hospital.

A comprehensive water management program for multicampus healthcare facilities.

Objective: Develop and implement an effective program for hazard analysis and control of waterborne pathogens at a multicampus hospital with clinics.

Design: A longitudinal study. Several-year study including analysis of results from monitoring and tests of 26 building water systems.

A novel approach to scavenging anesthetic gases in rodent surgery.

Laboratory animal procedures using gas anesthetics may amass elevated waste gas concentrations in operating rooms if controls are not implemented for capturing and removing the vapors. Area sampling using an infrared analyzer indicated isoflurane concentrations likely to exceed occupational exposure guidelines. Our study showed environmental concentrations of oxygen as high as 40% and isoflurane concentrations >100 ppm when no controls or merely passive controls were utilized.

Predictors of indoor absolute humidity and estimated effects on influenza virus survival in grade schools.

Background: Low absolute humidity (AH) has been associated with increased influenza virus survival and transmissibility and the onset of seasonal influenza outbreaks. Humidification of indoor environments may mitigate viral transmission and may be an important control strategy, particularly in schools where viral transmission is common and contributes to the spread of influenza in communities. However, the variability and predictors of AH in the indoor school environment and the feasibility of classroom humidification to levels that could decrease viral survival have not been studied.

Noise levels in a neonatal transport incubator in medically configured aircraft.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate exposure of neonates to noise during air medical transport as few commercially available hearing protective devices exist for premature newborns during air medical transport.

Methods: Sound pressure levels in an infant incubator during actual flight conditions in four common medically configured aircraft were measured. Three noise dosimeters measured time-weighted average noise exposure during flight in each aircraft.