Effectiveness of shoe covers for bioexclusion within an animal facility.

The personal protective equipment (PPE) required for entry into rodent barrier rooms often includes a hair bonnet, face mask, disposable gown, gloves, and shoe covers. Traditionally, shoe covers have been considered essential PPE for maintaining a 'clean' animal room. The introduction of microisolation caging and ventilated rack housing prompted us to reevaluate the contribution of shoe covers to bioexclusion.

Processing and treatment of corncob bedding affects cage-change frequency for C57BL/6 mice.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new proprietary processed corncob bedding material (PCC)compared with standard corncob in ventilated and static mouse housing systems. Intracage ammonia levels, bacterial growth, and absorptive capacity of bedding were measured for cages of C57BL/6 mice under nonautoclaved and autoclaved conditions on static and ventilated racks in a barrier facility. Ammonia concentration was measured daily, and cages were removed from the study when measurements reached or exceeded 25 ppm.