Glucoprotamin antimicrobial activity against selected standard antibiotic-resistant bacteria and reference strains used in the assessment of disinfection efficacy.

Background: The ability of bacteria to develop common mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants raises doubts about the effectiveness of disinfection processes. Glucoprotamin (GP) is an antimicrobial active substance which is widely used to the disinfection in medical area.

Objective: The aim of study was to compare GP's effectiveness with susceptibility of reference strains used for the evaluation of bactericidal efficacy of disinfectants Staphylococcus aureus (S.

[Significance of efflux pumps in multidrug resistance of Gram-negative bacteria].

The phenomenon of multidrug. resistance of bacteria is a serious problem of modern medicine. This resistance largely is a consequence of abuse and improper use of antibacterial substances, especially antibiotics and chemotherapeutics in hospital settings.

Susceptibility of selected strains used for evaluation of biocidal efficiency of disinfectants and antibiotic-resistant strains to didecyldimethylammonium chloride in 2-propanol.

Introduction: Didecyldimethylammonium chloride is an active substance which is part of variety of formulations used for the disinfection and antisepsis, both in the medical area as well as in the food, industrial and institutional area. Because of the widespread use of this substance and the development of bacterial resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), the aim of this study was determination of the susceptibility of the standard strains used for the evaluation of the effectiveness of disinfectants and standard antibiotic-resistant strains to didecyldimethylammonium chloride in 2-propanol and its bactericidal activity.

Methods: Susceptibility of standard strains used for the evaluation of the effectiveness of disinfectants (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538-SA; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442-PA) and standard antibiotic-resistant strains (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300-MRSA; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 47085-PAO-LAC) to CMAP was determined by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBCs).

Effect of adaptation process of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to didecyldimethylammonium chloride in 2-propanol on bactericidal efficiency of this active substance.

Background: Microorganisms are characterized by two types of resistance innate and acquired. Innate resistance is associated with the construction of the surface structures. Wide use of active substances as antimicrobial compounds, especially in inhibitory concentrations, may promote the acquisition of bacterial resistance to these substances in the process of adaptation.

Effect of different drying conditions for the viability of Candida albicans present on carriers.

Background: Problems in substantial under recovery of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans from carriers have been demonstrated for laboratories performing phase 2, step 2 efficacy tests on disinfectants relative to levels required by the EN 13697 standard. It was thus necessary to determine recoveries of these microorganisms following procedural losses incurred during drying and to optimise drying conditions such that recoveries then complied with the standard.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to establish optimal drying conditions for the recovery of Candida albicans ATCC 10231 from carriers.

Recommendations for thermal disinfection based on the A0 concept according to EN ISO 15883.

The use of aseptic instruments for the care of patients is an essential element in the prevention of nosocomial infections. Significant risks have been associated with inadequate or improper cleaning and disinfection of reusable medical devices. Thermal disinfection with moist heat, based on the A0 concept (EN ISO 15883-1), is the most common method for disinfection of medical devices in the hospital setting.

[Significance of the efflux phenomenon as a mechanism of bacterial resistance on active substances of biocide].

Efflux phenomenon induced by the presence of efflux pumps is one of the bacterial resistance mechanisms against active substances ofbiocides. Proteins and protein systems create efflux pumps, which are connected with the cell envelope structure ofbacteria. The efflux pump's function is transportation of active substances of disinfectants outside the bacterial cell.

[Assessment of decontamination processes: cleaning, disinfection and sterilization in dental practice in Poland in the years 2011-2012].

Objective: Effective decontamination of instruments is a key element of infection control and the provision of high quality in dental care. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of decontamination procedures including cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of re-usable instruments in dental practices in Poland.

Material And Methods: The efficiency of disinfection and sterilization processes have been evaluated on the results of the questionnaires.

[Waste generated in Polish hospitals during the years 2005 - 2009].

The medical institutions generate mainly municipal and medical waste. The medical waste includes infectious waste, dangerous but not infectious waste (toxic) and medical not dangerous waste. They have to be correctly identified, properly sorted and suitably neutralized.

[Microbiological cleanness of the air in hospitals--rooms with air-condition].

The aim of the study was to valuate effectiveness of the air condition system in hospitals. It was done by estimation of bacteria and fungi concentration in the air. The study were performed in ten hospital rooms which were protected by EU 13 or EU 9 filters.

[Safe management of waste generated in health care institutions especially with infectious waste].

Health care institutions generate variable waste, including infectious. Since the microorganism can survive on non alive surfaces for up to dozen or so mouth infectious medical waste can be real health risk for patients and personnel. Then it is very important to prepare and introduce the plan of waste management.

Cytokine response to staphylococcal exotoxins in Staphylococcus aureus septicemia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if exposure to exotoxins results in augmented serum cytokine response of patients with Staphylococcus aureus septicemia. METHODS: Serum samples and strains from 63 patients with S. aureus septicemia were collected in a prospective study.

[Preliminary evaluation of the incidence and control of insects--pest control in Polish hospitals].

The evaluation of the infestation and methods of insect disease vectors control in 748 hospitals in Poland in the period of 1990 to 1995 were done. The insect species, places of their occurrence and control agents were analysed. Blattella germanica L.

Serum antibody response to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins and TSST-1 in patients with septicaemia.

The prevalence of enterotoxins and toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) production in strains isolated from patients with Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia, and the serum antibody response in relation to toxin production in vitro of each isolate, were investigated. Among 63 strains of S. aureus isolated from the blood of patients with septicaemia, 51 from patients with superficial wounds and 49 from nasal carriers, 50-60% produced at least one of the enterotoxins A-D or TSST-1.

[The role of surface structures of Streptococcus agalactiae in adhesion to epithelial cells].

Induced mutants of S. agalactiae which differed in surface structures were used for the study. The aim of using them was to try to correlate the presence of defined structures or surface properties with the ability of group B streptococci to attach to epithelial cells.

Etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in children based on antibody responses to bacterial and viral antigens.

The serologic responses to bacterial and viral antigens were determined in paired serum samples from 336 children, ages 1 month to 15 years, with roentgenographically verified community-acquired pneumonia. Significant increases in antibodies against one agent were found in 40% and against two or more agents in 8% of the children. There were significant increases in antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus in 20%, viruses of the influenza-parainfluenza group in 6% and adenovirus in 3%.

Serum antibodies to pneumolysin in patients with pneumonia.

Serum antibodies to purified pneumolysin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in paired samples from 406 adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia and in samples from 184 healthy controls. A high sensitivity (83%) was obtained in patients with blood culture-confirmed pneumococcal pneumonia. In patients with a tentative pneumococcal diagnosis based on culture of samples from the sputum or the nasopharynx, 45% were positive by ELISA.

Immunological relation between serum antibodies against pneumolysin and against streptolysin O.

The immunological relation between serum antibodies to pneumolysin and to streptolysin O was studied in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia (n = 40), patients with infections due to beta-haemolytic streptococci (n = 35), healthy human controls (n = 60) and in rabbits immunized with pneumolysin. There was no correlation between anti-pneumolysin and anti-streptolysin O titers (r = -0.279).

A simple and exact two-point interpolation method for determination of haemolytic activity in microtiter plates.

A new haemolytic test based on direct reading of the optical density of unlysed erythrocytes was developed and adapted for use with microtiter plates and an appropriate reader. The relationship between the concentration of erythrocytes and the optical density was not strictly linear, but a high reproducibility of the curve was noted. There was a linear relation between the optical density of unlysed erythrocytes and -log2 of the haemolysin dilution in a wide range.

Diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of antibodies to pneumococcal hemolysin (pneumolysin).

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a highly purified pneumolysin as the antigen was evaluated for serological diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia. One hundred four healthy controls were tested, and the specificity of the test was set to 95%. In samples from patients with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, 82% (18 of 22) were positive, i.

Production and purification of Streptococcus pneumoniae hemolysin (pneumolysin).

Pneumolysin was found to be produced by 112 of 113 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and to be an intracellular hemolysin. A 10-liter-scale fermentor production and purification procedure was developed for this hemolysin. The culture was concentrated by filtration 10 times before centrifugation.

Effect of streptolysin S from Streptococcus pyogenes on contact sensitivity in mice.

Streptolysin S, a hemolytic toxin produced by strains of Streptococcus pyogenes, was examined for its effect on cellular immune reaction in mice. The toxin given intraperitoneally for six consecutive days did not influence intensiveness of delayed hypersensitivity to oxazolone which has been used as a model of cellular immune reaction. Streptolysin S injected subcutaneously, closely to lymph nodes directly involved in immune response, markedly suppressed delayed hypersensitivity.