Enhancement of a culture-based bacterial detection system (eBDS) for platelet products based on measurement of oxygen consumption.

Background: An enhanced bacterial detection system (Pall eBDS) was developed that distinguishes itself from its predecessor (Pall BDS) by removal of the platelet (PLT)-retaining filter allowing for optimal bacterial transfer, modification of the culture tablet to reduce the confounding effects of respiring PLTs while enhancing bacterial growth, and facilitation of nutrients and gas exchange by agitating the sample pouch during incubation at 35 degrees C. The objective was to evaluate the performance of the new eBDS.

Study Design And Methods: Leukoreduced whole blood-derived PLT concentrates (LR-PCs) and LR single-donor PLTs (LR-SDPs) were inoculated with 1 to 15 colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria per mL in studies of each of 10 bacterial species associated with fatal transfusion-transmitted bacterial infection.

Detection of bacteria in WBC-reduced PLT concentrates using percent oxygen as a marker for bacteria growth.

Background: The risk of receiving a PLT concentrate (PC) contaminated with bacteria may be 1000-fold greater than that of pathogenic viral transmission, yet surveillance for this risk is not generally practiced. A novel bacteria detection system (BDS) that overcomes the limitations of current systems is described. The BDS monitors percent oxygen (%O2) in air above aliquots of PCs that have been filtered to remove the confounding effect of respiring PLTs and residual WBCs.

Wound irrigation in children: saline solution or tap water?

Study Objective: Irrigation, a critical component of wound management, is commonly performed with sterile normal saline solution. The purpose of this study was to compare the infection rates of wounds irrigated with normal saline solution versus those of wounds irrigated with running tap water.

Methods: A prospective trial was conducted in an urban pediatric emergency department.

Rapid film-based determination of antibiotic susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains by using a luciferase reporter phage and the Bronx Box.

Detecting antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is becoming increasingly important with the global recognition of drug-resistant strains and their adverse impact on clinical outcomes. Current methods of susceptibility testing are either time-consuming or costly; rapid, reliable, simple, and inexpensive methods would be highly desirable, especially in the developing world where most tuberculosis is found. The luciferase reporter phage is a unique reagent well-suited for this purpose: upon infection with viable mycobacteria, it produces quantifiable light which is not observed in mycobacterial cells treated with active antimicrobials.

Contrasting effects of identical nutrients given parenterally or enterally after 70% hepatectomy: bacterial translocation.

High mortality occurs in rats with 70% hepatectomy fed intravenous (IV) total parenteral nutrition (TPN; 13.9% glucose, 4.17% amino acids, 1.