The Compliance Conversation: Navigating Variations in Sterile Processing Practices.

Because of the variety of guidelines for instrument processing and sterilization (eg, government regulations on infection prevention and control [IPC], manufacturers' instructions for use, publications from professional organizations), practices may vary from one country or facility to another. The Joint Commission recommends that when creating or revising IPC-related policies, organizations should use a hierarchical model to address relevant IPC requirements. Joint Commission International accredits health care organizations outside the United States using standards and a survey process similar to, but not the same as, The Joint Commission.

Greenhouse gas emissions limited by low nitrogen and carbon availability in natural, restored, and agricultural Oregon seasonal wetlands.

Wetlands are the major natural source of the greenhouse gas methane (CH) and are also potentially an important source of nitrous oxide (NO), though there is considerable variability among wetland types with some of the greatest uncertainty in freshwater mineral-soil wetlands. In particular, trace gas emissions from seasonal wetlands have been very poorly studied. We measured fluxes of CH, NO, and CO(carbon dioxide), soil nutrients, and net primary productivity over one year in natural, restored, and agricultural seasonal wetland prairies in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA.

Dethrombosis of the lower extremity arteries using the power-pulse spray technique in patients with recent onset thrombotic occlusions: results of the DETHROMBOSIS Registry.

Purpose: To assess the presence of thrombus using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and evaluate the feasibility of combined thrombolysis [power-pulse spray (P-PS)] and rheolytic thrombectomy (RT) in patients with recent-onset limb ischemia (<6 months) due to total occlusion of at least 1 infrainguinal vessel.

Methods: Seventeen patients (12 women; mean age 68.3+/-10.