Risk factors for donor cornea contamination: retrospective analysis of 4546 procured corneas in a single eye bank.

Purpose: Microbiological contamination is a common cause for elimination of organ-cultured donor corneas. The aims of the present study were to analyze contamination rates and identify risk factors for contamination.

Methods: Retrospectively, the contamination rates of 4546 organ-cultured corneas and the causative species were studied.

Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis: the current situation and recommendations for prevention and treatment.

Background: Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) is a highly contagious infection of the ocular surface. 316 cases were diagnosed in Germany in the first 8 months of 2010, corresponding to a 300% increase above the typical figures for recent years. This outbreak motivates us to present the current recommendations concerning EKC.

Influence of rub-in technique on required application time and hand coverage in hygienic hand disinfection.

Background: Recent data indicate that full efficacy of a hand rub preparation for hygienic hand disinfection can be achieved within 15 seconds (s). However, the efficacy test used for the European Norm (EN) 1500 samples only the fingertips. Therefore, we investigated hand coverage using sixteen different application variations.

Effective protection of allogeneic stem cell recipients against Aspergillosis by HEPA air filtration during a period of construction--a prospective survey.

High incidence of aspergillosis on transplant units or hematological wards without HEPA air conditioning during periods of demolishing or construction has been reported by several investigators. Here we report monitoring of fungal air contamination during a period of construction on a stem cell transplantation ward using the gravity air-setting plate (GASP) method. Fungal air contamination in HEPA-conditioned patient rooms was constantly low, independent from construction activity.

Alcoholic ingredients in skin disinfectants increase biofilm expression of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

The pathogenesis of Staphylococcus epidermidis is correlated with biofilm formation. We investigated the effect of three common alcoholic skin disinfectants, ethanol, n-propanol and isopropanol, on the biofilm formation of 37 clinical, icaADBC-positive S. epidermidis isolates.