NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome participates in macrophage responses to by a mechanism that relies on cathepsin-dependent caspase-1 cleavage.

Inflammasomes are large protein complexes that, once activated, initiate inflammatory responses by activating the caspase-1 protease. They play pivotal roles in host defense against pathogens. The well-established role of NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome in bacterial infections involves NAIP proteins functioning as sensors for their ligands.

Review: Trends in Processing Prion-Contaminated Surgical Instruments.

This review sought to provide an overview of proposed methods and protocols for processing surgical instruments contaminated with prions. A search of PubMed was conducted to identify studies published between January 1, 2012, and January 2, 2019, with no language restrictions and using varying combinations of the following terms: prions (Medical Subject Heading [MeSH]) OR decontamination (MeSH) OR cleaning OR disinfection OR sterilization. Articles were excluded if they did not involve medical device surfaces or describe the processing protocol.

Steam Sterilization Chemical Indicators Are Not Adequate for Monitoring Real Steam Sterilization Cycles.

Chemical indicators are commonly used in hospitals to monitor steam sterilization conditions, indicating that medical devices are safe to be used. The results are stored for future evidence in the event of an infection incident root cause analysis. This type of indicator is also becoming an option for cycle monitoring in pharmaceutical steam sterilizers, improving cycle control.

False positive results of Bowie and Dick type test used for hospital steam sterilizer with slower come-up ramps: A case study.

Objective: To determine if the standardized B&D type test for hospital steam sterilizer is correctly indicating cycle failures in slower come-up ramps cycles.

Methods: Two commercially available B&D type test were challenged in a quality control sterilizer. A common failure was simulated in triplicate cycles, using a standardized cycle configuration, and then compared to triplicate cycles of a common cycle configuration.

Effectiveness of disinfection with alcohol 70% (w/v) of contaminated surfaces not previously cleaned.

Objective: To evaluate the disinfectant effectiveness of alcohol 70% (w/v) using friction, without previous cleaning, on work surfaces, as a concurrent disinfecting procedure in Health Services.

Method: An experimental, randomized and single-blinded laboratory study was undertaken. The samples were enamelled surfaces, intentionally contaminated with Serratia marcescens microorganisms ATCC 14756 106 CFU/mL with 10% of human saliva added, and were submitted to the procedure of disinfection WITHOUT previous cleaning.

[Cytotoxicity of PVC tubes sterilized in ethylene oxide after gamma radiation exposure].

Do materials sterilized using gamma rays become toxic when re-sterilized in ethylene oxide? This question guided the objective of this study, which was to investigate the potential cytotoxic effect of PVC sterilized by gamma radiation and re-sterilized with EO by the agar diffusion method in cell cultures. Nine PVC tubes were subjected to gamma radiation sterilization and were re-sterilized in EO. The tubes were divided into a total of 81 units of analysis that were tested so as to represent the internal and external surfaces and mass of each tube.

[Microorganisms of the Coccidia subclass: resistance and implications for the aseptic processing of healthcare products].

This theoretical study proposes a reflection on the intrinsic resistance of the subclass Coccidia, particularly the genus Cryptosporidium, considered to be potential pathogens for immunocompromised patients, and the implications for nursing practice. Currently, the international and national guidelines support the chemical disinfection of digestive system endoscopes after their cleansing as a safe and effective procedure. However, studies show that microorganisms of the subclass Coccidia, namely Cryptosporidium, responsible for enteric infection, are more resistant than mycobacteria and are not inactivated by high-level disinfectants, except for hydrogen peroxide 6% and 7.

[Compatibilities and incompatibilities between gamma rays and ethylene oxide as consecutive sterilization methods].

The doubt regarding the re-sterilization of articles made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sterilized with gamma radiation (GR) and subsequently with ethylene oxide (EO) persists to date. Through a systematic literature review, this article analyzed studies that demonstrated compatibilities and incompatibilities between the sterilization processes with GR and EO, when used as consecutive sterilization methods. Seven studies were analyzed.

Analysis of the microbial load in instruments used in orthopedic surgeries.

Background: Because of advances in technology, the number of orthopedic surgeries, mainly hip and knee replacement surgeries, has increased, with a total of 150,000 prosthetic surgeries estimated per year in the United States and 400,000 worldwide.

Methods: We used an exploratory cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach to determine the microbial load in instruments used in orthopedic surgeries, quantifying and identifying the microbial growth genus and species, according to the surgical potential of contamination that characterizes the challenge faced by the Material and Sterilization Center at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital das Clinicas of the School of Medicine of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.The orthopedic surgical instruments were immersed, after their use, in sterilized distilled water, sonicated in an ultrasonic washer, and posteriorly agitated.