Using Microbiological Sampling to Evaluate the Efficacy of Nasofibroscope Disinfection: The Tristel Trio Wipes System in Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) Endoscopy.

Disinfection and sterilization are needed for guaranteeing that medical and surgical instruments do not spread contagious microorganisms to patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a simple manual technique of high-level disinfection (HLD) of flexible fiberoptic nasofibroscopes (FFNs) with wipes impregnated with a chlorine dioxide solution (Tristel Trio Wipes System-TTW) against a conventional automated washer machine (Soluscope ENT, Cimrex 12-AW). FFNs used in 62 patients undergoing endoscopy at an ENT clinic were sampled according to an aseptic procedure.

A new bone conduction hearing aid to predict hearing outcome with an active implanted device.

Purpose: We compared our historical medium-term data obtained with an active semi-implanted bone conduction device and the hearing results of a new passive bone conduction hearing device to determine its predictive value for the hearing results with the semi-implanted device.

Methods: The study sample was 15 patients with an active bone conduction implant (mean follow-up 26 months). Pure tone audiometry was performed with headphones, sound field speech audiometry was conducted unaided, and free-field speech audiometry was carried out with both the active bone conduction system and the passive device switched off.

Myeloid sarcoma of submandibular salivary gland.

Objective: To report a rare case of a myeloid sarcoma of submandibular salivary gland.

Methods: A 65-year-old woman with a history of successfully treated myelodysplastic syndrome, presenting with periodic painful swelling of her right submandibular area.

Results: Physical evaluation, ultrasound and CT scan revealed the presence of a 3-cm mass contiguous to the submandibular salivary gland.

Detection of herpesviruses 1-6 and community-acquired respiratory viruses in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of human herpesviruses (HHV) 1-6 and community-acquired respiratory viruses (CARVs) in specimens from patients with nasal polyposis undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and investigate the potential clinical role.

Methods: Viral occurrence was evaluated by molecular methods in polyp, turbinate mucosa, and pre- and postoperative scraping specimens from 35 consecutive patients at different time points in relation to FESS.

Results: Overall, 21 patients (60%) were positive to at least one virus in at least one specimen; in particular, 12.