Background/aims: The microbiological surveillance of endoscopes and automated flexible endoscope reprocessing have been proven to be two of the most difficult and controversial areas of infection control in endoscopy. The purpose of this study was to standardize a sampling method for assessing the effectiveness of standard reprocessing operating procedures for flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopes (FFLs).
Methods: First, the sampling devices were directly inoculated with Bacillus atrophaeus spores; second, tissue non tissue (TNT) wipes were tested on artificially contaminated surfaces and on FFLs.
Results: Comparison of the sponges, cellulose, and TNT wipes indicated that the TNT wipes were more effective in releasing spores (93%) than the sponges (49%) and cellulose wipes (52%). The developed protocol provides a high efficiency for both collection and extraction from the stainless steel surface (87% of the spores were removed and released) and from the FFL (85% of the spores were removed and released), with relatively low standard deviations for recovery efficiency, particularly for the analysis of the FFL.
Conclusion: TNT wipes are more efficient for sampling surface areas, thereby aiding in the accuracy and reproducibility of environmental surveillance.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.5946/ce.2018.012 | DOI Listing |
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Experimental Study to Develop a Method for Improving Sample Collection to Monitor Laryngoscopes after Reprocessing.
Clin Endosc
September 2018
Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Background/aims: The microbiological surveillance of endoscopes and automated flexible endoscope reprocessing have been proven to be two of the most difficult and controversial areas of infection control in endoscopy. The purpose of this study was to standardize a sampling method for assessing the effectiveness of standard reprocessing operating procedures for flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopes (FFLs).
Methods: First, the sampling devices were directly inoculated with Bacillus atrophaeus spores; second, tissue non tissue (TNT) wipes were tested on artificially contaminated surfaces and on FFLs.
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UPMC, IPCM/CSOB, UMR 8232, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252, Paris cedex 05, France.
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Forensic Sci Int
March 2013
National Centre for Forensic Studies, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
The stability of four target organic explosives [pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP)] and two inorganic anions (chlorate and nitrate) on polyester-based alcohol wipes and in 60% (v/v) methanol/water extracts, stored over 30 days in clear and amber glass vials at three different temperatures, was investigated in order to establish storage recommendations. The retention of all six representative compounds on a glass surface at two different storage temperatures was also included as a preliminary study on the stability of explosive residues on stored exhibits (such as post-blast debris). The results from the stability study suggested that, after sampling, the wipes should be stored in a dark and low temperature environment.
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Forensic Sci Int
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National Centre for Forensic Studies, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
A single-step solvent extraction and a solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up procedure was developed and optimised in order to establish a universal sampling and clean-up protocol for the combined recovery of organic and inorganic explosive residues. Mixtures of three common swabbing solvents (acetone, acetonitrile and methanol) with water, in various ratios, were assessed for the extraction of four target organic explosives [pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP)] and two inorganic anions (chlorate and nitrate) from alcohol wipes that were used as a swabbing medium. An efficient, single-step extraction of both organic and inorganic compounds from the wipes was achieved using 60% v/v methanol/water.
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Forensic Sci Int
October 2012
National Centre for Forensic Studies, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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