Microbial contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics in four major hospitals in Trinidad

Objective. To assess the microbial contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics in major hospitals on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Methods. For this cross-sectional study, disinfectants and antiseptics were sampled from the pharmacy departments, the pediatric/neonatal wards, and the surgical wards of four hospitals. The samples were cultured for aerobic bacteria on nutrient agar using the surface plating method. The antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates was determined by the disk diffusion method, using 14 antimicrobial agents. We studied a total of 180 samples: 60 of chlorhexidine gluconate (Habitane), 60 of chlorhexidine gluconate and cetrimonium bromide (Savlon), and 60 of methylated spirit. Results. Of the 180 samples studied, 11 of them (6.1 percent) were contaminated by aerobic bacteria. All bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas spp. Of the 11 contaminated samples, 6 of them (54.5 percent) occurred at the pharmacy level while 5 (45.5 percent) were from diluted pre-use or in-use samples in the pediatric/neonatal wards or the surgical wards. Chlorhexidine gluconate and cetrimonium bromide accounted for 9 of the 11 contaminated disinfectants/antiseptics (81.8 percent), and chlorhexidine gluconate accounted for the remaining 2 (18.2 percent). Only two of the four hospitals had contaminated disinfectant/antiseptic samples. All 24 isolates of Pseudomonas spp. tested were resistant to one or more of the 14 antimicrobial agents tested, with the prevalence of resistance to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, tobramycin, and gentamicin being 58.3 percent, 50.0 percent, 45.8 percent, and 41.7 respectively. Conclusions. Our results show that contaminated disinfectants/antiseptics pose a health risk to patients, particularly in the pediatric and surgical wards. The high prevalence of resistance to antimicrobial agents exhibited by the Pseudomonas spp. that were isolated is of special theraputic concern (AU)

Microbial contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics in four major hospitals in Trinidad

OBJECTIVE: To assess the microbial contamination of disinfectants and antiseptics in major hospitals on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, disinfectants and antiseptics were sampled from the pharmacy departments, the pediatric/neonatal wards, and the surgical wards of four hospitals. The samples were cultured for aerobic bacteria on nutrient agar using the surface plating method. The antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates was determined by the disk diffusion method, using 14 antimicrobial agents. We studied a total of 180 disinfectant/antiseptic samples: 60 of chlorhexidine gluconate (Hibitane), 60 of chlorhexidine gluconate and cetrimonium bromide (Savlon), and 60 of methylated spirit. RESULTS: Of the 180 samples studied, 11 of them (6.1 percent) were contaminated by aerobic bacteria. All bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas spp. Of the 11 contaminated samples, 6 of them (54.5 percent) occurred at the pharmacy level while 5 (45.5 percent) were from diluted pre-use or in-use samples in the pediatric/neonatal wards or the surgical wards. Chlorhexidine gluconate and cetrimonium bromide accounted for 9 of the 11 contaminated disinfectants/antiseptics (81.8 percent), and chlorhexidine gluconate accounted for the remaining 2 (18.2 percent). Only two of the four hospitals had contaminated disinfectant/antiseptic samples. All 24 isolates of Pseudomonas spp. tested were resistant to one or more of the 14 antimicrobial agents tested, with the prevalence of resistance to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, tobramycin, and gentamicin being 58.3 percent, 50.0 percent, 45.8 percent, and 41.7 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that contaminated disinfectants/antiseptics pose a health risk to patients, particularly in the pediatric and surgical wards. The high prevalence of resistance to antimicrobial agents exhibited by the Pseudomonas spp. that were isolated is of special therapeutic concern

Cytotoxic activities of recombinant immunotoxins composed of pseudomonas toxin or diphtheria toxin toward lymphocytes from patients with adult T-cell leukemia

We have previously shown that the recombinant single-chain immunotoxin anti-Tac (Fv)-PE40, composed of the variabe domains of the anti-Tac monoclonal antibody in a single-chain form joined to a derivative of pseudomonas exotoxin (PE), is cytotoxic toward malignant cells form adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patients. Using this assay, we have now compared the activity of anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40 with that of an improved version, anti-Tac (Fv)-PE40KDEL which contains an altered carboxyl terminus, and also with two chimeric toxins made with diphtheria toxin (DT). One of these is a fusion of amino acids 1-388 of DT with anti-Tac(Fv) and is termed DT388-anti-Tac(Fv). The other, DT388-IL2, contains interleukin 2 (IL2) at the carboxyl terminus of the same DT derivative. We incubated these toxin with malignant ATL peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for 1-3 days and then measured [3H]leucine incorporation. We found that anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40KDEL was the most cytotoxic agent and was followed in decreasing order of activity by anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40, DT388-anti-Tac(Fv), and finally DT388-IL2. Trypan blue staining showed that inhibition of protein synthesis correlated with cell death. Time course studies show that the recombinant toxins containing anti-Tac(Fv)-PE40DEL was 30 minutes. Normal PBMCs were resistant to all four toxins. Recombinant immunotoxins made with anti-Tac merit further study as potential reagents in the treatment of ATL.(AU)

Bacteriological aspects of chicken processed in Jamaica

Bacteriological aspects of chicken processed in Jamaica were studied. The effect of processing on the number of bacteria on chicken from the largest processing plant (Jamaican Broilers) was investigated with reference to international standards. Microbial numbers, temperature and total organic matter content of selected washing tanks were examined. The number of bacteria on the hands of the workers and the final temperature of the carcasses after packaging and before freezing were also determined. Bacterial counts on the Jamaica Broilers chickens were compared with those of chickens from a smaller processing plant. Bacterial numbers on chickens sampled at retail outlets were also investigated and found to differ significantly from those on chicken sampled at the processing plant. Microbial examination of the delivery trucks, and observation of the hygienic condition of the outlets were conducted. The question of whether the transport system or condition of the retail outlets was the major factor responsible for the increase, was discussed. A correlation was found between the level of hygiene of the outlets and the number of bacteria on retail chickens. The shelf life and dynamics of the microbial population of chicken during storage at 4§C was examined. Chicken purchased at a retail outlet was stored at 4§C and rinsed in 0.1 percent peptone every 48 hours. The number of bacteria per ml of rinse water was determined. A total of 50 to 100 organisms were isolated and purified from total count plates of each sample day. Preliminary identification was by the method of Shewan et al. (1960) with confirmation by further biochemical tests. Pseudomonas species were found to be the major group of spoilage bacteria. Pseudomonas isolates were classified into different biochemical groups which were shown to undergo changes in distribution during storage. They were also characterised by their intrinsic antibiotic resistance patterns. While all the isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin and ampicillin, only 28 percent displayed high resistance to one or more of six other antibiotics tested. This investigation of bacteriological conditions of chicken processed in Jamaica is a pioneer effort. Nevertheless, it has provided sufficient information for the compilation of recommendations which may help to improve the microbial quality of chickens, with consequent increase in the shelf life. This study may also be useful to other Caribbean islands in which the conditions of processing, transportation and retail handling of chickens are similar (AU)

A field survey of molluscicide-degrading microorganisms in the Caribbean area

Employing a bacteriologic medium in which the sole nitrogen source was the organic molluscicide, Bayluscide, isolations were made of organisms from more than 40 field and laboratory sites in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, and Venezuela. Materials were subcultured four times, then selected strains isolated from the snail Biomphalaria glabrata were subjected to standard diagnostic procedures. In all, 6 different bacterial strains were identified as members of the genus Psuedomonas and 2 as members of the genus Aerobacter. Distribution of molluscicide-utilizing bacteria was practically universal, being found in water, sediment, and snail intestine contents. Bacteria were isolated with 15 species of mollusc tested for the presence of such organisms. The possible significance of molluscicide-degrading organisms, relative to snail control projects is discussed (Summary)

Laboratory studies of a multiple-antibiotic spray

A spray delivering neomycin, bacitracin and polypmyxin in powder form was tested for its effect upon potentially pathogenic bacteria under laboratory conditions. Cultures of all of the 168 bacterial strains tested were inhibited by the spray. Agar-diffusion methods were employed to demonstrate various interactions between the component antibiotics. The various bacterial groups studied revealed different antibiotic-interaction patterns. Tube tests confirmed that the majority of these were not diffusion artefacts. No evidence was found of antagonism sufficiently pronounced to contraindicate the use of this antibiotic triad. It is possible, though by no means certain, that neomycin alone would be as useful as the triad.(AU)