Evaluation of glutaraldehyde and hydrogen peroxide for sanitizing packaging materials of medical devices in sterility testing.

External surfaces of packaging materials used for sterile medical devices may introduce contaminants into working areas used for sterility testing. Light wiping with tissues moistened with alkaline 2% glutaraldehyde (Cidex) or 3% hydrogen peroxide effectively reduced counts on 5 X 8 cm strips of packaging material (Tyvek) inoculated with 10(7) spores of Bacillus subtilis. The ability of antimicrobial agents to penetrate packaging material and kill contaminants on the medical device was tested by inoculating filter membranes with ca 100 cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus or ca 100 spores of Bacillus subtilis. A sterile square of test packaging material placed over the inoculated membrane (direct method) or 0.5 cm above the membrane (indirect method) was wiped with the antimicrobial agent. Except for polyethylene film (3 mil), all materials tested, including glassine and several types of coated and uncoated Tyvek, were penetrated by the agents, killing cells on the inoculated membranes. Death rates varied, depending on the organism, packaging material, and testing method. It is suggested that penetration tests be performed before using antimicrobial agents for sanitizing packaging materials during sterility tests.

Dulcitol-malonate-phenylalanine agar for the identification of Salmonella and other Enterobacteriaceae.

An agar medium combining dulcitol fermentation, malonate utilization, and phenylalanine deamination was evaluated with 229 isolates representing 19 genera. All reactions agreed with those obtained on conventional media.

An NIH/Columbia University information system interface.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Health Sciences of Columbia University have developed an information system interface whereby sponsored research information is routinely forwarded, in machine-readable form, from the NIH to Columbia University. For Columbia University the interface system has materially reduced data input costs, made information available on a more timely basis, improved the quality of its system by the adoption of existing standardized data definitions, and allowed flexible access to NIH's broad data base. For NIH the system permits an improvement in its data base through high-quality and fast feedback from the grantee institution. The promotion of future systems development is enhanced through the adoption of standardized data element designations and definitions.