Using a stacker crane for sterile storage in the operating theatre: initial environmental microbiological qualification.

BACKGROUND: Adequate storage of sterile surgical devices must prevent contamination and the introduction of microbial contaminants inside the operating room. For functional and economic purposes, stacker cranes (STCs) could replace the traditional sterile storage room (TSSR). STCs are large, multi-stage, computer-assisted systems used to automatically store and retrieve loads from defined locations. However, their microbiological performance has not been evaluated. AIM: As part of the opening of a new building that included an operating theatre, we qualified a new STC and compared its microbiological control performance to that of the previous TSSR. METHODS: From December 2020 to March 2021, 590 environmental specimens (air, N = 56; surfaces, N = 534) were collected and interpreted according to the NF S90-351 French Association for Standardization standards. FINDINGS: Thorough surface disinfection was not sufficient for controlling microbial contamination in the STC. Thus, the initial qualification testing was conducted following an aggressive aerial chemical decontamination of the STC. Despite the lack of a HEPA filtered air system, the overall non-conformity rates were lower in the STC than in the TSSR (8.3% vs 21.4%, P=0.33 for air, respectively, and 9.7% vs 41.7% P<0.001 for surfaces). The air-controlled barrier in front of the loading zone appeared to be sufficient to prevent bacterial contamination. The presence of fungi must be carefully monitored. CONCLUSION: This is the first study supporting the contribution of STCs in saving space and improving the maintenance of sterile surgical device storage and availability under acceptable environmental conditions. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term microbiological contamination inside the STC.

Population genetic structure of Ixodes ricinus in Switzerland from allozymic data: no evidence of divergence between nearby sites.

Ixodes ricinus is a vector and reservoir of numerous infectious agents, especially Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease. In Switzerland, its ecology and physiology have been well studied. Moreover, the foci of some infectious agents transmitted by this tick are identified. They can display relatively to extremely small geographical size depending on the diseases considered. In order to understand how the gene flows occur and to characterise the genetic structure of Ixodes ricinus populations, we used an indirect method based on genetic markers: allozymes. The sampling was carried out in 5 localities. Eighteen loci were analysed and 2 appeared polymorphic. This shows the low allozymic variability displayed by Ixodes ricinus. Based on these 2 loci, the populations appeared panmictic in Switzerland. This may be explained by the wide range of vertebrate species this tick can infest, especially birds. However, the result is surprising if we consider the extreme localisation of the foci of some infectious agents. We conclude that more powerful genetic markers could be used in order to better understand the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in Switzerland.

Calculated tabulations of H(2)O line broadening by H(2)O, N(2), O(2), and CO(2) at high temperature.

We present calculations of the temperature dependence of H(2)O pressure broadening parameters by H(2)O, CO(2), N(2), and O(2). They were made for Q-lines with a theoretical model which provides a correct treatment of close collisions and has been widely tested. The results should be useful for Raman spectra calculations. A simple law is proposed to deduce halfwidths of P- and R-lines from the Q-line results. The accuracy of this law at high temperature is demonstrated. A simple analytical representation of a constant halfwidth approximation is also given.