The position during urine sample collection from young precontinent children through a bag does not limit contamination rates: Results from a randomized controlled trial: Does infant position influence quality of urine collection?

AIM: Despite its limitation, bag collection is still widely used for a preliminary urine screening test in non-toilet-trained children suspected of febrile urinary tract infection. A previous study conducted by our group raised the hypothesis that the absence of direct contact between urine and the perinea during urine collection could limit urine contamination by perineal flora. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the patient's position during urine collection (upright standing position versus free position) on the rate of contaminated urine samples in non-toilet-trained children with suspected febrile urinary tract infection. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, controlled study took place in seven pediatric emergency departments. Two groups were compared: the intervention group (infants held in an upright standing position during urination) and the control group (free position during urination). RESULTS: Among the 800 pediatric patients randomized to the study, 124 had a urine culture, 60 in the intervention group and 64 in the control group. Among the 124 urine cultures, 12 (9.7%) were contaminated: eight (13.3%) in the intervention group and four (6.3%) in the control group (p = 0.1824). CONCLUSION: The results show that the patient's position does not have a significant impact on the quality of urine samples collected by bag.

[Effect of the duration of temporary drying off of one udder quarter in cows and milk yield and quality]. / Einfluss der Dauer des temporären Trockenstellens eines Euterviertels bei Kühen auf Milchmenge und Milchqualität.

In this study the influence of temporary drying off of one udder quarter regarding milk production and milk quality of lactating and udder healthy cows was examined. The milk yield and milk composition (fat, protein, lactose and somatic cells) produced by each quarter was determined at day 1 until day 7 by use of a special designed milking machine to measure the milk yield of each quarter (control period). From day 8 to 17, the right front = rf (group 1, 6 cows) and left hind = Ih (group 2, 6 cows) quarters respectively were dried off without using any antibiotics for a period of 10 days. The rf (group 3, 5 cows) and Ih (group 4, 6 cows) quarter were dried off without using any antibiotics from day 8 to 10, day 12 to 14 and day 16 to 18. The lactating quarters were milked daily and the examination of the milk was carried out as during the control period. By the end of the experiment (day 41) the milk yield of the dried off udder quarters was only 60-80% of the levels examined during the control period. Therefore no difference concerning the milk yield between all animal tested was observed. The remaining parameters checked approached the levels in the mean range within 10 days after drying off. Bacteriologically the milk samples of udder quarters of group 1 and 2 remained sterile and in milk samples of quarters of group 3 and 4 gram-positive cocci could be isolated.

[Insertion of fine needle biopsy in the diagnosis of nocardia mastitis in cattle]. / Einsatz der Feinnadelbiopsie in der Diagnostik der Nocardienmastitis des Rindes.

68 udder quarters of 31 cows suspicious of acute or chronic nocardia mastitis were investigated by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) of udder tissue and by bacteriological examination (BE) of milk samples. The results were compared. Nocardia mastitis was diagnosed in seven cows with corresponding cytological and bacteriological findings, in four cows with positive FNA and negative BE, and in nine cows with negative FNA and positive BE. In eleven animals nocardia mastitis was diagnosed neither cytologically nor bacteriologically. In some of these cases, however, mastitis could be attributed to other pathogens (streptococci, staphylococci, fungi). The FNA is recommended as an additional tool for mastitis diagnosis.

[Causes of mortality in a swine breeding establishment]. / Abgangsursachen in einem Schweinezuchtbetrieb.

Preweaning losses: During the period from September 1991 to August 1992, from 18021 piglets born alive 3417 died until weaning. Major causes of death were crushing by the sow, low birth weight, starvation, splay-leg disease and enteritis. Of these animals 51.6% died during the first three days of life. Mortality decreased during the preweaning period. Litters with more than 11 pigs had elevated death rates of piglets. Mortality was higher during the cold season (except January). Postweaning losses: During the postweaning period 6.4% of the weaned piglets were lost. Of these piglets 4.1% died and the remaining 2.3% were sold due to umbilical hernia. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract were the main cause of death. Losses of gilts: During the one-year surveillance period 373 gilts were lost. Most of 18 deceased animals died from bleeding due to gastric ulcers and from purulent bronchopneumonia. 314 (91.1%) of the remaining 355 gilts were sold, the residual 9.9% of the animals were slaughtered mainly because of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Losses of sows: In the breeding herd of 950 to 1035 animals, 35 sows died and 492 were culled in the course of one year. Most deaths resulted from cardiac failure and splenic torsion. Urogenital and locomotor diseases were the main reason for culling. The sows removed from the herd had produced an average of 3.6 litters, but 52.8% had produced no more than 3 litters. Losses of boars: During the survey 10 boars were slaughtered.

[Causes of losses in a pig fattening facility]. / Abgangsursachen in einem Schweinemastbetrieb.

Losses of fatteners in a pig-husbandry were monitored over a one year period. All fatteners which perished or were slaughtered prematurely were taken into consideration. Out of 10,485 fatteners six hundred (5.7%) pigs were lost prematurely. Of these animals, 360 (60.0%) were slaughtered, and 240 (40.0%) died. Diseases of the respiratory system were the most frequent drop-out reason (32.3%). Pneumonia (mostly pleuropneumonia) was diagnosed in 90.7% of these animals. Thirty one percent of the lost fatteners had diseases of the locomotor system. Of these disorders, 73.1% affected the skeleton and joints, and in 26.9% PSE-syndrome was found. Other disorders were: diseases of the cardiovascular system (13.7%), intestinal tract (10.0%), urogenital tract (1.2%), skin (1.5%), and diseases of other specific organs (5.7%). Cannibalism was found in 2.3% of the lost fatteners, unthriftiness in 1.0%, and in 1.3% the cause of the loss could not be identified. The greatest numbers of fatteners were removed during the cold season, particularly in September. Most of the lost pigs (53.3%) had a body mass between 31 and 60 kg. The highest drop-out rates were found during weeks 2 to 6 and 9 to 12 of the fattening period.