The wet-heat resistance of Bacillus weihenstephanensis KBAB4 spores produced in a two-step sporulation process depends on sporulation temperature but not on previous cell history.

While bacterial spores are mostly produced in a continuous process, this study reports a two-step sporulation methodology. Even though spore heat resistance of numerous spore-forming bacteria is known to be dependent on sporulation conditions, this approach enables the distinction between the vegetative cell growth phase in nutrient broth and the sporulation phase in specific buffer. This study aims at investigating whether the conditions of growth of the vegetative cells, prior to sporulation, could affect spore heat resistance. For that purpose, wet-heat resistance of Bacillus weihenstephanensis KBAB4 spores, produced via a two-step sporulation process, was determined from vegetative cells harvested at four different stages of the growth kinetics, i.e. early exponential phase, late exponential phase, transition phase or early stationary phase. To assess the impact of the temperature on spore heat resistance, sporulation was performed at 10 °C, 20 °C and 30 °C from cells grown during a continuous or a discontinuous temperature process, differentiating or not the growth and sporulation temperatures. Induction of sporulation seems possible for a large range of growth stages. Final spore concentration was not significantly affected by the vegetative cell growth stage while it was by the temperature during growing and sporulation steps. The sporulation temperature influences the heat resistance of B. weihenstephanensis KBAB4 spores much more than growth temperature prior to sporulation. Spores produced at 10 °C were up to 3 times less heat resistant than spores produced at 30 °C.

Neisseria meningitidis du sérogroupe A clone II-1 responsable de la récente épidemie de méningite survenue au Mali

Le clone III-1 de Neisseria meningitidis sérogroupe A était inconnu en Afrique jusqu'en 1988. Depuis cette date; nous assistons à une vague épidémique secouant la plupart des pays de l'Afrique centrale et de l'Afrique de l'Est. Nous avons montré une étude des protéines de membrane externe; que la souche de méningocoque responsable de l'épidémie du Mali depuis 1994 est le clone III-I

[Management of postoperative endophthalmitis epidemics in tropical areas. Report of 24 cases seen at the Tropical Ophthalmology Institute of Africa]. / Conduite à tenir devant une épidémie d'endophtalmies post-opératoires en milieu tropical. A propos d'une série de 24 cas observés à l'Institut d'Ophtalmologie Tropicale de l'Afrique.

An epidemic of postoperative endophthalmitis occurred at the Tropical Ophthalmology Institute of Africa in September 1994. Due to the seriousness of this outbreak, a survey was undertaken to diagnose cases, trace the origin of contamination within the facilities and staff, and screen for the organism in patients with or without endophthalmitis. A total of 24 cases of endophthalmitis following 118 procedures involving the eyeball were found. There was no significant correlation between the occurrence of endophthalmitis and sex, age, type of surgery, surgeon, surgical assistant, operating room staff, postoperative complications, operating room, care providers, or type of hospitalisation. There was a significant correlation between the occurrence of endophthalmitis and the presence of secretions on the first bandage. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 16 cases and in one patient hospitalized for an ulcer of the cornea. Staphylococcus aureus contamination was found in two fluids used for eye washing. We conclude that the probable cause of this epidemic was nosocomial infection and emphasize the importance of maintaining basic sterility measures despite the need to minimize costs in developing countries.