Defence Anaesthesia transition from the Tri-Service Anaesthetic Apparatus to the Diamedica Portable Anaesthesia Machine 02.

Defence Anaesthesia is changing its draw-over anaesthetic capability from the Tri-Service Anaesthetic Apparatus (TSAA) to the Diamedica Portable Anaesthesia Machine 02 (DPA02). The DPA02 will provide a portable, robust, lightweight and simple method for delivering draw-over volatile anaesthesia with the option of positive pressure ventilation through manual or mechanical operation for paediatric and adult patients. The UK Defence Medical Services uses a modified configuration of the DPA02; this paper seeks to explain the rationale for the differing configurations and illustrates alternative assemblies to support integration with other Defence Anaesthesia equipment. High-fidelity simulation training using the DPA02 will continue to be delivered on the Defence Anaesthesia Simulation Course (DASC). Conformité Européenne accreditation of DPA02 supports future UK live patient training in centres of excellence supervised by subject matter experts; this was not possible with the TSAA. This article is intended to be a key reference for all members of the Defence Anaesthesia team. Alongside other resources, it will be given as precourse learning prior to attending the DASC and the Military Operational Surgical Training. This article will also be issued with all Defence DPA02 units, supporting ease of access for review during future clinical exercises (including validation), prior to supervised live training and on operational deployments.

Survey of Salmonella contamination of non-United Kingdom-produced raw shell eggs on retail sale in the northwest of England and London, 2005 to 2006.

This survey was prompted by a change in the epidemiology of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in England and Wales and elsewhere in Europe and, to our knowledge, is the first survey to provide information on Salmonella contamination of non-United Kingdom eggs on retail sale. Based on 10,464 non-United Kingdom eggs (1744 pooled samples of six eggs) purchased between March 2005 and July 2006, the total weighted prevalence estimate for all Salmonella detected in non-United Kingdom eggs was 3.3%. Of the eggs sampled, most were produced in Spain (66.3%), France (20.0%), or The Netherlands (7.4%). Salmonella was detected from 4.4 and 0.3% of eggs produced in Spain and France, respectively, with weighted prevalence estimates. Eight different Salmonella serotypes were recovered from non-United Kingdom eggs, of which Salmonella Enteritidis predominated, with an estimated prevalence of 2.6%. Salmonella Enteritidis was obtained only from Spanish eggs. Nine different phage types of Salmonella Enteritidis were identified, with phage type 1 found to be the predominant phage type. Most of the Salmonella Enteritidis isolates obtained from Spanish eggs in the survey were resistant to nalidixic acid with concomitant decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (0.125 to 1.0 mg/liter) or ampicillin (8.0 mg/liter). Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 1 until now had not been detected in eggs examined as part of previous United Kingdom egg surveys but has been detected in eggs of Spanish origin examined during recent national outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis non-phage type 4 infections in England and Wales. Eggs are a commonly consumed food that may occasionally be contaminated with Salmonella. The rates of contamination may be linked to the origin of the eggs. Consumers and caterers need to be aware of this continuing hazard, adopt appropriate control measures, and follow advice provided by national food agencies in order to reduce the risk of infection.