Detection of virulence genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from paper currency. (17/46)

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Prevalence of tinea pedis, tinea unguium of toenails and tinea capitis in school children from Barcelona. (18/46)

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The potential role of mobile phones in the spread of bacterial infections. (19/46)

BACKGROUND: Mobile phones are indispensable accessories both professionally and socially but they are frequently used in environments of high bacteria presence. This study determined the potential role of mobile phones in the dissemination of diseases. METHODOLOGY: Specifically, 400 swab samples from mobile phones were collected and divided into groups categorized by the owners of the phones as follows: Group A was comprised of 100 food vendors; Group B, 104 lecturers/students; Group C, 106 public servants; and Group D, 90 health workers. Samples were cultured and the resulting isolates were identified and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility tests by standard procedures. RESULTS: The results revealed a high percentage (62.0%) of bacterial contamination. Mobile phones in Group A had the highest rate of contamination (92; 37%), followed by Group B (76; 30.6%), Group C (42; 16.9%), and Group D (38; 15.3%). Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS) was the most prevalent bacterial agent from mobile phones in Group A (50.1%) and least from phones in Group D (26.3), followed by S. aureus. Other bacterial agents identified were Enterococcus feacalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella spp. There was no statistical significance difference (P < 0.05) in the occurrence of S. aureus, the most frequently identified pathogenic bacterial agent isolated from the mobile phones in the study groups. Fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporin were found to be effective against most isolates. CONCLUSION: Mobile phones may serve as vehicles of transmission of both hospital and community-acquired bacterial diseases. Strict adherence to infection control, such as hand washing, is advocated.  (+info)

Further assessment of fomites and personnel as vehicles for the mechanical transport and transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. (20/46)

This study re-evaluated the role of fomites and personnel in the mechanical transport and transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) between pig populations. Swabs were collected from hands, boots, coveralls, and other fomites following contact with infected pigs and compared with identical samples collected in the absence of PRRSV exposure. Naive pigs were provided contact with contaminated fomites/personnel and blood tested periodically post-exposure [positive exposure population (PEP)] and compared with populations that did not gain exposure via these routes [negative exposure population (NEP)]. The majority of swab samples from hands, coveralls, and boots from personnel and fomite samples (cable snare and bleeding equipment) following contact with the PRRSV-infected Source Population. Transmission of PRRSV to the PEP was observed (7/7) cases but not in the NEP. In conclusion, under the proper conditions, transport and transmission of PRRSV by fomites and personnel may occur between swine populations in the absence of intervention.  (+info)

Virus shedding and environmental deposition of novel A (H1N1) pandemic influenza virus: interim findings. (21/46)

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A 2009 varicella outbreak in a Connecticut residential facility for adults with intellectual disability. (22/46)

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Mobile phone hygiene: potential risks posed by use in the clinics of an Indian dental school. (23/46)

The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to determine the level and type of bacterial contamination of the mobile phones of dental personnel involved in direct patient care and to determine the usefulness of cleaning with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for decontamination. Dental faculty and trainees in an Indian dental school were asked to participate in a study in which a questionnaire concerning patterns of mobile phone use and disinfection was administered. Swabs from mobile phones of the participants were taken using moist sterile swabs and plated on blood agar plates. The bacteria isolated were identified by biochemical tests. Eighteen percent of the participants (n=9) reported using their phones while attending patients. Nearly 64 percent (n=32) used their mobiles for checking time, and 64 percent (n=42) reported never cleaning their phones. In total, fifty mobile phones were cultured for microorganisms: 98 percent (n=49) were culture-positive, and 34 percent (n=17) grew potentially pathogenic bacteria. There was significant reduction in the mean number of colony-forming units after decontamination with alcohol (p<0.001). The bacterial load was reduced by around 87 percent. The results of this study show that mobile phones may act as an important source of nosocomial pathogens in the dental setting. Therefore, it is important for dental school administrators to encourage higher compliance with hand-washing practices and routine surface disinfection through framing of strict protocols to reduce the chances of occurrence of nosocomial infections.  (+info)

Environmental sampling for avian influenza virus A (H5N1) in live-bird markets, Indonesia. (24/46)

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