The compliance coach: A bedside observer, auditor, and educator as part of an infection prevention department's team approach for improving central line care and reducing central line-associated bloodstream infection risk

Publication date: Available online 3 July 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control
Author(s): Mark O. Buchanan, Shelley K. Summerlin-Long, Lauren M. DiBiase, Emily E. Sickbert-Bennett, David J. Weber
A compliance coach who audits central line maintenance and provides feedback and education to bedside nurses through timely, nonpunitive conversation is an effective addition to busy infection prevention departments. Staff nurses and nurse managers reported receiving clearly communicated and actionable information from the coach and compliance improved over time in multiple areas of central line maintenance.



https://ift.tt/2MHh1Mf

Disparity of the “screen-and-isolate” policy for multidrug-resistant organisms: a national survey in French adult ICUs

Publication date: Available online 3 July 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control
Author(s): Zoé Coppéré, Guillaume Voiriot, Clarisse Blayau, Aude Gibelin, Vincent Labbe, Jean Pierre Fulgencio, Muriel Fartoukh, Michel Djibré
BackgroundThe prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) has dramatically increased. The aim of this survey was to describe and analyze the different screening and isolation policies regarding MDROs in French adult intensive care units (ICUs).Materials and MethodsA multicenter online survey was performed among French ICUs, including 63 questions distributed into 4 parts: characteristics of the unit, MDRO screening policy, policy regarding contact precautions, and ecology of the unit.ResultsFrom April 2015 to June 2016, 73 of 301 ICUs (24%) participated in the survey. MDRO screening was performed on admission in 96% of ICUs, for at least 1 MDRO (78%). MDRO screening was performed weekly during ICU stay in 83% of ICUs. Preemptive isolation was initiated on admission in 82% of ICUs, mostly in a targeted way (71%). Imported and acquired MDRO rates >10% were reported in 44% and 27% of ICUs, respectively. An MDRO outbreak had occurred within the past 3 years in 48% of cases.ConclusionFrench ICUs have variable screening and isolation approaches for MDROs, as up to 10 combinations were met. Discrepancies with the 2009 national guidelines were observed. Very few ICUs practice without some form of screening and isolation of patients upon admission.



https://ift.tt/2KK6xhC

Barriers and perceptions of environmental cleaning: An environmental services perspective

Publication date: Available online 3 July 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control
Author(s): Laura Pedersen, Nadia Masroor, Kaila Cooper, Amie Patrick, Faezeh Razjouyan, Michelle Doll, Michael P. Stevens, Gonzalo Bearman
We examined the barriers and perceptions of using a 1-step daily disinfectant and ultraviolet light for environmental cleaning using an anonymous Likert scale survey. Results indicated that environmental services workers believe that cleaning is important for infection prevention and that ultraviolet light and 1-step daily disinfectant cleaner are effective sporicides.



https://ift.tt/2MN43g7

The extended application of The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates in rats of various body weight

Publication date: 1 September 2018
Source:Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Volume 307
Author(s): Pengfei Yang, Zhenzhen Wang, Zhao Zhang, Dandan Liu, Emmanuel Nicholas Manolios, Chen Chen, Xu Yan, Wei Zuo, Naihong Chen
BackgroundStereotaxic procedures in rats are frequently used in neurological research. The commonly used rat brain stereotaxic atlases areThe Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, the second most cited book in science, and Stereotaxic Atlas of Rat Brain (in Chinese) which based on Wistar rats of 290 g and SD rats of 225 g, respectively. However, rats of different weight are frequently used, while the stereotaxic coordinates of their brain regions show obvious differences with the rats on which the atlases were based.New methodThe craniometric parameters were measured as accurately as possible, then curve fitting equations obtained from the parameters were used to deduce the relative coordinates in rats of different weight for the first time.ResultsThe results revealed that if the coordinates of target brain region were defined as AP(a), ML(b), DV(c) in "standard" rats, the corresponding coordinates AP(a'),ML(b'),DV(c') for rats weighingm(g) were described as follows:For Wistar rats using The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates:a' =0.138×lnm+0.1770.138×ln290+0.177×ab' =0.055×lnm+0.5150.055×ln290+0.515×bc' =0.054×lnm+0.7060.054×ln290+0.706×c-0.00012×m-290and for SD rats using Stereotaxic Atlas of Rat Brain(in Chinese):a' =0.127×lnm+0.1760.127×ln225+0.176×ab'=0.049×ln⁡m+0.5560.049×ln⁡225+0.556×bc' =0.077×lnm+0.6040.077×ln225+0.604×c-0.00010×m-225Unit of a, b, c, a', b', c' are centimeter, unit of m is gram.Comparison with existing method: The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates is applicable for rats weighing about 290 g, while our equations extended the use of atlas to rats weighing 90–400 g.ConclusionsIn this manner, the application of the rat brain atlases could be extended and the results would be of great help in stereotaxic procedures.



https://ift.tt/2Kr61G9

waveCSD: A method for estimating transmembrane currents originated from propagating neuronal activity in the neocortex: Application to study cortical spreading depression

Publication date: Available online 3 July 2018
Source:Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Author(s): Arash Moshkforoush, Pedro A. Valdes-Hernandez, Daniel E. Rivera, Yoichiro Mori, Jorge Riera
BackgroundRecent years have witnessed an upsurge in the development of methods for estimating current source densities (CSDs) in the neocortical tissue from their recorded local field potential (LFP) reflections using microelectrode arrays. Among these, methods utilizing linear arrays work under the assumption that CSDs vary as a function of cortical depth; whereas they are constant in the tangential direction, infinitely or in a confined cylinder. This assumption is violated in the analysis of neuronal activity propagating along the neocortical sheet, e.g. propagation of alpha waves or cortical spreading depression.New methodHere, we developed a novel mathematical method (waveCSD) for CSD analysis of LFPs associated with a planar wave of neocortical neuronal activity propagating at a constant velocity towards a linear probe.ResultsResults show that the algorithm is robust to the presence of noise in LFP data and uncertainties in knowledge of propagation velocity. Also, results show high level of accuracy of the method in a wide range of electrode resolutions. Using in vivo experimental recordings from the rat neocortex, we employed waveCSD to characterize transmembrane currents associated with cortical spreading depressions.Comparison with existing method(s)Simulation results indicate that waveCSD has a significantly higher reconstruction accuracy compared to the widely-used inverse CSD method (iCSD), and the regularized kernel CSD method (kCSD), in the analysis of CSDs originating from propagating neuronal activity.ConclusionsThe waveCSD method provides a theoretical platform for estimation of transmembrane currents from their LFPs in experimental paradigms involving wave propagation.



https://ift.tt/2MNAye3

Matlab software for impedance spectroscopy designed for neuroscience applications

Publication date: 1 September 2018
Source:Journal of Neuroscience Methods, Volume 307
Author(s): Omid Haji Maghsoudi, Annie Vahedipour, Jonathan Gerstenhaber, Shaun Philip George, Thomas Hallowell, Benjamin Robertson, Matthew Short, Andrew Spence
BackgroundMetal electrodes are a mainstay of neuroscience. Characterization of the electrical impedance properties of these cuffs is important to ensure successful and repeatable fabrication, achieve a target impedance, revise novel designs, and quantify the success or failure of implantation and any potential subsequent damage or encapsulation by scar tissue.New methodsImpedances are frequently characterized using lumped-parameter circuit models of the electrode–electrolyte interface. Open-source tools to gather and analyze these frequency sweep data are lacking. Here, we present such software, in the form of Matlab code, which includes a GUI. It automatically acquires frequency sweep data and subsequently fits a simplified Randles model to these data, over a user specified frequency range, providing the user with the model parameter estimates. Also, it can measure an unknown impedance of an element over a range of frequencies, as long as an external resistor can be added for the measurements.ResultsThe tool was tested on five bright platinum nerve cuffs in vitro. The average charge transfer resistance, solution resistance, CPE value, and impedance magnitude were estimated.Comparison to existing methodsThe measured values of the impedance of cuffs were in agreement with the literature (Wei and Grill, 2009). Variation between cuffs fabricated as consistently as possible amounted to 10% for impedance magnitude and 4° for impedance phase.ConclusionThe results show that this low-cost tool can be used to characterize a cuff across different conditions including after implantation. The latter makes it useful for a longer-term study of electrode viability.



https://ift.tt/2KLWVD0

Assessment of arsenic removal efficiency by an iron oxide-coated sand filter process

Abstract

Arsenic is among the most dangerous contaminants which can limit groundwater use for drinking water consumption. Among the most diffused As-removal technologies around the world, adsorptive media systems are usually favored for relatively low cost and simplicity of operation. This study examines the performance of a laboratory-scale iron oxide-coated sand (IOCS) column filter, to remove arsenic (arsenate (As[V]) and arsenite (As[III])) from groundwater. This technology could be adopted in small communities, as it showed consistent removal rates of 99% with an easy-to-operate process. Some considerations about the possible introduction of such technology in developing countries are provided, highlighting the general impacts to human health related to high arsenic concentrations in groundwater. This, among other adsorption processes, could be recommended as a sustainable mean of ensuring good drinking water quality in developing regions, reducing human health impacts.

https://ift.tt/2u0ZMh6