Immediate Outcome of Preterm Neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome Required Mechanical Ventilation

Since its inception, the neonatal mechanical ventilator has been considered an essential tool for managing preterm neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) and is still regarded as an integral component in the neonatal respiratory care continuum. Mechanical ventilation of newborn has been practiced for several years with several advances made in the way. This clinical intervention study was done to analyze immediate outcome of preterm neonates with RDS required mechanical ventilation and conducted on preterm neonates with RDS required mechanical ventilation from July 2014 to June 2015. Total of 31 preterm neonates with RDS were mechanically ventilated during the study period, of which 77.42% (N=24) survived. The survival rate was highest among 30- <34 weeks (100%) gestational age (GA) group and lowest in 27- <30 weeks (56%) GA, (p=0.0036). The neonates with Birth Weight (BW) 1500gm -1800gm were higher rate of recovery which was 100% and gradually declined in 1000-1499gm (93.75%) and 800-999gm (33.33%) BW groups (p=0.00083). In this study most of the neonates were male (61.29%) but recovery rate was relatively better among baby girls (83.33%) than baby boys (73.68%) (p=0.53). RDS with surfactant therapy was better outcome than non surfactant group & survival of neonates who got surfactant were 93.33% & non surfactant neonates were 62.50%, (p=0.040). Majority (71.43%) of RDS with surfactant therapy recovered earlier <7 days than non surfactant therapy neonates (30.00%) and most of non surfactant neonates (70.00%) required prolonged ventilator support >7days (p=0.045). During the period of ventilation a total 17(54.84%) neonates developed different complications, of which ventilator associated pneumonia was (16.13%), sepsis (16.13%), pneumothorax (9.68%), pulmonary hemorrhage (6.45%) and intraventricular hemorrhage (6.45%) and among them 10 neonates recovered. No complications encountered in 14(45.16%) neonates, all of them survived, (p=0.0064). All (N=31) preterm neonates were candidate for surfactant therapy but only 15 neonates got surfactant therapy, remaining (N=16) did not get for their financial issue. As mechanical ventilation with surfactant therapy reduces the neonatal mortality; hence, facilities for neonatal ventilation and cost effective surfactant therapy should be included in the regional and central hospitals providing intensive care for neonates.

Chemical and irradiation treatments for killing Escherichia coli O157:H7 on alfalfa, radish, and mung bean seeds

In this study, the effectiveness of dry-heat treatment in combination with chemical treatments (electrolyzed oxidizing [EO] water, califresh-S, 200 ppm of active chlorinated water) with and without sonication in eliminating Escherichia coli O157:H7 on laboratory-inoculated alfalfa, radish, and mung bean seeds was compared with that of dry-heat treatment in combination with irradiation treatment. The treatment of mung bean seeds with EO water in combination with sonication followed by a rinse with sterile distilled water resulted in reductions of approximately 4.0 log10 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 per g. whereas reductions of ca. 1.52 and 2.64 log10 CFU/g were obtained for radish and alfalfa seeds. The maximum reduction (3.70 log10 CFU/g) for mung bean seeds was achieved by treatment with califresh-S and chlorinated water (200 ppm) in combination with sonication and a rinse. The combination of dry heat, hot EO water treatment, and sonication was able to eliminate pathogen populations on mung bean seeds but was unable to eliminate the pathogen on radish and alfalfa seeds. Other chemical treatments used were effective in greatly reducing pathogen populations on radish and alfalfa seeds without compromising the quality of the sprouts, but these treatments did not result in the elimination of pathogens from radish and alfalfa seeds. Moreover, a combination of dry-heat and irradiation treatments was effective in eliminating E. coli O157:H7 on laboratory-inoculated alfalfa, radish, and mung bean seeds. An irradiation dose of 2.0 kGy in combination with dry heat eliminated E. coli O157:H7 completely from alfalfa and mung bean seeds, whereas a 2.5-kGy dose of irradiation was required to eliminate the pathogen completely from radish seeds. Dry heat in combination with irradiation doses of up to 2.0 kGy did not unacceptably decrease the germination percentage for alfalfa seeds or the length of alfalfa sprouts but did decrease the lengths of radish and mung bean sprouts.

Effectiveness of electrolyzed acidic water in killing Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enteritidis, and Listeria monocytogenes on the surfaces of tomatoes

A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of electrolyzed acidic water, 200-ppm chlorine water, and sterile distilled water in killing Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes on the surfaces of spot-inoculated tomatoes. Inoculated tomatoes were sprayed with electrolyzed acidic water, 200-ppm chlorine water, and sterile distilled water (control) and rubbed by hand for 40 s. Populations of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes in the rinse water and in the peptone wash solution were determined. Treatment with 200-ppm chlorine water and electrolyzed acidic water resulted in 4.87- and 7.85-log10 reductions, respectively, in Escherichia coli O157:H7 counts and 4.69- and 7.46-log10 reductions, respectively, in Salmonella counts. Treatment with 200-ppm chlorine water and electrolyzed acidic water reduced the number of L. monocytogenes by 4.76 and 7.54 log10 CFU per tomato, respectively. This study's findings suggest that electrolyzed acidic water could be useful in controlling pathogenic microorganisms on fresh produce.

Preservation of fish cutlet (Pangasius pangasius) at ambient temperature by irradiation

Development of gamma irradiation preservation of ready-to-eat, commercially prepared fish cutlet and improvement of microbiological quality were studied. Studies on the shelf life extension by a combination of irradiation and ascorbic acid treatments of fish cutlets prepared at the laboratory and commercial scale have also been conducted. Cutlets prepared at the laboratory scale according to selected formulation and irradiated at a dose of 5 kGy could extend the shelf life up to 5 weeks at room temperature. In commercially prepared fish cutlets, maximum shelf life extension observed was 14 days for samples treated with 5 kGy of irradiation and stored at ambient temperature on the basis of combined microbiological, chemical, and organoleptic evaluation. The microbiological quality of the commercially prepared fish cutlets revealed the unhygienic conditions of the place where the fish was prepared and the unhygienic storage conditions and temperatures. As a result, the chemical and irradiation treatments were not effective in extending the shelf life of the cutlets under the storage condition used in this study compared with that of the laboratory scale-prepared cutlets.