Enlargement of the WHO international repository for platelet transfusion-relevant bacteria reference strains

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Interventions to prevent and detect bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates (PCs) have reduced, but not eliminated the sepsis risk. Standardized bacterial strains are needed to validate detection and pathogen reduction technologies in PCs. Following the establishment of the First International Reference Repository of Platelet Transfusion-Relevant Bacterial Reference Strains (the 'repository'), the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Biological Standardisation (ECBS) endorsed further repository expansion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixteen bacterial strains, including the four repository strains, were distributed from the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) to 14 laboratories in 10 countries for enumeration, identification and growth measurement on days 2, 4 and 7 after low spiking levels [10-25 colony-forming units (CFU)/PC bag]. Spore-forming (Bacillus cereusPEI-B-P-07-S, Bacillus thuringiensisPEI-B-P-57-S), Gram-negative (Enterobacter cloacaePEI-B-P-43, Morganella morganiiPEI-B-P-74, PEI-B-P-91, Proteus mirabilisPEI-B-P-55, Pseudomonas fluorescensPEI-B-P-77, Salmonella choleraesuisPEI-B-P-78, Serratia marcescensPEI-B-P-56) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureusPEI-B-P-63, Streptococcus dysgalactiaePEI-B-P-71, Streptococcus bovisPEI-B-P-61) strains were evaluated.

RESULTS

Bacterial viability was conserved after transport to the participating laboratories with one exception (M. morganiiPEI-B-P-74). All other strains showed moderate-to-excellent growth. Bacillus cereus, B. thuringiensis, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. fluorescens, S. marcescens, S. aureus and S. dysgalactiae grew to >10⁶ CFU/ml by day 2. Enterobacter cloacae, P. mirabilis, S. epidermidis, S. bovis and S. pyogenes achieved >10⁶ CFU/ml at day 4. Growth of S. choleraesuis was lower and highly variable.

CONCLUSION

The WHO ECBS approved all bacterial strains (except M. morganiiPEI-B-P-74 and S. choleraesuisPEI-B-P-78) for repository enlargement. The strains were stable, suitable for spiking with low CFU numbers, and proliferation was independent of the PC donor.

Muscular strain as risk factor of somatic symptom of mix anxiety and depression

Introduction

Somatic symptoms in depression are not uncommon. There is increased sicidality, poor prognosis, and increased risk of relapse. Neurological and l muscloskeletal symptoms can be explained on basis of increased muscular tension in the body.

Methods

An internet search was made using key words muscular tension, SSRIs depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms.

Results

Ninety-eight percent patients reported at least one of somatic symptoms. Forty-five percent reported six somatic symptom. GIT symptoms in 67% patients. Fatigue in 78% % of patients. Weakness in body parts 45% and headache in 43% to 65%. Chest pain more common in male. Patient over 40 showed pain in limbs or joints. Number of symptoms was directly related to severity of depression.

Discussion

Increased muscular tension is one component of mix anxiety and depression. Main nerves and their branches pass in between muscular bellies. When there is increased muscular tone, it puts extra compression on major nerves and their branches. This will cause dysesthesia in body parts. Stretching of muscles produce pain due to hypoxia. This produces headache, strain neck and backache pain in chest. Fatigue is result of over consumption of energy due to hypertonia. One of their side effect is of SSRIs is muscular hypertonia which will not be very helpful for these symptoms. Drugs like tricyclics, SNRI can have better results when used alone, gabapentine, pregabline tinazidine used as adjunct can alleviate symptoms. Non-pharmacological treatment includes massage, relaxation technique, and warm water therapy.

Conclusion

Somatic symptoms of mix anxiety and depression should be important consideration in its treatment.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Thirty-days readmissions in pediatric surgery: The first U.K. experience

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate readmissions within 30days of operation (ReAd) in the setting of a tertiary pediatric surgical practice in the UK.

METHODS

Using Hospital Episode Statistics, cases that were readmitted within 30days of primary operation were identified retrospectively. Demographics including age, gender, preexisting comorbidities, diagnosis on primary admission and the treatment, length of stay, and diagnosis on readmission with treatment, including further surgical intervention, were collected from discharge summaries and hospital notes. Neonates were excluded from this study. Comorbidities, involving one or more systems, were also identified for each case of readmission. ReAds were classified into emergency and elective cohort depending on the nature of the primary operation. Outcomes were compared between these two groups. Data were quoted as median (range) unless indicated otherwise. Data were analyzed using SPSS software Desktop 22.0, using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-Squared tests, with a consideration that a P≤0.05 was significant.

RESULTS

A total of 2378 procedures were performed during the study period. Elective cases, including day cases, accounted for 77% (n=1837) of all cases. The remaining 23% (n=541) were emergency cases. Total unplanned readmission rate within 30days (ReAd) was 2%. Further surgical procedures were required in 38%. Having excluded neonates, the most common primary procedure leading to readmission within 30days was appendicectomy (26%). Overall, the most common cause for readmission within 30days was postoperative infection (30%). The ReAd in emergency cohort was 3.5% in comparison to 1.5% in elective, which was significantly different (P value=0.007).

CONCLUSION

Readmission within thirty days of primary procedure in pediatric surgery has little published data. An efficient discharge planning may play a vital role in preventing unwanted readmission. Elective operations had a significantly lower readmission rate than emergency operations. Having excluded neonates, appendicectomy was found to be the most common operation associated with readmission in the pediatric surgical practice. Although widely used as quality care indicator in adults, more studies are required to validate readmission rate as a quality of care indicator in pediatric surgery practice.

Laparoscopic surgery for acute neonatal appendicitis

We present the first two cases of acute neonatal appendicitis operated on through the laparoscopic approach. Acute neonatal appendicitis is uncommon and rarely considered by clinicians when assessing the neonatal acute abdomen. Our two cases demonstrate the potential value of diagnostic laparoscopy in the acute neonatal abdomen that poses a diagnostic dilemma. Furthermore, technical modifications of well-established laparoscopic techniques in the older child enable its use in neonates as a therapeutic tool.

Laparoscopy-assisted surgery for neonatal intestinal atresia: single-center experience(*)

INTRODUCTION

Neonatal intestinal atresia surgery requires careful assessment of bowel patency, resection of the affected bowel and a diligent anastomosis. Traditional anastomosis with sutures via a laparoscopic approach would lengthen the surgical time. Various minimally invasive techniques have been reported for neonatal surgery. Our technique offers improved benefits of laparoscopy while observing good principles of surgery.

MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Using a three-port approach to aid careful laparoscopic inspection of the bowel, we performed laparoscopy-assisted neonatal intestinal atresia repair in three term neonates with no cardiorespiratory compromise. Anastomosis was manually performed after exteriorzation of the bowel via the umbilical port site without any extension of the original port-site incision. There were no complications or conversions to open approach.

DISCUSSION

Our technique is an improvement over previously reported limited/umbilical laparotomy approaches and blends the benefits of laparoscopy and open surgery most effectively. Careful bowel inspection and assessment of patency could be safely and systematically performed laparoscopically with limited exteriorization of the bowel for rapid hand-sewn anastomosis and without compromising bowel viability. A multicenter randomized trial will be useful to compare the open laparotomy approach with our technique.

A comparison of respiratory function in Afro-Caribbean and Caucasian infants

Race is recognized as an important determinant of lung function in children and adults, but limited data exist for infants. Accurate interpretation of lung function tests during the neonatal period may depend on appropriate values for predicting normality. The aim of this study was to compare tidal breathing parameters, Hering-Breuer reflex (HBR) activity, and total respiratory compliance (Crs) in healthy newborn caucasian (white) and Afro-Caribbean (black) infants, to determine whether separate reference values were required for these two ethnic groups. Respiratory function was measured in 33 healthy black infants, 18 of whom were premature, and 33 healthy white infants matched for sex, gestational age, weight, postnatal age, and maternal smoking during pregnancy. There were no significant paired differences between black and white infants with respect to minute ventilation, respiratory frequency, the ratio of time to reach peak expiratory flow to total expiratory time, or HBR activity. Values of Crs were similar in black and white full-term infants (37.5 (SD 9.0) versus 35.0 (6.3) ml.kPa-1, respectively) suggesting that, in the immediate newborn period, separate reference values are not necessary for these parameters. However, Crs was somewhat lower in black than white preterm infants (26.0(5.2) versus 29.5(7.2) ml.kPa-1, this difference reaching statistical significance if results were expressed in relation to body weight (95% confidence interval of within-pair differences -4.0 to -0.02 ml.kPa-1 x kg-1; p < 0.05). We conclude that no separate reference values for tidal breathing, Hering-Breuer reflex activity or total respiratory compliance are required for white and black babies in the immediate newborn period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)