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Disposable bedpan systems
182
Injury, 5, 182-184
Abstracts BACTERIOLOGY
AND
INFECTION
Disposable bedpan systems An investigation of two modern disposable bedpan systems from a bacteriological standpoint is described. Many difficulties and deficiencies were found with these systems. The major defect was the need for a non-disposable bedpan carrier or support. At present these systems are not considered suitable for use in infectious disease hospitals. GIBSON, G. L. (1973), ' Bacteriological hazards of disposable bedpan systems ', J. clin. Path., 26, 146.
Vaccine protection against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in burns This paper is a continuation of the authors' earlier work on the use of vaccines in the treatment of pseudomonas infection of burns. In these experiments burned mice were successfully protected by a single injection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa P 14 vaccine against the homologous strain of Pseudomonas when this was innoculated onto the burned area 2 or 3 days later. In the course of these experiments it was confirmed that a dry eschar over the burn would prevent the invasive infection of pseudomonas when innoculated. The authors Consider that an effective pseudomonas vaccine could be a useful adjunct to the therapy of the burned patient. JONES, R. J., and LOWBURV, E. J. L. (1972), ' Early protection by vaccines against Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonizing burns ', Br. J. exp. Path., 53, 659.
Wound sepsis in plastic surgery This is a study of wound sepsis in the West of Scotland Regional Plastic Surgery Centre, a new unit of 134 beds which opened in 1967. The study was restricted to those whose operation involved incision through healthy skin, did not include operations on the hand, and excluded all those patients who were discharged from hospital within 5 days of operation. Some degree of sepsis was found in 31 "3 per cent of patients whose stay in hospital exceeded 5 days. It is suggested that the incident which contributed to the development of sepsis occurred at the time of operation rather than subsequently in the ward. The effect of surgery on reducing the viability of flaps and circulation in the tissues was probably more important than the bacteriological state of the wound. A heavy growth of pathogenic organisms was found in 26 per cent of clinically clean wounds and illustrates the point that if the host and his wound are healthy,
they may well remain so despite alarming bacteriological findings. MORRISON, R. B., LISTER, G. D., and HOLMES, J . H . (1972), ' Wound sepsis in a plastic surgery unit ', Br. J. plast. Surg., 25, 435.
Tetanus An editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association draws attention to the number of yearly deaths (175) from tetanus in the U.S.A., although this disease is entirely preventable. The basic facts about tetanus are briefly and clearly stated. Firstly, the causative organism is omnipresent in nature. Second, humans are the most susceptible animals to the potent neurotoxin tetanospasmin. Third, no-one is born with natural immunity, nor is immunity acquired naturally. Fourth, any infected wound must be considered a potential source of tetanus infection. Fifth, treatment of the disease is not effective and the mortality-rate of 50-60 per cent remains the same as it has been for the past 20 years. Finally, the most important fact is that tetanus toxoid does prevent the disease, although it is not commonly appreciated that the first dose of tetanus toxoid does not give protection, which is only provided by the second injection. When immediate passive immunization is required, human immune globulin is given and tetanus toxin is also administered by a different syringe and at a different site, but at the same time. OmISTENSEN, N. A. (1972), ' Potential for tetanus unchanged; are your patients all properly immunized?', J. Am. med. Ass., 222, 578.
Controlling hospital-acquired infection Steps to control hospital-acquired infection over a 3-year period in a district general hospital are described with particular reference to Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. NOONE, P., and SHAFt, M. S. (1973), ' Controlling infection in a district general hospital ', J. clin. Path., 26, 140.
Hyperbaric therapy The U.S. Air Force has 9 hyperbaric chambers which are used for decompression sickness, air embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, and gas gangrene. During the past 7 years, 94 patients have been treated. Altitude decompression sickness from aircraft accidents occurred in 47 patients and was followed by complete recovery using hyperbaric therapy. One recovery from air embolism in a diver making a
Injury, 5, 182-184
Abstracts BACTERIOLOGY
AND
INFECTION
Disposable bedpan systems An investigation of two modern disposable bedpan systems from a bacteriological standpoint is described. Many difficulties and deficiencies were found with these systems. The major defect was the need for a non-disposable bedpan carrier or support. At present these systems are not considered suitable for use in infectious disease hospitals. GIBSON, G. L. (1973), ' Bacteriological hazards of disposable bedpan systems ', J. clin. Path., 26, 146.
Vaccine protection against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in burns This paper is a continuation of the authors' earlier work on the use of vaccines in the treatment of pseudomonas infection of burns. In these experiments burned mice were successfully protected by a single injection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa P 14 vaccine against the homologous strain of Pseudomonas when this was innoculated onto the burned area 2 or 3 days later. In the course of these experiments it was confirmed that a dry eschar over the burn would prevent the invasive infection of pseudomonas when innoculated. The authors Consider that an effective pseudomonas vaccine could be a useful adjunct to the therapy of the burned patient. JONES, R. J., and LOWBURV, E. J. L. (1972), ' Early protection by vaccines against Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonizing burns ', Br. J. exp. Path., 53, 659.
Wound sepsis in plastic surgery This is a study of wound sepsis in the West of Scotland Regional Plastic Surgery Centre, a new unit of 134 beds which opened in 1967. The study was restricted to those whose operation involved incision through healthy skin, did not include operations on the hand, and excluded all those patients who were discharged from hospital within 5 days of operation. Some degree of sepsis was found in 31 "3 per cent of patients whose stay in hospital exceeded 5 days. It is suggested that the incident which contributed to the development of sepsis occurred at the time of operation rather than subsequently in the ward. The effect of surgery on reducing the viability of flaps and circulation in the tissues was probably more important than the bacteriological state of the wound. A heavy growth of pathogenic organisms was found in 26 per cent of clinically clean wounds and illustrates the point that if the host and his wound are healthy,
they may well remain so despite alarming bacteriological findings. MORRISON, R. B., LISTER, G. D., and HOLMES, J . H . (1972), ' Wound sepsis in a plastic surgery unit ', Br. J. plast. Surg., 25, 435.
Tetanus An editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association draws attention to the number of yearly deaths (175) from tetanus in the U.S.A., although this disease is entirely preventable. The basic facts about tetanus are briefly and clearly stated. Firstly, the causative organism is omnipresent in nature. Second, humans are the most susceptible animals to the potent neurotoxin tetanospasmin. Third, no-one is born with natural immunity, nor is immunity acquired naturally. Fourth, any infected wound must be considered a potential source of tetanus infection. Fifth, treatment of the disease is not effective and the mortality-rate of 50-60 per cent remains the same as it has been for the past 20 years. Finally, the most important fact is that tetanus toxoid does prevent the disease, although it is not commonly appreciated that the first dose of tetanus toxoid does not give protection, which is only provided by the second injection. When immediate passive immunization is required, human immune globulin is given and tetanus toxin is also administered by a different syringe and at a different site, but at the same time. OmISTENSEN, N. A. (1972), ' Potential for tetanus unchanged; are your patients all properly immunized?', J. Am. med. Ass., 222, 578.
Controlling hospital-acquired infection Steps to control hospital-acquired infection over a 3-year period in a district general hospital are described with particular reference to Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. NOONE, P., and SHAFt, M. S. (1973), ' Controlling infection in a district general hospital ', J. clin. Path., 26, 140.
Hyperbaric therapy The U.S. Air Force has 9 hyperbaric chambers which are used for decompression sickness, air embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, and gas gangrene. During the past 7 years, 94 patients have been treated. Altitude decompression sickness from aircraft accidents occurred in 47 patients and was followed by complete recovery using hyperbaric therapy. One recovery from air embolism in a diver making a