Hygienic Shortcomings of Frozen Dessert Freezing Equipment and Fate of Listeria monocytogenes on Ice Cream-Soiled Stainless Steel

Although frozen dairy desserts have a strong record of safety, recent outbreaks of foodborne disease linked to ice creams have brought new attention to this industry. There is concern that small-scale frozen dessert equipment may not comply with or be reviewed against published comprehensive design and construction sanitation specifications (National Sanitation Foundation or 3-A sanitary standards). Equipment sanitary design issues may result in reduced efficacy of cleaning and sanitation, thus increasing the likelihood of postprocess contamination with pathogenic bacteria. In this context, and given that Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks are of great concern for the frozen dessert industry, a complementary study was conducted to evaluate the fate of L. monocytogenes in ice cream mix on a stainless steel surface. Our results showed that L. monocytogenes survived for up to 6 weeks at room temperature and 9 weeks at 4°C in contaminated ice cream on a stainless steel surface. Furthermore, chlorine- and acid-based surface sanitizers had no detrimental effect on the L. monocytogenes when used at a concentration and contact time (1 min) recommended by the manufacturer; significant reduction in CFU required 5 to 20 min of contact time.

Teaching of intermittent self-catheterisation through dedicated nurse-led TOV clinic for patients with uncomplicated acute urinary retention: How useful is it in practice?

Objectives:

Acute urinary retention (AUR) is a common urological emergency. Our institution has established an outpatient pathway for managing patients with uncomplicated AUR on discharge from A&E: with catheter education and alpha-blocker therapy. They are followed up in a nurse-led clinic where intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC) can be taught if required. The aim of this study is to investigate the outcomes of our nurse-led trial of void (TOV) clinic and specifically the merit of teaching ISC.

Methods:

Data was prospectively collected and analysed for all patients with AUR who were followed up in the nurse-led TOV clinic between October 2012 and December 2014.

Results:

Over 26 months, 120 men with AUR attended the TOV clinic with an average age of 71 years (range 28–94 years). Forty-nine of 120 (41%) patients had an identifiable cause for AUR (UTI=13, constipation=13, alcohol=11, anti-cholinergics=7, post-operative=4 and post-brachytherapy=1). Sixty-four men passed and 50 failed TOV. Six were excluded from this analysis as they did not proceed to TOV in clinic (three requested LTC and three were not appropriate for outpatient clinic). All 50 patients who failed TOV were offered ISC. Thirty-two of 50 patients (64%) learnt ISC. Ten declined and eight were unable to perform ISC. Only seven of 50 patients (14%) went on to have a TURP, four of whom had declined to learn ISC. Of the remaining 43 patients, 24 (56%) had return of spontaneous voiding.

Conclusion:

In our experience, a pathway for reviewing AUR patients in a nurse-led TOV clinic where expertise for ISC tuition is available is extremely useful. In our series, only 14% of patients who failed TOV required TURP. Bladder function often returns to normal over time but ISC offers patients an autonomous management option if satisfactory to themselves whilst avoiding the complications of LTC.

Emergency vaccination use in a modelled foot and mouth disease outbreak in Minnesota

Epidemiological modelling is an important approach used by the Veterinary Services of the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to evaluate the potential effectiveness of different strategies for handling foot and mouth disease (FMD). Identifying the potential spread of FMD by modelling an outbreak, and then considering the impacts of FMD vaccination, is important in helping to inform decision-makers about the potential outcomes of vaccination programmes. The objective of this study was to evaluate emergency vaccination control strategies used in a simulated FMD outbreak in Minnesota. The North American Animal Disease Spread Model (NAADSM, Version 3.2.18) was used to simulate the outbreak. Large-scale (1,500 herds per day) emergency vaccination reduced the size of the modelled outbreak in both swine and dairy production types, but the effect was larger when the outbreak began in a dairy herd. Large-scale vaccination also overcame limitations caused by delays in vaccine delivery. Thus, even if vaccination did not begin until 21 days into the outbreak, large-scale vaccination still reduced the size and duration of the outbreak. The quantity of vaccine used was markedly larger when large-scale vaccination was used, compared with small-scale (50 herds per day) vaccine administration. In addition, the number of animals and herds vaccinated in an outbreak originating in a herd of swine was substantially lower than in an outbreak beginning in a herd of dairy cattle.

EB virus: malignant lymphoma in cottontop marmosets following inoculation and recovery of the virus from cells of an experimental tumor maintained in organ culture

The oncogenic potential of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was investigated in cottontop marmosets. Neoplasia resembling human malignant lymphomas, reticulum cell sarcoma type, occurred following inoculation of materials containing EBV. One of 4 monkeys that received autologous cells transformed in vitro by EBV developed lymphoma in mesenteric lymph nodes seven and one-half months after inoculation. Three of 4 marmosets inoculated with cell-free EBV developed lymphoma. The latent period for given with EBV accelerated the course of disease. Nevertheless malignant lymphoma occurred in an animal given only cell-free virus. Six of 8 marmosets inoculated with EBV demonstrated antibodies to the virus. Four marmosets not exposed to the virus, of which 2 received immunosuppressive drugs, have not developed tumors, nor EBV antibodies. EBV antigen detectable by immunofluorescences has been found in 2% of cells shed from one tumor maintained in organ culture. These results imply that EBV is capable of inducing malignant lymphoma in at least one primate species. Additional experimental evidence is required, however, before its oncogenic capacity in this host can be accepted without reservation.

We need an educated voice!

Newly qualified theatre nurses could benefit from a wider national availability of university based education specifically for theatre practice from which to develop both the technical and nontechnical skills of their role to enhance the delivery of optimum, safe and sensitive patient care. They would be better prepared for challenging situations and develop resilience, thereby reducing stress. The professional role of the theatre nurse would be advanced through engagement in recognised education with academic accreditation.