A case-control study of child bicycle injuries: relationship of risk to exposure

In order to assess the relationship of the risk of injury requiring hospital attendance in children riding bicycles to sociodemographic factors and to measures of exposure, a population-based case-control study is being undertaken in a large area of suburban Melbourne, Australia. Particular attention is given to the measurement of individual exposure in several dimensions. Analysis of interim data from 109 cases and 118 controls shows that 51% of injuries occurred while the child was playing rather than making a trip on the bicycle and only 22% involved another vehicle. Boys used bicycles more commonly than girls but there was minimal evidence of an increased risk of injury in boys, adjusting for exposure. There was no evidence for an age trend in injury risk, but children from families in the lowest income category were at significantly increased risk. Exposure measures showed complex patterns of association with injury risk. Estimated time spent riding was more closely associated with risk than distance travelled, with an odds ratio of 2.2 (95% confidence interval 1.1-4.2) for children riding for more than 3 hours per week compared to children riding less than 1 hour. Riding more than 5 km on the sidewalk was also associated with increased risk (odds ratio 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-8.5). The elevated risk associated with sidewalk riding may be due to difficulties in negotiating uneven surfaces. The case-control study provides an ideal design for this type of investigation but valid and reliable measurement of exposure is difficult.

The influence of the site of parasite inoculation on the development of Th1 and Th2 type immune responses in (BALB/c x C57BL/6) F1 mice infected with Leishmania major

Although inbred strains of mice are classified as genetically resistant or susceptible to Leishmania major based upon their ability to control infection, other factors such as the strain, dose, and site of parasite inoculation can also affect the outcome of the disease. Here we used the F1 progeny of BALB/c (susceptible) and C57BL/6 (resistant) mice (designated CB6F1) to investigate whether mice or intermediate susceptibility to infection differed from the parental strains in their ability to control infections at different cutaneous sites. CB6F1 mice developed progressive disease when inoculated in the dorsal skin, but healed infections in the footpad. Consistent with these observations, mice inoculated in the footpad ultimately developed Th1 responses, known to be required for healing, while Th2 responses developed in mice inoculated in the dorsal skin. However, IL-4 and IFN-gamma production during the first few weeks of infection was similar in CB6F1 mice inoculated at either site, suggesting that factors in addition to the relative levels of these cytokines produced early in infection may influence the nature of the antileishmanial immune response, and the eventual disease outcome. Infection in CB6F1 mice provides a model for the study of immunity to L. major in genetically identical animals, in which a prolonged mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine pattern initially develops, but ultimately diverges into more defined Th1 and Th2 type responses.

Sonographic measurement of renal enlargement in children with acute pyelonephritis and time needed for resolution: implications for renal growth assessment

OBJECTIVE

Failure of a kidney to grow satisfactorily in childhood is evidence of renal disease. Because kidneys may enlarge during an episode of acute pyelonephritis, concomitant renal length measurements cannot be used as baselines for growth assessment. This study was designed to determine the degree of renal enlargement in children with acute pyelonephritis and the time the enlargement takes to resolve after treatment is started to find the optimum time for obtaining baseline measurements.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In a cohort study, 180 children younger than 5 years old with their first proven acute urinary tract infection, with or without pyelonephritis, had renal scintigraphy and sonography within 15 days of starting treatment. The presence of cortical defects on scintigrams indicated pyelonephritis. The lengths of kidneys with and without scintigraphic defects (i.e., with and without pyelonephritis) were compared, adjusting for age and sex, and the length of kidneys with defects was related to time elapsed between the start of treatment and sonography.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine kidneys (28%) in 77 children (43%) had scintigraphic defects. Kidneys with defects were an average of 3.2 mm longer than kidneys without defects. Length and time interval between treatment and sonography in kidneys with defects correlated negatively, with mean length approaching that of kidneys without defects by 10-11 days.

CONCLUSION

Kidneys with acute pyelonephritis initially increase in length but return to normal on average by the 11th day of treatment. If poor renal growth is used as an indication of renal disease, sonography should be delayed or repeated at least 2 weeks after the start of treatment to determine the length of the uninflamed kidney.

Non-intentional asphyxiation deaths due to upper airway interference in children 0 to 14 years

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to identify avoidable, contributing factors associated with non-intentional asphyxiation deaths due to upper airway interference in children 0 to 14 years.

DESIGN

Historical population based incidence study.

METHODS

All postneonatal and childhood deaths by asphyxiation from 1985 to 1994, using appropriate ICD-9-CM codes, were compiled from the Victorian government legislated paediatric mortality surveillance system. Recent cases were identified from the State Coroner's Office. Case definition included children under 15 years who died from upper airway interference such as facial occlusion, head and neck entrapment, rope or cord strangulation, or foreign body.

RESULTS

Of the identified 42 deaths, eight (19%) were caused by a foreign body in the airway, five (12%) were due to facial occlusion, 16 (38%) were due to ropes and similar material (seven were homemade rope swings), and 13 (31%) were caused by entrapment (seven were in cots or beds). The average annual rate for asphyxiation deaths by all causes for children 0 to 14 years was 4.7 million. Infants under 1 year had a rate of 20.1/million, while the rate for 10 to 14 year olds dropped to 2.0/million.

CONCLUSION

Rope swings and rope material are inherently dangerous and frequently prove fatal, especially for older children. For infants, environmental factors are important; in particular food and bedding. Prevention strategies need to be developed that include obligatory standards for the design and manufacture of products for children, appropriate labelling and warnings, and education for children, their carers, and health care professionals.

Clinical signs associated with Triple Antigen (DTP) vaccination in infants

OBJECTIVE

The perceived reactogenicity of pertussis-containing vaccines is of considerable public health importance. The purpose of this study was to establish prospectively the incidence of systemic and local clinical signs associated with the first three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP) currently used in Australia. In addition, in order to determine whether variability in reporting of such phenomena might be associated with variation in DTP batches, infant behaviour was studied with three batches for the first of the three DTP vaccinations.

METHODOLOGY

Double blind, randomized controlled trial. There were 591 eligible infants who were recruited sequentially from centres for vaccination in three large Melbourne municipalities, of whom 531 (mean age 10 weeks, 45% female) were randomized and immunized. Of 181 subjects who received DTP from batch 1, 151 were studied at the time of their second DTP dose, and 98 at the third. Infants were assigned randomly to receive one of three batches of DTP vaccine. Parents were provided with a thermometer and a clinical sign diary. Research nurses visited the home 24 h after vaccination, and telephoned 7 days after vaccination to record local and systemic signs.

RESULTS

There was no significant variation between DTP batches in rates of local or systemic signs. At the time of the first vaccination, the rates of local signs were: redness 16%, induration 29%, swelling 46%, and tenderness 54%. Systemic signs included: irritability 93%, intermittent inconsolable crying 43%, and persistent crying 12%. An axillary temperature of greater than 38 degrees C was recorded in 13% (CI 9-19%) of babies following the first immunization, 20% (CI 14-27%) following the second, and 14% (CI 8-23%) following the third immunization. There were significant reductions in the rates of observed signs over the immunization course for diarrhoea, irritability, intermittent inconsolable crying and persistent crying.

CONCLUSIONS

There is little difference in the rates of clinical signs or presumed minor adverse effects associated with the DTP vaccine used in Australia today compared to that used 10 years ago, despite increases in the diphtheria and tetanus toxoid concentration, and the addition of aluminium phosphate adjuvant. Rates are comparable to those for other DTP vaccines manufactured in North America and Europe.

Adverse outcomes of bacterial meningitis in school-age survivors

OBJECTIVE

To determine the outcomes of bacterial meningitis in school-age survivors.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Teaching pediatric hospital.

CHILDREN

During 1983 through 1986, 158 meningitis survivors, ages 3 months to 14 years, treated at a single center were enrolled. Between 1991 and 1993, 130 children, 82% of the original cohort, were evaluated at a mean age of 8.4 years and a mean of 6.7 years after their meningitis.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Blinded neurologic, neuropsychologic, audiologic, behavior, and socio-demographic assessments were compared with those from grade- and sex-matched control children. Multivariate analyses adjusted for age at testing and socio-demographic variables.

RESULTS

There was a systematic increase in risk of abnormality or poorer functioning for children with meningitis, compared with control children, across all categories tested, which was significant for fine motor function, Intelligence quotient (IQ) scores, and tests of school behavior, neuropsychologic function, and auditory figure-ground differentiation. Eleven children who had experienced meningitis (8.5%) had major deficits (IQ < 70, seizures, hydrocephalus, spasticity, blindness, or severe to profound hearing loss); a further 24 (18.5%) cases and 14 (10.8%) control children had minor deficits (IQ 70 to 80, inability to read, mild to moderate hearing loss, abnormalities in speech discrimination, or school behavior problems). Overall, children who had meningitis were at greater risk (26.9%) for disability. Children with acute neurologic complications had more adverse outcomes than those with uncomplicated meningitis and control children (39% vs 18% vs 11%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

One in four school-age meningitis survivors has either serious and disabling sequelae or a functionally important behavior disorder, neuropsychologic or auditory dysfunction adversely affecting academic performance. As a group, survivors function less well than their classroom peers, and risk is greatest for, but not confined to, those who had acute neurologic complications. All survivors require careful follow-up, at least until school age.

Head injuries in helmeted child bicyclists

OBJECTIVE

To determine the characteristics and the severity of head and facial injuries to helmeted child bicyclists, and whether the helmet contributed to the injury, and to study factors related to bicycle accidents.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of two case series. Children sustaining head injury while not wearing helmets were studied as a form of reference group.

SETTING

Large paediatric teaching hospital.

SUBJECTS

34 helmeted child bicyclists and 155 non-helmeted bicyclists, aged 5-14 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Number of injuries, type of injuries, injury severity score, deaths, and accident circumstances.

RESULTS

79% of the head injuries of the helmeted child group were mild and two thirds of these had facial injuries. Children in the helmet group were in a greater proportion of bike-car collisions than the no helmet group and at least 15% of the helmets were lost on impact. There were no injuries secondary to the helmet.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the head injuries sustained by the helmeted children were of mild severity and there was no evidence to suggest that the helmet contributed to injury. Nevertheless, consideration should be given to designing a facial protector for the bicycle helmet and to improvement of the fastening device.

Attitudes of Victorian vaccine providers to pertussis vaccine

OBJECTIVES

To assess the attitudes of Victorian vaccine providers to the pertussis component of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP), and to examine differences between kinds of health professionals. Also, to assess vaccine providers' understanding of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines on childhood immunisation with DTP.

METHODS

We conducted a postal survey of 765 randomly selected Victorian health professionals involved in childhood vaccination, including medical officers of health (MOHs), general practitioners (GPs), maternal child health nurses (MCHNs), paediatricians and environmental health officers (EHOs).

RESULTS

Most (83%) knew that the pertussis component was most frequently responsible for adverse effects of DTP. Thirty-four per cent of all respondents (9% MCHNs, 23% paediatricians, 24% MOHs, 34% EHOs and 39% GPs) believed that pertussis vaccine causes permanent brain damage, 34% did not, and 32% were unsure; 39% believed it causes encephalopathy. Only 9% described vaccination practices entirely in accordance with NHMRC guidelines. Up to 58% of respondents would give diphtheria-tetanus vaccine (DT) in situations when DTP was indicated, and up to 54% would give DTP when it is clearly contraindicated. There was no correlation between knowledge of the safety of DTP and vaccination practices.

CONCLUSION

Victorian vaccine providers have doubts about the safety of pertussis vaccine. There is a need to ensure the availability and clarity of immunisation guidelines for health workers, to educate them about the use of pertussis vaccine, and to ensure that this knowledge is put into practice.

Impact of cyanotic heart disease on school performance

Surgical correction greatly decreases the mortality and cardiac morbidity of cyanotic congenital heart disease, but children remain at risk of long term difficulties in other areas. A historical cohort study was conducted to determine the relation between heart disease and school performance in 29 children aged 7 to 12 years old with simple transposition of the great arteries or tetralogy of Fallot. All children had surgical correction of their lesion before 2.5 years of age. Those at greater risk of school difficulties because of recognised complications of their heart disease or for reasons other than directly attributable to the heart disease were excluded. Comparison was made with 36 children who had presented with cardiac murmurs at a similar age, but who did not require treatment. Children with cyanotic disease showed significantly poorer performance in all academic areas assessed by the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised; the difference in group mean score (adjusted for differences in maternal education, sex, and parental occupational prestige) for reading was 10.3 points (confidence interval (CI) 1.25 to 19.34), for spelling 7.8 (CI 1.11 to 14.52), and for arithmetic 6.8 (CI 0.19 to 13.39). The differences in adjusted group means for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised full scale, performance and verbal IQs were significant, particularly the later at 10.1 points (CI 2.59 to 17.61). Teacher reports indicated significant differences in arithmetic when outcome was dichotomised to 'below grade' or 'not below grade'. There were no significant associations between outcome measures and the medical or perioperative parameters, however, including those related to hypoxia. It is concluded that the increased incidence of academic problems and the nature of the cognitive difficulties in children with uncomplicated corrective cardiac surgery for cyanotic heart disease are not fully explained by chronic hypoxia, or by other factors related to the cardiac surgery.

Measurement of functional severity of asthma in children

The usefulness of surveys for measuring the severity of asthma in school-age children depends on the availability of reliable and valid questionnaires. The aim of this study was to develop a measure of functional severity of asthma over the previous 12 mo, for use in population studies and in investigating treatment regimens. Of 10,198 children surveyed, 9,192 (90%) in school Years 2, 7, and 10 (mean ages 8, 13, and 16 yr) in Melbourne were screened for wheeze. The parents of the 1,267 children with wheeze were interviewed. Symptoms and restriction of activity due to asthma were analyzed using factor analysis and the partial credit version of the item response theory measurement model. The result was a continuous severity scale that was highly consistent with the data, and with goodness of fit statistics indicating the severity of 97% of children was well described by the scale. The scale correlated significantly with school absence due to wheeze (r = 0.35), functional impairment during the 2 wk before interview (Functional Status II-R [FSII-R], r = 0.30), visits to medical care for wheeze (r = 0.22), and amount of medication (r = 0.36). For descriptive purposes, a simple index with four bands of severity was developed from the continuous severity scale: low severity (47% of children with wheeze), moderate (30%), mild (18%), and high (5%). The scale and index facilitate standardized description of the impact of asthma on daily life on the basis of responses to six survey questions.

New concepts in the management of encopresis

Persistent fecal incontinence without anatomic abnormality, otherwise known as soiling or encopresis, frequently brings ridicule and shame to the affected child. The disability that it imposes is accentuated by the parental anger, guilt, and helplessness it engenders; by the peer hostility and rejection it promotes; and by the disgust with which it may be greeted by teachers. Home-based pediatric therapy is safe, generally very effective, and rewarding to patient, family, and physician. However, it requires a comprehensive understanding of both the underlying pathophysiology and the integrated therapeutic program of counseling, pharmacotherapy, and behavior modification.

Australian Rules football injuries in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the incidence, severity, risk factors, and outcomes of injuries in children and adolescents playing Australian Rules football.

DESIGN

SETTING AND SUBJECTS

A prospective cohort study of football injuries in children and adolescents playing community football. We studied a stratified random sample of 54 teams and clinics (18 under-15 teams, 18 under-10 teams and 18 Vickick clinics for children under 10 years) from the Melbourne metropolitan area. Football exposure, injuries and associated risk factors were recorded for 1253 players during the 1992 football season.

RESULTS

Vickick, a modified form of the game, had the lowest rates of injury for all levels of injury severity, with an overall rate of 3.49 injuries per 1000 player-hours. The rate in the under-10 age group was 2.4 times higher (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-3.8) than that in Vickick, and the under-15 rate was 1.2 times (95% CI, 0.9-1.6) that of the under-10s. The under-15 age group had significantly more injuries that led to use of health services than the under-10 and Vickick groups, with rates of 3.93 (95% CI, 2.9-4.9), 0.64 (95% CI, 0.2-1.4), and 0.33 (95% CI, 0.1-0.8) injuries per 1000 players-hours respectively. Injuries were largely to soft tissues (sprains 26%, haematomas 25%) and to the lower limb (43%). Very few serious injuries occurred (19 fractures and three injuries with loss of consciousness); nearly all of these were in the under-15s. Rule modifications in under-10 teams and clinics were associated with an injury rate of 5.8 injuries per 1000 player-hours (95% CI, 4.4-7.3) compared with 7.5 injuries per 1000 player-hours (95% CI, 5.2-9.8) when no modification was used. Alterations to the ruck contest, decreased contact, field size and player numbers were significantly associated with lower injury rates, while body size was not. Of the 30% of injuries resulting in a health service consultation, the most common health provider was a medical practitioner. Very few required expensive investigation or treatment.

CONCLUSION

Injury rates were low in children under age 10, but higher in adolescents. Most injuries were minor, and did not result in a health professional consultation. Rule modifications were associated with substantially lower injury rates at the under-10 level, and should be promoted as a safe way to learn football skills.

Computer-assisted instruction in Australian medical schools

OBJECTIVE

To survey the use of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in undergraduate medical student education in Australia.

SETTING AND DESIGN

A postal questionnaire survey of medical school deans, and department heads, in all Australian medical schools.

RESULTS

90% of deans, and 88% of department heads responded to the questionnaires. There were considerable variations between departments and faculties in the use of CAI. Overall, 36% of departments were using CAI and 65% of those not currently using it were either developing CAI or would like to introduce it into their teaching programs. Some medical faculties had well-developed policies for CAI, and provided considerable resources, while others did not. Some departments had large numbers of student work stations (up to 64), and multiple teaching packages (up to 200). CAI packages were generally thought to be popular with students, and to have improved the standard of learning.

CONCLUSION

This form of teaching is currently undergoing rapid expansion, but in an uncoordinated manner that is likely to lead to greatly increased overall development costs.

Community-based study of mortality in children with epilepsy

We used the records of a statewide pediatric mortality surveillance system to determine mortality rates and causes of death in children with epilepsy. Of the 1,095 children aged 1-14 years who died in the state of Victoria during the study period 1985-1989, 93 had a history of epilepsy. Six children (6%) had primary epilepsy, and 87 (94%) had secondary epilepsy. Death was (a) directly attributable to epilepsy in 20 (22%), including 11 with sudden unexplained death, (b) not directly attributable to epilepsy in 59 (63%), and (c) of undetermined cause in 14 (15%). No classifiable death occurred as a direct result of status epilepticus. The average annual mortality rates for children with epilepsy were (a) death from all causes, 30.6 in 10,000 [95% confidence interval (CI) 19.7, 47.5], and (b) death attributable to epilepsy, 6.6 in 10,000 (95% CI 3.7, 11.8). Relative to the all-cause mortality rate in children without epilepsy, the all-cause mortality rate ratios were (a) all children with epilepsy, 13.2 (95% CI 8.5, 20.7); (b) primary epilepsy, 1.1 (95% CI 0.5, 2.6); and (c) secondary epilepsy, 49.7 (95% CI 31.7, 77.9). The mortality rate ratios for secondary epilepsy relative to primary epilepsy were (a) death from all causes, 43.5 (95% CI 19.0, 99.5); and (b) death attributable to epilepsy, 9.0 (95% CI 3.3, 24.8). Epilepsy appeared on the death certificate of only 11 of 20 (55%) children whose deaths were attributable to epilepsy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of a children's hospital safety centre in injury control

Over the past 13 years, child safety centres have been established at several Australian Children's hospitals. In a short time, they have developed an important role in community injury control programmes. These centres provide an efficient conduit for transferring up-to-date injury surveillance and prevention information to families, industry, health and education professionals, and government. The activities of the Child Safety Centre at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne are described, together with ways in which a degree of self-funding can be achieved.

Epidemiology of non-intentional injuries in an Australian urban region: results from injury surveillance

Injury surveillance provides an opportunity to determine non-intentional injury rates for those injuries which are treated in hospital accident and emergency departments. The first full calendar year of injury surveillance in north-western greater Melbourne was used to calculate incidence rates of a wide range of injury types and causes for 1989. In a population at risk estimated to number 150,604 children aged 0-14 years, the all-cause injury mortality was 10.5/100,000 per year (95% confidence interval [Cl], 5.4-15.8). There were 8207 attendances by children from the denominator area for non-intentional injury at the three hospitals participating in surveillance, representing rates of 6437/100,000 per year (95% Cl, 6258-6616) and 4406/100,000 per year (95% Cl, 4254-4558) for boys and girls respectively, while the rates for admission to hospital were 957/100,000 per year (95% Cl, 888-1025) and 649/100,000 per year (95% Cl, 590-707). The leading causes of hospital attendance were related to injuries involving sports, play equipment, bicycles and poisoning. These rates are substantially lower than those reported from other countries. The possible reasons for this include differences in health care utilization, under-ascertainment of cases, and a real difference in injury risk. Injury Surveillance Information System codes are defined for a standard set of injuries and injury causes which may be used for future comparative studies. Problems related to assessing the reliability of injury ascertainment are discussed, and the importance of integrating injury surveillance into routine hospital information systems is emphasized.

Evaluation of the properties and reliability of a clinical severity scale for acute asthma in children

The inter-observer agreement (reliability) and validity of a clinical asthma severity scale (ASS) derived from separate scores of wheeze, heart rate and accessory muscle use (each on a 4-point scale) were studied in 60 children aged between 6 months and 17 years (mean 5.4 years). Independent assessments of these clinical parameters were made by two paediatricians, and they also rated patients as having a mild, moderate, severe or very severe acute episode (clinical judgement rating, CJR). Oxygen saturation (SaO2) was measured concurrently by a Biox 3700 pulse oximeter and readings were categorized as mild (SaO2 greater than or equal to 94%), moderate (91-93%) and severe (less than 91%). Agreement between clinicians was assessed by the weighted kappa statistic (kappa W). Agreement for the ASS score compared to the severity grade obtained from SaO2 was slight (kappa W = 0.34) and compared to CJR the kappa W was 0.55. An ASS score of moderate or worse (greater than 3) had sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 50% for prediction of admission. The maximum frequency and duration of nebulizer therapy following admission were significantly greater for severe patients than for moderate patients. Length of hospital stay did not reflect the ASS score in the emergency department but total duration of functional disability increased with ASS score. The substitution of an adjusted heart rate score for the raw heart rate score used in ASS detracted from scale performance. The ASS is an imprecise but reasonable quantitative measure of the severity of an acute episode of asthma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Spontaneous seminoma in an owl monkey in captivity

An adult male Aotus nancymae maintained for breeding purposes was submitted for surgery and the left testicle was removed. The surgically removed mass was about two to three times the size of a normal adult owl monkey testicle. Grossly, on cut surface, the mass was soft, white to pale gray, and bulged above the adjacent tissue. Microscopically, the morphology of the tumor cells was consistent with a seminoma.

Randomised trial of laxatives in treatment of childhood encopresis

Primary faecal incontinence (encopresis) in children is usually treated with laxative medication and a behaviour modification programme aimed at promoting regular toileting, but the effectiveness of laxatives has never been adequately investigated. 169 children with encopresis and evidence of stool on plain abdominal radiograph were randomly allocated to receive multimodal (MM) therapy (laxatives plus behaviour modification; n = 83) or behaviour modification alone (BM; n = 86). Mean (SD) follow-up was 55.1 (27.0) weeks and 56.7 (32.0) weeks, respectively. By 12 months' follow-up 42 (51%) of the MM group and 31 (36%) of the BM group (p = 0.079) had achieved remission (at least one 4 week period with no soiling episodes) and 52 (63%) vs 37 (43%) (p = 0.016) had achieved at least partial remission (soiling no more than once a week). MM subjects achieved remission significantly sooner than BM subjects, and the difference in the Kaplan-Meier remission curves was most striking in the first 30 weeks of follow-up (p = 0.012). The patterns of compliance with toileting in the treatment groups were almost identical, although about 1 in 8 children overall did not comply with the sitting programme. After exclusion of the 24 poor compliers, there was no significant difference between BM and MM groups. This study shows a clear advantage overall for the use of laxative medication, although the benefit may not be as great for children who are able to maintain regular toileting.

Efficacy of glove combinations in reducing cell culture infection after glove puncture with needles contaminated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of various latex and treated glove combinations in reducing the frequency of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of tissue culture cells after puncture by surgical needles contaminated with infectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

DESIGN

One, two, or three layers of sterile latex glove material, or two latex layers with intermediate cotton or Kevlar (with or without the virucidal compound nonoxynol-9) were used to cover 24-well cell culture dishes containing MT2 cells in cell culture medium. Surgical needles wet with cell culture medium containing HIV-1 (HTLV IIIA strain) were passed through the glove materials into the culture medium in the wells of the culture dishes. The culture medium in each well was then assayed biweekly for HIV-1 p24 antigen as a test for infection of cells in the well.

RESULTS

The rate of HIV-1 infection of cell cultures after glove puncture was greater than 90% with a single latex surgical glove barrier, 23% to 60% with double or triple layers of latex gloves, less than 8% with an intermediate cotton glove impregnated with 4% nonoxynol-9, 6% with an intermediate Kevlar glove, and 0% with an intermediate Kevlar glove impregnated with nonoxynol-9.

CONCLUSIONS

An intermediate glove of Kevlar or of Kevlar or cotton impregnated with virucidal compound nonoxynol-9 between standard latex gloves may improve surgical glove safety, compared with latex gloves alone with respect to needlestick transmission of HIV-1. The experimental model used may permit rapid investigation of other glove systems as barriers to the transfer of infectious agents through gloves by needlestick.