GROW UP AT THE THEATRE AND THROUGH THE THEATRE

During their first three years of life children develop important socioemotional skills that can find in cultural experiences an important educational support.Among the possible cultural realities in which children can experience theatrical can boast a recent but structured tradition.But what exactly is the educational role of theatre aimed at the youngest? Does it serve to train tomorrow’s audience or rather to grow today’s audience? And what kind of theatre should we offer to children between zero and three years old? Shows they can watch or workshops in which to play the theatre? The aim of this contribution is to describe some peculiar features of the theatre aimed at the very young children, starting from the experience of La Baracca di Bologna, putting them in relation to research on the development of social relational skills

Caratteristiche generali microbiologiche dell’ambiente nosocomiale

Lo sviluppo, da parte dei microrganismi patogeni per la salute umana, di resistenze ad antibiotici e di fenomeni di adattamento ai disinfettanti normalmente utilizzati per le operazioni di sanificazione, ha richiesto un’indagine mirata sulle probabili cause ed i meccanismi d’azione che determinano tali fenomeni, in quanto responsabili dell’aumento dei casi di infezione in ambienti nosocomiali. Inoltre, poiché lo scopo principale per cui vengono eseguite le pratiche di sanificazione è la riduzione/eliminazione del numero di microrganismi, dopo aver valutato i pro e contro dei vari detergenti, sia tradizionali che a base di batteri sporigeni enefici (probiotici), vengono esposte le motivazioni per cui sono da preferire questi ultimi

Microbiological risk in operating rooms: new strategies for infections surveillance

In this paper the authors describe the program of epidemiological overseeing of the surgical site infections activated in the operating department of the Cento Hospital (Ferrara). The purpose of the program is to systematically collect the data related to the frequency and distribution of the infections contracted during a surgical intervention and to analyze the environmental factors correlated to them, the concentration of particles and of UFC, the characteristics of the ventilation system, the number of people in the room, the type of clothing, the systems of cleaning and disinfection, the type of intervention etc. The objective of the research consists of identifying the actions for prevention of the infections and to get an indicator of the quality of the surgical activities. Since the greatest obstacle to this kind of activity is related to the man-hour cost far the information collection, researchers of the University of Ferrara and the Cento hospital have setup an electronic system of automatic acquisition of the field data using computer technologies of different types (RFID-Radio Frequency IDentification sensor, PC pocket, net computer and programs). The management of continuous relief of the pollution level established in the operating rooms during every intervention, the automatic acquisitions of the main environmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity, instant air flow rate of climatization plant, state of the doors, level of pressurization of the room, level of stoppage of the absolute filters etc.) and of the clinical overview of the patient allow detailed knowledge of the conditions in which every surgical intervention is developed. Particular attention is paid to the state of hypothermia of the patient that is monitored in continuously before, during and after the operation, since according to some authors this determines an increase in the probability of contamination of the wound. The surgical wound is controlled daily in the hospital up to the moment of patient release and every three months for one year from the intervention, so as to record possible complication. This adopted strategy allows to verification in the respect of the behavioral protocols of the medical and nursing personnel

Hard Surface Biocontrol in Hospitals Using Microbial-Based Cleaning Products

<div><p>Background</p><p>Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) are one of the most frequent complications occurring in healthcare facilities. Contaminated environmental surfaces provide an important potential source for transmission of many healthcare-associated pathogens, thus indicating the need for new and sustainable strategies.</p><p>Aim</p><p>This study aims to evaluate the effect of a novel cleaning procedure based on the mechanism of biocontrol, on the presence and survival of several microorganisms responsible for HAIs (i.e. coliforms, <i>Staphyloccus aureus</i>, <i>Clostridium difficile</i>, and <i>Candida albicans</i>) on hard surfaces in a hospital setting.</p><p>Methods</p><p>The effect of microbial cleaning, containing spores of food grade <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, <i>Bacillus pumilus</i> and <i>Bacillus megaterium</i>, in comparison with conventional cleaning protocols, was evaluated for 24 weeks in three independent hospitals (one in Belgium and two in Italy) and approximately 20000 microbial surface samples were collected.</p><p>Results</p><p>Microbial cleaning, as part of the daily cleaning protocol, resulted in a reduction of HAI-related pathogens by 50 to 89%. This effect was achieved after 3–4 weeks and the reduction in the pathogen load was stable over time. Moreover, by using microbial or conventional cleaning alternatively, we found that this effect was directly related to the new procedure, as indicated by the raise in CFU/m² when microbial cleaning was replaced by the conventional procedure. Although many questions remain regarding the actual mechanisms involved, this study demonstrates that microbial cleaning is a more effective and sustainable alternative to chemical cleaning and non-specific disinfection in healthcare facilities.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This study indicates microbial cleaning as an effective strategy in continuously lowering the number of HAI-related microorganisms on surfaces. The first indications on the actual level of HAIs in the trial hospitals monitored on a continuous basis are very promising, and may pave the way for a novel and cost-effective strategy to counteract or (bio)control healthcare-associated pathogens.</p></div

Antimicrobial resistance genes profile by qPCR assay.

<p>The DNA of the <i>Bacillus spp.</i> from the cleaning products (Original) and from 20 <i>Bacillus spp.</i> colonies isolated from the treated surfaces up to 12 months after the beginning of the cleaning protocol (Isolates), was analyzed by qPCR Microarray to detect the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (R genes). DNA from <i>E. coli</i> JM101 strain was used as negative control (NTC). Results are reported as folds of gene copy number comparing the detected values with those obtained in the negative control DNA, both normalized for bacterial cell number. Those genes coding for antibiotics that are not included in the figure (i.e. vancomycin, tetracyclins) were negative both in Original and Isolates collections. Results are reported as mean ± standard deviation.</p

Time course of coliforms and <i>S. aureus</i> surface counts.

<p>A time-trial of coliforms (black circles) and <i>S. aureus</i> (white circles) counts was performed at the geriatrics department of the AZ Lokeren hospital. Surface counts, indicated as CFU/m², were measured after application of conventional (from week −2 to 0) and microbial (from week 0 to 2) cleaning, followed by a subsequent period of conventional cleaning (from week 2 to 10). The application of the probiotic-based products led to a significant decrease in the pathogenic load of coliforms (p<0.0001) and <i>S. aureus</i> (p = 0.003). Black arrow: beginning of the microbial cleaning. Black dotted arrow: conventional cleaning.</p

Antibiograms on <i>Bacillus spp.</i> from the cleaning products and isolates.

a<p>Resistant.</p>b<p>Intermediate.</p>c<p>Susceptible.</p><p><i>Note</i>: for reference criteria see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0108598#pone.0108598.s001" target="_blank">Table S1</a>.</p><p>Antibiograms were conducted on <i>Bacilli</i> from the PCHS products and isolates, with ATCC 6633 strain as reference. Results are reported as diameter (expressed in mm) of the zones of inhibition and the corresponding interpretive criteria, in accordance to the CLSI reference criteria <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0108598#pone.0108598-CLSI3" target="_blank">[38]</a> (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0108598#pone.0108598.s001" target="_blank">Table S1</a>).</p><p>Antibiograms on <i>Bacillus spp.</i> from the cleaning products and isolates.</p

Effect of microbial cleaning on coliforms surface counts.

<p>Surface counts for coliforms at the San Giorgio (A), Sant'Anna (B) and AZ Lokeren (C) hospital settings. Results are reported as relative percentage of reduction compared to the control, which was cleaned with conventional (disinfecting) cleaning products. The control is represented by the value of microbial surface contamination (CFU count) at the beginning of the trials (week 0), whose CFU count was set as the 100% in order to obtain reliable comparisons among the three structurally different hospital settings. The analysis indicated that results observed were statistically significant (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0108598#pone.0108598.s002" target="_blank">Table S2</a>).</p

Effect of microbial cleaning on <i>Candida albicans</i> surface counts.

<p>Surface counts are reported as relative percentage of reduction compared to the control, which was cleaned with conventional (disinfecting) cleaning products. The analysis indicated that results observed were statistically significant (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0108598#pone.0108598.s005" target="_blank">Table S5</a>).</p

Effect of microbial cleaning on <i>C. difficile</i> surface counts.

<p>Surface counts are reported as relative percentage of reduction compared to the control, which was cleaned with conventional (disinfecting) cleaning products. The statistical analysis is reported in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0108598#pone.0108598.s004" target="_blank">Table S4</a>.</p