Nontuberculous mycobacteria in hospital water systems: Application of HPLC for identification of environmental mycobacteria

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), ubiquitous in water environments, are increasingly recognized as nosocomial pathogens. Our study reports a one-year survey of the water system of two hospitals, A and B, in a small town near Florence, Italy. NTM were found throughout the study period in both settings, but B showed a significantly higher mycobacterial load. Mycobacterium gordonae and Mycobacterium fortuitum were the most frequent species isolated. Identification was carried out by conventional techniques and by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of cell wall mycolic acids. HPLC profiling could be used as a first-choice method for identification of environmental mycobacteria

[Compulsory and additional parameters in water control]

The authors have analyzed 22 water samples from the Arno River (both river and drinking samples), as well as 11 effluent samples from an urban plant. Chemical and microbiological features of river samples were in line with the A3 class, needing treatment for drinking use (Executive Order n. 152/99); drinkable water met requirements (Presidents Decree n degrees 236/1988 and Executive Order n degrees 31/2001). As regards chemical parameters, effluents complied with the law (Executive Order n. 152/1999) but their bacteriological figures exceeded the standards set by the Authorities due to a lack in chlorination. Enteric viruses reacted to the RT-PCR test in 5 of the samples, including a Coxsackievirus Type B2 and a Poliovirus. No association was shown between bacteriophage parameters and virus

Anaesthetic management of caesarean section in a parturient with acute myelodysplastic syndrome

A 34-year-old pregnant woman developed a myelodysplastic syndrome during pregnancy which resulted in a refractory anaemia and an extreme thrombocytopenia. The report describes the anaesthetic management of elective caesarean section and successful childbirth in this patient. Following replacement therapy with packed red cells and platelets, general anaesthesia was used for the procedure.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Normal-pregnancy in Primary Alveolar Hypoventilation Treated With Nocturnal Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation

Nocturnal nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is increasingly used to treat chronic respiratory failure in a wide variety of conditions (myopathies, Ondine's curse, kyphoscoliosis, etc.) and allows a normal everyday life. Some of these diseases affect women of childbearing age. We report on a young woman suffering from primary alveolar hypoventilation, who presented with limitation of daytime activities, severe oxygen desaturation during sleep, polycythaemia and pulmonary hypertension. These abnormalities completely reversed after a few months of NIPPV applied through a nasal mask. Whilst under ventilatory assistance during sleep, she had an uneventful pregnancy and delivery of a normal baby. We suggest that in selected patients requiring NIPPV, pregnancy can be contemplated with a reasonable level of safety both for the mother and the child, provided that adequate mechanical ventilatory assistance during sleep is maintained throughout pregnancy

[Compulsory and additional parameters in water control]

The authors have analyzed 22 water samples from the Arno River (both river and drinking samples), as well as 11 effluent samples from an urban plant. Chemical and microbiological features of river samples were in line with the A3 class, needing treatment for drinking use (Executive Order n. 152/99); drinkable water met requirements (Presidents Decree n degrees 236/1988 and Executive Order n degrees 31/2001). As regards chemical parameters, effluents complied with the law (Executive Order n. 152/1999) but their bacteriological figures exceeded the standards set by the Authorities due to a lack in chlorination. Enteric viruses reacted to the RT-PCR test in 5 of the samples, including a Coxsackievirus Type B2 and a Poliovirus. No association was shown between bacteriophage parameters and virus