Reducing healthcare-associated infections incidence by a probiotic-based sanitation system: A multicentre, prospective, intervention study

Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) are a global concern, further threatened by the increasing drug resistance of HAI-associated pathogens. On the other hand, persistent contamination of hospital surfaces contributes to HAI transmission, and it is not efficiently controlled by conventional cleaning, which does not prevent recontamination, has a high environmental impact and can favour selection of drug-resistant microbial strains. In the search for effective approaches, an eco-sustainable probiotic-based cleaning system (Probiotic Cleaning Hygiene System, PCHS) was recently shown to stably abate surface pathogens, without selecting antibiotic-resistant species. The aim of this study was to determine whether PCHS application could impact on HAI incidence. A multicentre, pre-post interventional study was performed for 18 months in the Internal Medicine wards of six Italian public hospitals (January 1st 2016-June 30th 2017). The intervention consisted of the substitution of conventional sanitation with PCHS, maintaining unaltered any other procedure influencing HAI control. HAI incidence in the pre and post-intervention period was the main outcome measure. Surface bioburden was also analyzed in parallel. Globally, 11,842 patients and 24,875 environmental samples were surveyed. PCHS was associated with a significant decrease of HAI cumulative incidence from a global 4.8% (284 patients with HAI over 5,930 total patients) to 2.3% (128 patients with HAI over 5,531 total patients) (OR = 0.44, CI 95% 0.35-0.54) (P<0.0001). Concurrently, PCHS was associated with a stable decrease of surface pathogens, compared to conventional sanitation (mean decrease 83%, range 70-96.3%), accompanied by a concurrent up to 2 Log drop of surface microbiota drug-resistance genes (P<0.0001; Pc = 0.008). Our study provides findings which support the impact of a sanitation procedure on HAI incidence, showing that the use of a probiotic-based environmental intervention can be associated with a significant decrease of the risk to contract a HAI during hospitalization. Once confirmed in larger experiences and other target populations, this eco-sustainable approach might be considered as a part of infection control and prevention (IPC) strategies. Trial registration-ISRCTN International Clinical Trials Registry, ISRCTN58986947

Dalla fonte documentaria alla pagina storiografica. Il Giustizierato di Basilicata nei Registri della Cancelleria Angioina (1266-1282)

Con il contributo degli studenti di Scienze Storiche si è, anzitutto, inteso indicare una metodologia di indagine storica che, condotta direttamente sopra un corpus documentario d’enorme rilievo per l’intero Mezzogiorno d’Italia, risulta efficace strumento di ricerca per ricostruire, in senso ampio, tutte le realtà territoriali (giustizierati provinciali, diocesi e comunità urbane) che composero il Regnum Siciliae in età angioina. Fonte primaria, infatti, è costituita dai Registri della Cancelleria Angioina, nel tempo oggetto di una serie di devastazioni, culminate con la quasi totale distruzione durante l’ultimo conflitto mondiale, ma parzialmente tramandati nel corso dei secoli ad opera di diversi storici, archivisti, genealogisti e, a partire dal 1950, raccolti e pubblicati da Riccardo Filangieri e dagli “Archivisti Napoletani” per l’Accademia Pontaniana. Sono giunti fino a noi incompleti e in attesa di essere ulteriormente indagati, ma si mostrano fondamentali per la ricostruzione delle strutture politiche ed economiche, come pure dei complessi schemi e meccanismi della società siciliana. In definitiva, partendo da questo importante fondo documentario e da altre testimonianze, si è voluto delineare un quadro dell’organizzazione politica, sociale ed economica del giustizierato lucano, alla luce degli stretti intrecci di famiglie mercantili ed imprenditoriali che, soprattutto durante il regno di Carlo d’Angiò, legarono ogni giustizierato a tutti gli altri, entro uno schema pertanto leggibile in senso complessivo ed unitario

Bioavailability, antioxidant and biological properties of the natural free-radical scavengers cyanidin and related glycosides

Cyanidin and its glycosides (Cy and Cyg) have been indicated as promising candidates as dietary compounds with a potential role in human health. They are the largest class of water-soluble compounds in plants, where they are responsible for the brillant color (red, orange, blue) of fruits and flowers. As natural compounds of several foods such as vegetables, fruits and red wines, they are estimated to be widely ingested by humans. This paper, basing on the data previously reviewed in 2002, focuses on the findings regarding human and animal studies on Cy and Cyg absorption and metabolism, antioxidant activity and biological properties, with particular attention to anticarcinogenic activity, vasoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-diabetes effects. It is concluded that although Cy and Cyg bioavailability is low, further investigations are necessary because some important metabolites may still not have been identified. Literature data on antioxidant activity and biological properties, however, widely confirm Cy and Cyg as dietary compounds with a potential beneficial role in human health

What is the correct therapy for a petrositis? A critical point of view starting from a case report in a child

This article describes a rare case of petrositis, an intratemporal complication of acute otitis media, caused by the extension of the infectious process into the cells of the petrous portion of the temporal bone. A 5-year-old boy presented with history of fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, vomiting, right eye ptosis, ataxic march and positive Romberg test: these signs and symptoms had been worsening for 2 weeks. Blood tests showed mild increase in C-reactive protein (CRP), the other tests were negative. CT scan of petrous temporal bone and brain MRI showed an important inflammatory involvement of the apex of the right petrous of the temporal bone with involvement of the base of the clivus and ipsilateral cavernous sinus. The child was started on parenteral antibiotic and antiviral therapy associating intravenous corticosteroid in order to limit the inflammatory edema. Petrositis has traditionally been treated with aggressive surgical methods. As opposed to this approach, this case report confirms recent findings of the literature, which have documented good results with more conservative therapy with high-dose broadspectrum antibiotics

Absorption and metabolism of red orange juice anthocyanins in rats

Publication Inra prise en compte dans l'analyse bibliométrique des publications scientifiques mondiales sur les Fruits, les Légumes et la Pomme de terre. Période 2000-2012. http://prodinra.inra.fr/record/256699International audienceAnthocyanins are natural pigments that could be involved in various health effects. Red oranges are an important dietary source of anthocyanins, including cyanidin 3-glucoside (Cy 3-glc) and an acylated derivative, cyanidin 3-(6''-malonyl)-glucoside (Cy 3-malglc). The aim of this study was to evaluate the absorption and metabolism of red orange anthocyanins in rats fed an anthocyanin-enriched diet for 12 d (approximately 2.8 micromol anthocyanins/d). Furthermore, the absorption of these anthocyanins was studied in both the stomach and intestine using in situ models in rats. Anthocyanin metabolites were identified and quantified by HPLC-electrospray ionization tandem MS and HPLC-diode array detection, respectively. The red orange anthocyanins, Cy 3-glc and Cy 3-malglc, as well as their respective methylated derivatives, were recovered in urine after red orange juice intake. The 24 h urinary excretion of total anthocyanins was low (0.081 (SEM 0.009) % of the ingested amount). However, a high proportion (about 20 %) of red orange anthocyanins was absorbed from the stomach. More Cy 3-malglc than Cy 3-glc was absorbed in the intestine. This study thus indicated that red orange juice anthocyanins were rapidly absorbed from both stomach and small intestine, and then excreted in the urine as intact and methylated forms. Moreover, the absorption and metabolism of acylated anthocyanins and non-acylated anthocyanins were similar