Multidrug-resistant micro-organisms associated with urinary tract infections in orthopedic patients : a retrospective laboratory-based study

Background: The risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in surgical wards remains closely related to the type of surgery and procedures performed on patients. Those factors also condition the risk of various forms of clinical infections, especially urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are most frequently (70–80% of cases) caused by the use of bladder catheter in the perioperative period. The aim of this study was to perform an epidemiological and microbiological analysis of UTIs in orthopedic patients, with an emphasis on multidrug-resistant (MDR) micro-organisms. Methods: The study was conducted in a 38-bed Department of Orthopedic-Traumatic Surgery in Sosnowiec, Poland. 5239 patients, operated on in 2013–2015, were included in the study. The urinary catheter use rate was 30.7%. Laboratory-based study used the UTI definition of the HAI-Net program. A micro-organism was declared MDR if it was resistant to at least one antibiotic from three or more groups of antibacterial drugs, and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) if it was sensitive to antibiotics from no more than two groups of drugs. Results: The UTI incidence was 3.2% (168 cases), the CA-UTI incidence density was 9.6/1000 catheter days. The highest risk of UTI was found in patients aged 75 or older. Monomicrobial cultures were detected in 163 specimens (78% of all microbiologically confirmed UTIs). Gram-negative flora prevailed among the micro-organisms, the predominantly isolated Enterobacteriaceae being Escherichiacoli and Klebsiellapneumoniae. In 16 patients (7.7% of microbiologically confirmed UTIs), yeast infection was confirmed. Isolated micro-organisms were fully sensitive to carbapenems. Gram-negative bacilli showed the lowest sensitivity to extended substrate spectrum penicillins and fluoroquinolones (37–64%), as well as to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (50%). The MDR prevalence was 24.4%. Conclusions: The presented data indicates that UTIs are a significant problem in the studied population, so is antimicrobial resistance, especially to quinolones, and extended-spectrum cephalosporins, which are often used as first-line therapy. To tackle the problem of high UTI incidence and MDR prevalence, reducing the UTI risk factors should be prioritized

INTERPRETATION OF WARPAGE SIMULATION RESULTS IN ASMI

The article describes the problematic of interpretation of warpage simula-tion results in Autodesk Simulation Moldflow Insight. Warpage results are relatively easy to obtain from injection molding analysis, but the result in-terpretation demands higher skilled user. For detailed warpage evaluation based on specific dimensions is application of anchor plane necessary. Theory of anchor plane creation is described and anchor planes were ap-plied for inspection of critical dimension on molding “terminal box”

FEM SIMULATION OF DEEP DRAWING PROCESS OF ALUMINIUM ALLOYS

This paper presents results of research with FEM simulation of sheet metal forming process. The two types of aluminium alloys from 5XXX and 6XXX series, which are used in automotive industry, were compared. The computer simulation and numerical analysis of deep drawing cup test were used to predict the ability of the forming of these alloys. The plasti-city model Hill'90 was used for stamping simulations. The results of nu-merical simulation were validated by real experiment using sheet metal testing machine Erichsen 145-60. Both results were compared with regard to prediction accuracy in changes of thickness and ear profile

THE EFFECT OF BLOWING AGENTS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE) EXTRUSION

The cellular extrusion is a method for manufacturing profiles, bars, low density cellu-lar coatings and other cellular products that have no hollow cavities on the surface and show minimal processing shrinkage, while their properties are similar to those of products produced by conventional extrusion. The paper deals with cellular extrusion of PVC. The investigation of the process was conducted using state-of-the-art endothermic and exothermic blowing agents that were dosed in up to 1.5% by weight. The experiments involved measuring output, energy consumption and energy efficiency of the process

INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF MOLD ROTATIONAL SPEED ON THE CAST WALL THICKNESS IN THE ROTATIONAL MOLDING PROCESS

This paper presents the rotational molding process. The general principles of this polymer processing technology have been described. The main applications have been introduced and leading advantages and typical disadvantages of rotational molding process have been discussed. Based on the conducted experimental tests, the influence of changing one selected technological parameter, which characterized rotational molding process, on selected geometrical features of the polymer cast has been determined. Rotational mold’s speed around axes was changed and a thickness of cast walls has been measured. Laboratory test stand, processing properties of polymer, also test program and experimental test methodology have been described

INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF MOLD ROTATIONAL SPEED ON THE CAST WALL THICKNESS IN THE ROTATIONAL MOLDING PROCESS

This paper presents the rotational molding process. The general principles of this polymer processing technology have been described. The main applications have been introduced and leading advantages and typical disadvantages of rotational molding process have been discussed. Based on the conducted experimental tests, the influence of changing one selected technological parameter, which characterized rotational molding process, on selected geometrical features of the polymer cast has been determined. Rotational mold’s speed around axes was changed and a thickness of cast walls has been measured. Laboratory test stand, processing properties of polymer, also test program and experimental test methodology have been described

RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCE OF BLOWING AGENT ON SELECTED PROPERTIES OF EXTRUDED CELLULAR PRODUCTS

As a part of a more comprehensive research project, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the type and content of blowing agents in the polymeric materials being processed on the structure and selected physical and mechanical properties of the obtained extrusion parts. In the experiment, the content of the blowing agent (0–2.0% by mass), fed into the processed polymer were adopted as a variable factor. In the studies presented in the article, the blowing agents of endothermic decomposition characteristics (Hydrocerol BIH 70, Hydrocerol BM 70) and the exothermic decomposition characteristics (PLC 751) occurring in the granulated form with a diameter of 1.2 to 1.8 mm were used. Based on the results of investigating porosity, porous structure image analysis as well as microscopic examination of the structure, it has been found that the favorable content of the blowing agent in the polymeric material should be of up to 0.8% by mass. With such a content of the blowing agent in the polymeric material, favorable strength properties are retained in porous parts, the pore distribution is uniform and the pores have similar sizes

RESEARCH ON THE CONTENT AND FILLER TYPE ON INJECTION SHRINKAGE

The paper presents the phenomenon of injection shrinkage. The definition of shrinkage and shrinkage types are presented. The main factors affecting shrinkage value of injection-molded part are discussed. Based on the experimental tests conducted using injection-molded parts made from polypropylene filled with glass fiber and talc, the dependence of injection-molded part shrinkage on filler content and selected parameters of the injection molding process has been determined

Numerical Modeling of p-v-T Rheological Equation Coefficients for Polypropylene with Variable Chalk Content

The paper reports the experimental results of a study investigating the effect of different contents of a mineral filler on the rheological properties, p-v-T, of polypropylene. Using the pvT100 apparatus, we measured specific volume under isobaric cooling at different pressures for pure polypropylene and chalk-filled polypropylene (10 wt%, 20 wt% and 30 wt%). Next, we employed computer methods to determine the coefficients of a mathematical model describing the variations in specific volume in a function of temperature and pressure. The model was used in the numerical simulations of injection molding and shrinkage processes