RESUMO
The loop is a material classically used in the laboratory for the purpose of plate streaking and handling biological materials. However, metal loops techniques might be time consuming, considering the amount of time spent to guarantee its cooling process through each inoculation. Furthermore, plastic loops may also represent environmental issues during its production and discard process and can also represent higher costs for the laboratory. Thus, in situations of limited resources, even the simplest materials can be restricted due to logistical and budgetary issues, especially in developing countries. Inspired by demands like these, facing an occasional shortage of supply of laboratory plastic handles, we hereby present a quality control for sterilization methods and cost-effectiveness studies towards the use of wooden sticks in a Latin American country and we discuss the possibility of the large-scale use of this technique.(AU)
A alça calibrada é um material usado classicamente em laboratório para fins de inoculação em placas e manuseio de materiais biológicos. No entanto, as técnicas de alças metálicas podem consumir muito tempo, considerando a quantidade de tempo gasto para garantir seu processo de resfriamento a cada inoculação. Além disso, alças de plástico também podem representar questões ambientais durante o processo de produção e descarte e também podem representar custos mais altos para o laboratório. Assim, em situações de recursos limitados, até os materiais mais simples podem ser restringidos devido a questões logísticas e orçamentárias, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento. Inspirados por demandas como essas, diante de uma escassez ocasional de suprimentos de alças de plástico de laboratório, apresentamos um controle de qualidade para métodos de esterilização e estudos de custo-efetividade para o uso de varas de madeira em um país latino-americano e discutimos a possibilidade de grande uso em escala dessa técnica.(AU)
Assuntos
Gerenciamento de Resíduos/economia , Gerenciamento de Resíduos/métodos , Técnicas Microbiológicas/economia , Técnicas Microbiológicas/instrumentação , Técnicas Bacteriológicas/economia , Técnicas Bacteriológicas/instrumentaçãoRESUMO
The loop is a material classically used in the laboratory for the purpose of plate streaking and handling biological materials. However, metal loops techniques might be time consuming, considering the amount of time spent to guarantee its cooling process through each inoculation. Furthermore, plastic loops may also represent environmental issues during its production and discard process and can also represent higher costs for the laboratory. Thus, in situations of limited resources, even the simplest materials can be restricted due to logistical and budgetary issues, especially in developing countries. Inspired by demands like these, facing an occasional shortage of supply of laboratory plastic handles, we hereby present a quality control for sterilization methods and cost-effectiveness studies towards the use of wooden sticks in a Latin American country and we discuss the possibility of the large-scale use of this technique.
A alça calibrada é um material usado classicamente em laboratório para fins de inoculação em placas e manuseio de materiais biológicos. No entanto, as técnicas de alças metálicas podem consumir muito tempo, considerando a quantidade de tempo gasto para garantir seu processo de resfriamento a cada inoculação. Além disso, alças de plástico também podem representar questões ambientais durante o processo de produção e descarte e também podem representar custos mais altos para o laboratório. Assim, em situações de recursos limitados, até os materiais mais simples podem ser restringidos devido a questões logísticas e orçamentárias, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento. Inspirados por demandas como essas, diante de uma escassez ocasional de suprimentos de alças de plástico de laboratório, apresentamos um controle de qualidade para métodos de esterilização e estudos de custo-efetividade para o uso de varas de madeira em um país latino-americano e discutimos a possibilidade de grande uso em escala dessa técnica.
Assuntos
Gerenciamento de Resíduos/economia , Gerenciamento de Resíduos/métodos , Técnicas Bacteriológicas/economia , Técnicas Bacteriológicas/instrumentação , Técnicas Microbiológicas/economia , Técnicas Microbiológicas/instrumentaçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is a major challenge to health in the developing world. Triage prior to diagnostic testing could potentially reduce the volume of tests and costs associated with using the more accurate, but costly, Xpert MTB/RIF assay. An effective methodology to predict the impact of introducing triage prior to tuberculosis diagnostic testing could be useful in helping to guide policy. METHODS: The development and use of operational modelling to project the impact on case detection and health system costs of alternative triage approaches for tuberculosis, with or without X-ray, based on data from Porto Alegre City, Brazil. RESULTS: Most of the triage approaches modelled without X-ray were predicted to provide no significant benefit. One approach based on an artificial neural network applied to patient and symptom characteristics was projected to increase case detection (82% vs. 75%) compared to microscopy, and reduce costs compared to Xpert without triage. In addition, use of X-ray before diagnostic testing for HIV-negative patients could maintain diagnostic yield of using Xpert without triage, and reduce costs. CONCLUSION: A model for the impact assessment of alternative triage approaches has been tested. The results from using the approach demonstrate its usefulness in informing policy in a typical high burden setting for tuberculosis.
Assuntos
Técnicas de Apoio para a Decisão , Radiografia Torácica , Triagem/métodos , Tuberculose/diagnóstico , Algoritmos , Brasil/epidemiologia , Análise Custo-Benefício , Humanos , Programas de Rastreamento/economia , Programas de Rastreamento/métodos , Técnicas Microbiológicas/economia , Técnicas Microbiológicas/métodos , Modelos Organizacionais , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolamento & purificação , Radiografia Torácica/economia , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Escarro/microbiologia , Triagem/economia , Triagem/organização & administração , Tuberculose/economia , Tuberculose/epidemiologia , Tuberculose Pulmonar/diagnóstico , Tuberculose Pulmonar/epidemiologia , Raios XRESUMO
Abstract Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria were immobilized by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium alginate. The immobilization conditions and ammonia oxidation ability of the immobilized bacteria were investigated. The following immobilization conditions were observed to be optimal: PVA, 12%; sodium alginate, 1.1%; calcium chloride, 1.0%; inoculum concentration, 1.3 immobilized balls/mL of immobilized medium; pH, 10; and temperature, 30 °C. The immobilized ammonia-oxidizing bacteria exhibited strong ammonia oxidation ability even after being recycled four times. The ammonia nitrogen removal rate of the immobilized ammonia-oxidizing bacteria reached 90.30% under the optimal immobilization conditions. When compared with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria immobilized by sodium alginate alone, the bacteria immobilized by PVA and sodium alginate were superior with respect to pH resistance, the number of reuses, material cost, heat resistance, and ammonia oxidation ability.
Assuntos
Bactérias/química , Técnicas Microbiológicas/métodos , Amônia/metabolismo , Oxirredução , Álcool de Polivinil/química , Temperatura , Bactérias/metabolismo , Técnicas Microbiológicas/economia , Técnicas Microbiológicas/instrumentação , Células Imobilizadas/metabolismo , Células Imobilizadas/química , Ácido Glucurônico/química , Alginatos/química , Ácidos Hexurônicos/química , Concentração de Íons de HidrogênioRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) is a new and revolutionary identification method for microorganisms and has recently been introduced into clinical microbiology in many industrialized countries in Europe and North America. OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to compare the performance and practicality of two commercial MALDI-TOF MS platforms in a head-to head manner at a routine laboratory in Chile. METHODS: During a five-month period in 2012-13, the diagnostic efficiency (correct identification rate) and agreement between Microflex LT (Bruker Daltonics) and Vitek MS (bioMérieux) was compared in a parallel manner to conventional identification including genotypic analysis for difficult-to-identify strains. The study included 804 microbial isolates: 252 Enterobacteriaceae, 126 non-fermenters, 36 other gram-negative rods, 279 gram-positive cocci, 32 gram-positive rods, 32 anaerobes, and 47 yeasts. Other relevant factors of the two devices such as user friendliness and connectivity were also evaluated and compared. RESULTS: Both systems correctly identified the vast majority (98%) of the isolates to the genus level. Vitek MS reached higher rates of identification to species and species complex level than Microflex LT (81% vs. 85% and 87% vs. 93%, respectively), which was mainly based on the higher performance among coagulase negative staphylococci and Candida isolates. The evaluation of user friendliness and other technical aspects showed only marginal differences, which slightly favored Vitek MS, mainly due to its ready-to-use supplies, easier connectivity and workflow integration, and availability of local technical support. CONCLUSIONS: Both MALDI-TOF MS systems permitted fast and accurate identification of most microbial strains and showed a high level of user-friendliness. The observed differences were marginal and slightly favored Vitek MS, mainly due to practicality and connectivity issues within our setting.
Assuntos
Técnicas Microbiológicas/métodos , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por Matriz/métodos , Chile , Técnicas Microbiológicas/economia , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por Matriz/economia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria were immobilized by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium alginate. The immobilization conditions and ammonia oxidation ability of the immobilized bacteria were investigated. The following immobilization conditions were observed to be optimal: PVA, 12%; sodium alginate, 1.1%; calcium chloride, 1.0%; inoculum concentration, 1.3 immobilized balls/mL of immobilized medium; pH, 10; and temperature, 30°C. The immobilized ammonia-oxidizing bacteria exhibited strong ammonia oxidation ability even after being recycled four times. The ammonia nitrogen removal rate of the immobilized ammonia-oxidizing bacteria reached 90.30% under the optimal immobilization conditions. When compared with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria immobilized by sodium alginate alone, the bacteria immobilized by PVA and sodium alginate were superior with respect to pH resistance, the number of reuses, material cost, heat resistance, and ammonia oxidation ability.
Assuntos
Amônia/metabolismo , Bactérias/química , Técnicas Microbiológicas/métodos , Alginatos/química , Bactérias/metabolismo , Células Imobilizadas/química , Células Imobilizadas/metabolismo , Ácido Glucurônico/química , Ácidos Hexurônicos/química , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Técnicas Microbiológicas/economia , Técnicas Microbiológicas/instrumentação , Oxirredução , Álcool de Polivinil/química , TemperaturaRESUMO
Faeces of 138 chickens were inoculated on Blaser agar plates. One set of plates was incubated in jars with CampyPak envelopes. The others were incubated in "Zip-lock" plastic bags (7 x 8 in.) and a microaerophilic atmosphere was generated exhaling into the "Zip-lock" plastic bag, after holding the breath for 20 sec. Then, the bag was pressed to evacuate its atmosphere, inflated again, and pressed (4 times), and finally sealed. Campylobacter was isolated from 127 (96.2) of samples incubated in jars with gas generator envelopes and from 129 (98) of the specimens incubated into the bags. The proposed methodology offers good savings for cost-conscious laboratories.
Assuntos
Animais , Campylobacter , Técnicas Microbiológicas/economia , Aerobiose , Galinhas , Controle de Custos , Meios de Cultura , FezesRESUMO
Faeces of 138 chickens were inoculated on Blaser agar plates. One set of plates was incubated in jars with CampyPak envelopes. The others were incubated in "Zip-lock" plastic bags (7 x 8 in.) and a microaerophilic atmosphere was generated exhaling into the "Zip-lock" plastic bag, after holding the breath for 20 sec. Then, the bag was pressed to evacuate its atmosphere, inflated again, and pressed (4 times), and finally sealed. Campylobacter was isolated from 127 (96.2%) of samples incubated in jars with gas generator envelopes and from 129 (98%) of the specimens incubated into the bags. The proposed methodology offers good savings for cost-conscious laboratories.
Assuntos
Campylobacter/isolamento & purificação , Técnicas Microbiológicas/economia , Aerobiose , Animais , Galinhas/microbiologia , Controle de Custos , Meios de Cultura/economia , Fezes/microbiologiaRESUMO
Os autores apresentam o aproveitamento das 1235 coproculturas realizadas no HEMIPV/FFFCMPA, no período de abril/1989 a maio/1992. Discutem a sua baixa positividade (3,40 por cento), dado também encontrado em outros meios, sugerindo uma discussao sobre a necessidade deste exame na infecçao intestinal aguda.