Comparison and evaluation of a high volume air sampling system for the collection of Clostridioides difficile endospore aerosol in health care environments

The basis of effective beekeeping is the information about the state of the bee colony. A rich source of respective information is beehive air. This source may be explored by applying gas sensing. It allows for classifying bee colony states based on beehive air measurements. In this work, we discussed the essential aspects of beehive air sampling and sensing device operation in apicultural applications. They are the sampling method (diffusive vs. dynamic, temporal aspects), sampling system (sample probe, sampling point selection, sample conditioning unit and sample delivery system) and device operation mode (‘exposure-cleaning’ operation). It was demonstrated how factors associated with the beehive, bee colony and ambient environment define prerequisites for these elements of the measuring instrument. These requirements have to be respected in order to assure high accuracy of measurement and high-quality information. The presented results are primarily based on the field measurement study performed in summer 2020, in three apiaries, in various meteorological conditions. Two exemplars of a prototype gas sensing device were used. These sensor devices were constructed according to our original concept.

Download Full-text

Field comparison of polyurethane foam and Tenax-GC resin for high-volume air sampling of chlorinated hydrocarbons

Environmental Science & Technology ◽

10.1021/es60166a007 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 679-683 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

W. Neil. Billings ◽

Terry F. Bidleman

Keyword(s):

Polyurethane Foam ◽

Chlorinated Hydrocarbons ◽

Air Sampling ◽

High Volume ◽

Tenax Gc

Download Full-text

The use of Whatman-41 filters for high volume air sampling

Atmospheric Environment (1967) ◽

10.1016/0004-6981(75)90058-x ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 101-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

H.E. Neustadter ◽

S.M. Sidik ◽

R.B. King ◽

J.S. Fordyce ◽

J.C. Burr

Keyword(s):

Air Sampling ◽

High Volume

Download Full-text

QUANTIFICATION OF OCCUPATIONAL LATEX AEROALLERGENS IN A MEDICAL CENTER

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.96.2.381 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 96 (2) ◽

pp. 381-381

Author(s):

Thomas Fischer

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Medical Center ◽

Air Sampling ◽

Personal Air Sampling ◽

Increasing Risk ◽

Allergen Content

Measures to control exposure to latex can be monitored by area and personal air sampling with immunochemical approaches. Because of the increasing risk to health care professionals exposed to latex, the use of gloves with low allergen content or powder-free gloves appear to be most effective in reducing latex aeroallergen levels.

Download Full-text

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Service Availability at Rural Health Care Facilities in Southwestern Uganda

Journal of Environmental and Public Health ◽

10.1155/2018/5403795 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Edgar Mugema Mulogo ◽

Micheal Matte ◽

Andrew Wesuta ◽

Fred Bagenda ◽

Richard Apecu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Centre ◽

High Volume ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Hand Washing ◽

Service Availability ◽

Sanitation And Hygiene ◽

Care Facilities ◽

Improved Sanitation ◽

Southwestern Uganda

There is a paucity of information on the state of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) at health care facilities in Uganda. A survey on WASH service availability was conducted at 50 health care facilities across 4 districts of rural southwestern Uganda between September and November 2015. The main water points at the majority (94%) of the health care facilities were improved sources, while improved toilets were available at 96% of the health care facilities visited. Hospitals had the poorest toilet to patient ratio (1 : 63). Only 38% of the health care facilities had hand washing facilities at the toilets. The lack of hand washing facilities was most prominent at the level IV health centre toilets (71%). Hand washing facilities were available at other points within most (76%) of the health care facilities. However, both water and soap were present at only 24% of these health care facilities. The poor toilet to patient/caregiver ratios particularly in the high volume health care facilities calls for the provision of cheaper options for improved sanitation in these settings. Priority should also be given to the sustainable provision of hygiene amenities such as soap for hand washing particularly the high patient volume health care facilities, in this case the level IV health centres and hospitals.

Download Full-text

Utility and Perceived Value of a Provincial Digital Diagnostic Imaging Repository: Multimethod Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17220 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Lisa Wickerson ◽

Jamie K Fujioka ◽

Vanessa Kishimoto ◽

Trevor Jamieson ◽

Ben Fine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Diagnostic Imaging ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

High Volume ◽

Models Of Care ◽

Clinical Workflow ◽

Clinical Value ◽

Enabling Factors ◽

Technology Infrastructure ◽

Image Sharing

BACKGROUND Timely and comprehensive diagnostic image sharing across institutional and regional boundaries can produce multiple benefits while supporting integrated models of care. In Ontario, Canada, the Diagnostic Imaging Common Service (DICS) was created as a centralized imaging repository to enable the sharing and viewing of diagnostic images and associated reports across hospital-based and community-based clinicians throughout the province. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to explore real-world utilization and perceived clinical value of the DICS following the provision of system-wide access and (2) to identify strategies to optimize the technology platform functionality and encourage adoption. METHODS This multimethod study included semistructured interviews with physicians and administrative stakeholders and descriptive analysis of the current DICS usage data. RESULTS In this study, 41 participants were interviewed, that is, 34 physicians and 7 administrative stakeholders. The following 4 key themes emerged: (1) utilization of the DICS depended on the awareness of the technology and the preferred channels for accessing images, which varied widely, (2) clinical responsibilities and available institutional resources were the drivers of utilization (or lack thereof), (3) centralized image repositories were perceived to offer value at the patient, clinician, and health care system levels, and (4) the enabling factors to realize value included aspects of technology infrastructure (ie, available functionality) alongside policy supports. High-volume DICS usage was not evenly distributed throughout the province. CONCLUSIONS Suboptimal adoption of the DICS was driven by poor awareness and variations in the clinical workflow. Alignment with physician workflow, policy supports, and investment in key technological features and infrastructure would improve functionality and data comprehensiveness, thereby optimizing health system performance, patient and provider experience, population health, and health care costs.

Download Full-text

The Economic Burden of Clostridioides difficile in Denmark: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2020.562957 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Uffe Christian Braae ◽

Frederik Trier Møller ◽

Rikke Ibsen ◽

Steen Ethelberg ◽

Jakob Kjellberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Economic Burden ◽

Health Care Cost ◽

Economic Assessment ◽

Index Admission ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

Excess Costs ◽

Hospital Acquired

Objectives: The aim of this study was to make a comprehensive economic assessment of the costs of hospital-acquired C. difficile infections (CDI).Methods: We carried out a retrospective matched cohort study utilizing Danish registry data with national coverage to identify CDI cases and matched reference patients without CDI (controls) for economic burden assessment in Denmark covering 2011–2014. Health care costs and public transfer costs were obtained from national registries, and calculated for 1 year prior to, and 2 years after index admission using descriptive statistics and regression analysis.Results: The study included 12,768 CDI patients and 23,272 matched controls. The total health care cost was significantly larger for CDI cases than controls throughout all periods. During the index admission period, cost was €12,867 per CDI case compared to €4,522 (p < 0.001) for controls, which increased to an average of €31,388 and €19,512 (p < 0.001) in Year 1 for the two groups, respectively. Excess costs were found both among infections with onset in hospitals and in the community. Diagnosis compatible with complications increased costs to on average >€91,000 per case. The regression analysis showed that CDI adds a substantial economic burden, but only explains about 1/3 of the crude difference observed in the matched analysis.Discussion: The major economic impact of hospital-acquired CDI with complications underlines the importance of preventing complications in these patients. Our study provides an informed estimate of the potential economic gain per patient by successful intervention, which is likely to be relatively comparable across countries.

Download Full-text