Medical Devices Are the Culprits Behind Some Allergic Reactions

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
JOHN R. BELL
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 2050313X1983874
Author(s):  
Bobak J Akhavan ◽  
Ugochi A Osborn ◽  
Reeba Mathew

We present the case of a patient who developed a severe systemic allergic reaction during initiation of hemodialysis. The reaction completely resolved by switching the dialysis filter sterilized by ethylene oxide to a steam sterilized filter. Ethylene oxide is used to sterilize heat sensitive medical devices, and although allergic reactions related to ethylene oxide have been reported before, awareness is lacking among providers in the inpatient setting, specifically in the intensive care unit setting.


2020 ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
D. M. Los' ◽  
V. M. Shapovalov ◽  
S. V. Zotov

The article analyzes the use of polymer materials for solving problems of theoretical and practical medicine. The effectiveness of the use of polymers in reconstructive cardiac surgery, radiation therapy, etc. has been shown. The basic requirements set for polymers and composites for medical devices have been identified. The most important criterion for the selection of polymers is the safety of their use in clinical practice and their ability to biodegrade when they enter a living organism along the usual metabolic pathways in the absence of inflammatory and allergic reactions of surrounding tissues during longterm followup care.


Author(s):  
Delma P. Thomas ◽  
Dianne E. Godar

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from all three waveband regions of the UV spectrum, UVA (320-400 nm), UVB (290-320 nm), and UVC (200-290 nm), can be emitted by some medical devices and consumer products. Sunlamps can expose the blood to a considerable amount of UVR, particularly UVA and/or UVB. The percent transmission of each waveband through the epidermis to the dermis, which contains blood, increases in the order of increasing wavelength: UVC (10%) < UVB (20%) < UVA (30%). To investigate the effects of UVR on white blood cells, we chose transmission electron microscopy to examine the ultrastructure changes in L5178Y-R murine lymphoma cells.


Author(s):  
B.D. Tall ◽  
K.S. George ◽  
R. T. Gray ◽  
H.N. Williams

Studies of bacterial behavior in many environments have shown that most organisms attach to surfaces, forming communities of microcolonies called biofilms. In contaminated medical devices, biofilms may serve both as reservoirs and as inocula for the initiation of infections. Recently, there has been much concern about the potential of dental units to transmit infections. Because the mechanisms of biofilm formation are ill-defined, we investigated the behavior and formation of a biofilm associated with tubing leading to the water syringe of a dental unit over a period of 1 month.


2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (23) ◽  
pp. 173-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara K. Ballmer-Weber

Four to eight percent of the population are estimated to be food-allergic. Most food allergies in adolescents and adults are acquired on the basis of cross-reaction to pollen allergens. Theses allergens are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom. Therefore pollen-allergic patients might acquire a multitude of different plant food allergies, and even react to novel foods to which they have never previously been exposed. A curative therapy for food allergy does not yet exist. Food-allergic patients have to rely on strict avoidance diets, The widespread use of industrially processed foods poses a general problem for food-allergic patients. Although the most frequent allergens must be declared openly in the list of ingredients, involuntary contamination with allergy-provoking compounds can occur. The precautionary labelling “may contain” is sometimes applied even if the chance of contamination is very low; on the other hand, foods not declared to contain possible traces of allergenic components may actually contain relevant amounts of allergenic proteins. Switzerland is the only country in Europe with legal regulations on contamination by allergenic food; however, the allowance of 1 g/kg is too high to protect a relevant proportion of food-allergic individuals.


Author(s):  
Jean-David Cohen ◽  
Cyril Crozet ◽  
Jean-François d’Ivernois ◽  
Rémi Gagnayre

Very old studies and clinical experiences of physicians already signal the ability of some patients to feel subclinical signs. These patients are called sentinel patients because they can anticipate crisis very early and therefore intervene quickly to prevent them. Studies have shown that these patients develop these skills from their own experience, in steps which are similar to quasi-experimental research. They test and adjust their competence all the more easily as they have an objective external measure available. This faculty of patients suggests the possibility of using medical devices as a means of learning for patients to tutor themselves in support of this singular skill.


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