Aim: This study aims to assess the infection risks of flashlight contamination in a stomatology hospital and compare the disinfection effectiveness of alcohol (75%) and disinfecting wipes.Background: The flashlight is...Aim: This study aims to assess the infection risks of flashlight contamination in a stomatology hospital and compare the disinfection effectiveness of alcohol (75%) and disinfecting wipes.Background: The flashlight is a basic non-critical medical device in oral and maxillofacial surgery wards. Wounds are mostly found in oral cavities;therefore, reusable flashlights may be a potential source of nosocomial infections (NIs). However, the microbial flora present in flashlights used in hospitals has not yet been explored. Methods: This study investigated the microbial contamination of 41 flashlights used in a stomatology hospital in Guangzhou in March 2016. Results: Results indicated that 75.6%(31/41) of the flashlights had microbial contamination. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 72.7%(24/33)of the microbial groups contaminating the flashlights, and Gram-negative bacteria (21.2%, 7/33), and fungi (6.1%, 2/33) constituted the remaining contaminants. The predominantly isolated species was Staphyloccus (66.7%, 22/33), especially Staphylococcus aureus (24.2%, 8/33). Approximately 77.3%(17/22) of the types of bacteria detected in the hands were same as those in the corresponding flashlights. Both the bacterial overstandard and S. aureus detection rates of doctors' flashlights were higher than those of nurses' flashlights (16/17 vs. 14/23, 7/17 vs. 1/23, respectively) (P < 0.05). Moreover, both disinfectants performed excellently, and their eligibility rates were not significantly different (17/17 vs. 14/14) (P>0.05). Conclusion: Flashlights are potential causes of NIs. Disinfecting flashlights could be an effective and practical infection control method.展开更多
Objective To study the agreement between ophthalmologists and community health workers in detecting shallow anterior chamber with oblique flashlight test. Methods Totally 425 subjects were given an eye examination in ...Objective To study the agreement between ophthalmologists and community health workers in detecting shallow anterior chamber with oblique flashlight test. Methods Totally 425 subjects were given an eye examination in a community health center. The anterior chamber depth of each subject was examined by one ophthalmologist and two trained community health workers (one nurse and one non-professional health worker) using oblique flashlight test. Inter-observer agreement was determined using the weighted kappa statistic. Results Among the enrolled subjects,148 (35%) were male and 277 (65%) were female. Good agreement was noted in all the three observers. The comparison between the ophthalmologist and the nurse showed a kappa statistic of 0.42 for both eyes (P<0.001). The kappa statistic was 0.54 and 0.52 for right and left eyes respectively between the ophthalmologist and the non-professional health worker (P<0.001). As for agreement between the nurse and the non-professional health worker,the kappa statistic was 0.49 and 0.38 for right and left eyes,respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion The oblique flashlight test may be used as an applicable tool by trained community health workers for screening of shallow anterior chamber and play a role in blindness prevention in community.展开更多
基金This research was supported by the Extracurricular Scientific Research Program for Students of Sun Yat-Sen University
文摘Aim: This study aims to assess the infection risks of flashlight contamination in a stomatology hospital and compare the disinfection effectiveness of alcohol (75%) and disinfecting wipes.Background: The flashlight is a basic non-critical medical device in oral and maxillofacial surgery wards. Wounds are mostly found in oral cavities;therefore, reusable flashlights may be a potential source of nosocomial infections (NIs). However, the microbial flora present in flashlights used in hospitals has not yet been explored. Methods: This study investigated the microbial contamination of 41 flashlights used in a stomatology hospital in Guangzhou in March 2016. Results: Results indicated that 75.6%(31/41) of the flashlights had microbial contamination. Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 72.7%(24/33)of the microbial groups contaminating the flashlights, and Gram-negative bacteria (21.2%, 7/33), and fungi (6.1%, 2/33) constituted the remaining contaminants. The predominantly isolated species was Staphyloccus (66.7%, 22/33), especially Staphylococcus aureus (24.2%, 8/33). Approximately 77.3%(17/22) of the types of bacteria detected in the hands were same as those in the corresponding flashlights. Both the bacterial overstandard and S. aureus detection rates of doctors' flashlights were higher than those of nurses' flashlights (16/17 vs. 14/23, 7/17 vs. 1/23, respectively) (P < 0.05). Moreover, both disinfectants performed excellently, and their eligibility rates were not significantly different (17/17 vs. 14/14) (P>0.05). Conclusion: Flashlights are potential causes of NIs. Disinfecting flashlights could be an effective and practical infection control method.
基金Supported by Tsinghua-Yue-Yuen Medical Sciences Fund (20240000564) and Norwegian Fredskorpset Exchange Program
文摘Objective To study the agreement between ophthalmologists and community health workers in detecting shallow anterior chamber with oblique flashlight test. Methods Totally 425 subjects were given an eye examination in a community health center. The anterior chamber depth of each subject was examined by one ophthalmologist and two trained community health workers (one nurse and one non-professional health worker) using oblique flashlight test. Inter-observer agreement was determined using the weighted kappa statistic. Results Among the enrolled subjects,148 (35%) were male and 277 (65%) were female. Good agreement was noted in all the three observers. The comparison between the ophthalmologist and the nurse showed a kappa statistic of 0.42 for both eyes (P<0.001). The kappa statistic was 0.54 and 0.52 for right and left eyes respectively between the ophthalmologist and the non-professional health worker (P<0.001). As for agreement between the nurse and the non-professional health worker,the kappa statistic was 0.49 and 0.38 for right and left eyes,respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion The oblique flashlight test may be used as an applicable tool by trained community health workers for screening of shallow anterior chamber and play a role in blindness prevention in community.
