In order to determine the epidemiological features of cholera in Lao PDR, the presence of mobile genetic elements such as plasmid, class I integron and SXT element in V. cholerae isolated from surface water were examined. Among the 22 strains isolated from 13 distantly separated sampling sites, no mobile genetic elements associated with drug resistance were found reflecting the antibiogram of the strains. Nevertheless, cholera epidemics due to multiple drug resistant V. cholerae occurred repeatedly in those areas until 2000.

OBJECTIVE: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery is a common and effective treatment for hydrocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid disorders. Infection remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after a VP shunt. There is evidence that a deep skin flora microbiome may have a role to play in post-operative infections. In this technical note, we present a skin preparation technique that addresses the issue of the skin flora beyond the initial incision.METHODS: The patient is initially prepped, as standard, with. a single layer of 2% CHG+70% isopropyl alcohol. The novel stage is the ‘double incision’ whereby an initial superficial incision receives a further application of povidone-iodine prior to completing the full depth incision.RESULTS: Of the 84 shunts inserted using the double-incision method (September 2015 to September 2016), only one developed a shunt infection.CONCLUSION: The double incision approach to skin preparation is a unique operative stage in VP shunt surgery that may have a role to play in reducing acute shunt infection.
2-Propanol ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Methods ; Microbiota ; Mortality ; Povidone-Iodine ; Skin ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt