OBJECTIVETo study the effect of compound nonoxinol on the inhibition of bacteria in vitro.

METHODSThe minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimal bactericidal time (MBT) of nonoxinol providine iodine and compound nonoxinol, composed of nonoxinol and providine iodine were determined by inhibiting C. albicans and N. gonorrhoeae.

RESULTSNonoxinol alone showed no inhibiting effects on bacteria. The MBT was 2 minutes for both compound nonoxinol and providine iodine, but the MBC of providine iodine was higher than that of compound nonoxinol.

CONCLUSIONCompound nonoxinol works better in inhibiting bacteria than either nonoxinoother or providine iodine used alone.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; pharmacology ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; drug effects ; Nonoxynol ; pharmacology ; Povidone-Iodine ; pharmacology

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of alexidine (ALX), alone and combined with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), in eradicating two Enterococcus faecalis strain biofilms. The biofilms of E. faecalis ATCC 29212 and the clinical isolate E. faecalis D1 were grown in the MBEC-high-throughput device for 24 h and were exposed to five twofold dilutions of ALX (2%-0.007 8%) alone and combined with 100 mg⋅mL(-1) NAC, for 1 and 5 min. Eradication was defined as 100% kill of biofilm bacteria. The Student's t-test was used to compare the efficacy of the associations of the two irrigants. After 1-min contact time, ALX eradicated the biofilms at all concentrations except for 0.007 8% and 0.015 6%-0.007 8% with E. faecalis ATCC 29212 and E. faecalis D1, respectively. Similar results for eradication and concentration were obtained when it was combined with 100 mg⋅mL(-1) NAC. After 5 min of contact time, ALX alone and combined with NAC eradicated all enterococci biofilms. ALX showed antimicrobial properties against the two E. faecalis strain biofilms tested at very low concentrations, and its combined use with NAC was not seen to enhance its activity.
Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; pharmacology ; Biguanides ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; microbiology ; Drug Combinations ; Enterococcus faecalis ; drug effects ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of alcohol gel according to the amount and drying time in health personnel hand hygiene and to promote in their practice adequate and effective hand hygiene. METHODS: The cross-over experimental study was performed with 14 volunteers. Hands were artificially contaminated with 5 mL of 10(8) CFU/mL of Serratia marcescens (ATCC 14756) and four different alcohol gel hand hygiene methods varying by the amount of alcohol gel (2 mL vs. 1 mL) and drying time (complete vs. incomplete) were compared. Samples were collected by glove juice sampling procedures. RESULTS: Mean log reduction values of the four different hand hygiene methods were 2.22+/-0.36, 1.26+/-0.53, 1.49+/-0.60, 0.89+/-0.47 respectively for the 4 groups: adequate amount (2mL) and complete dry (30 seconds rubbing followed by 2 min air-dry), inadequate amount (1 mL) and complete dry, adequate amount and incomplete dry (15 seconds rubbing and no air-dry), and inadequate amount and incomplete dry. The difference was statistically significant in the adequate amount and complete dry group compared to other three groups (p<.001). CONCLUSION: Only alcohol gel hand hygiene with adequate amount and complete drying was satisfactory by U.S. FDA-TFM efficacy requirements for antiseptic hand hygiene products.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local/*pharmacology ; Cross-Over Studies ; Ethanol/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Gels/*chemistry ; Hand Hygiene/*methods ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Serratia marcescens/*drug effects ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDBlood culture contamination is a significant adverse event. The aim of this project was to evaluate the efficacy of a strict blood collection procedure in reducing the blood culture contamination rate.

METHODSA prospectively controlled study was performed in two different medical areas in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) for 16 months (from May 2006 to September 2007). In test group, a strict blood collection procedure was carried out by trained nurses with the veinpuncture sites were scrupulously disinfected with 2.5% tincture of iodine plus 70% alcohol. In control group, commonly used procedure in PUMCH was performed with 0.45% chlorhexidine acetate plus 0.2% iodine. Blood culture positive results for 4 target organisms (Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Propionibacterium acnes, Corynebacterium species and Bacillus species) were further assessed by physicians from infectious department to determine whether a sample was true positive (pathogen) or false positive (contamination).

RESULTSTotal 9321 blood culture collections were analyzed. The blood culture contamination rate in test group was significantly lower than that in control group (5/3177 (0.16%) vs. 77/6144 (1.25%); χ(2) = 13.382, P < 0.001). The most common contaminant was Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (76.83%). The average cultural time during which contaminated samples became positive was longer than that for true pathogen samples (42.0 hours vs. 13.9 hours, P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONUsing a strict blood collection procedure can significantly reduce blood culture contamination rate.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; pharmacology ; Bacillus ; drug effects ; Blood ; microbiology ; Blood Specimen Collection ; adverse effects ; methods ; Chlorhexidine ; pharmacokinetics ; Corynebacterium ; drug effects ; Disinfection ; methods ; Humans ; Iodine ; pharmacology ; Propionibacterium ; drug effects ; Prospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the inhibitory effects of topical application of specific immunoglobulin yolk antibodies (IgY) to mutans streptococci on composition of human dental plaque.

METHODSA total of 24 healthy adult volunteers were selected and randomly distributed into three experimental groups. After a supragingival scaling, the subjects were treated with an application of IgY containing spray (test group, n = 9), a 0.15% chlorhexidine(CH) spray(positive control group, n = 9) or a placebo phosphate buffered saline(PBS) spray without any active ingredients(negative control group, n = 6) three times daily for three weeks. Pooled plaque samples from the smooth surfaces of teeth were collected for microbiologic analysis before administration (baseline, day 0), during treatment(days 7, 14 and 21) and after withdrawal of the agents(days 28, 42 and 56) and plaque index were recorded. Microbial cultivation were performed by serially diluting the samples with PBS solution an cultivating the aliquots on mitis salivarius agar(MS) and MS supplemented with bacitracin (MSB) for oral streptococci and mutans streptococci respectively. The number of colony-forming unit (CFU) per plate was counted and the percentage of mutans streptococci per oral streptococci in dental plaque were determined. The effect of IgY on colonization of mutans streptococci were analyzed by an analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTSThe plaque indexes remained unchanged, but mutans streptococci in dental plaque was suppressed significantly following a short term(three weeks) application of IgY, and low level of mutans streptococci persisted for at least 5 weeks after withdrawal of IgY.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that the immunization with specific immunoglobulin yolk against mutans streptococci could be useful for long term suppression of mutans streptococci colonization in human dental plaque.

Adult ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; administration & dosage ; Chickens ; Chlorhexidine ; administration & dosage ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; pharmacology ; Mouth ; microbiology ; Mouthwashes ; Streptococcus mutans ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo compare the antibacterial effect of Galla Chinensis with that of chlorhexidine by means of chemostat and provide experimental foundation for caries prevention with Chinese medicine instead of chemicals in future.

METHODA multispecies consortium biofilm (BF) model was construted in the chemostat. The growth-inhibition on bacterial biofilm coated on HA was investigated by means of the colony-forming units (CFU). Acid-inhibition was inspected by continual pH-recording in the flow cells. And the profile on the biofilm treated by both experimental medicines was observed with the scanning electromicroscopy (SEM).

RESULTBoth of the experimental medicines could inhibit the growth of the BF bacteria. And Galla Chinensis had no obvious influence on the ecological composing of the BF bacteria. Both of the experimental medicines could inhibit the acid producion of experimental bacteria. But the final pH of Galla Chinensis was lower than that of chlorhexidine. A typical biofilm formed on HA was observed by SEM. Both of Galla chinensis and chlorhexidine could inhibit the production of extracellular matrix and make the BF profile on the surface of the HA clearer and simpler.

CONCLUSIONGalla Chinensis had definite antibacterial effect. No obvious difference is found between Galla Chinensis (4 g x L(-1)) and chlorhexidine (0.5 g x L(-1)). Therefore, it is possible for Chinese medicine to gradually replace the chemical medicine in clinic and it will give a new choice for caries prevention.

Actinomyces ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Chlorhexidine ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Insecta ; chemistry ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Streptococcus mutans ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Streptococcus sanguis ; drug effects ; growth & development

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between ocular discomfort and ocular Demodex infestation, and therapeutic effects of tea tree oil (TTO) in Demodex blepharitis patients. Three hundred and thirty-five patients with ocular discomfort were evaluated for ocular Demodex infestation and subjective symptoms with ocular surface discomfort index (OSDI) score. Among them, Demodex-infested patients were randomized to receive either eyelid scrubbing with TTO (TTO group,106 patients) or without TTO (Control group, 54 patients) for 1 month. Demodex were found in 84% of patients with ocular discomfort. The number of Demodex was significantly correlated with age (P = 0.04) and OSDI score (P = 0.024). After eyelid scrub treatment, Demodex count was reduced from 4.0 +/- 2.5 to 3.2 +/- 2.3 in the TTO group (P = 0.004) and from 4.3 +/- 2.7 to 4.2 +/- 2.5 in the control group (P = 0.27). Also, OSDI score was reduced from 34.5 +/- 10.7 to 24.1 +/- 11.9 in the TTO group (P = 0.001) and from 35.3 +/- 11.6 to 27.5 +/- 12.8 in the control group (P = 0.04). In conclusion, Demodex number showed a significant positive correlation with age and subjective ocular discomfort. The tea tree oil eyelid scrub treatment is effective for eliminating ocular Demodex and improving subjective ocular symptoms.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Blepharitis/*drug therapy/pathology ; Eye Infections, Parasitic/*drug therapy/parasitology/pathology ; Eyelids/parasitology/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mite Infestations/*drug therapy/parasitology/pathology ; Mites/drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Tea Tree Oil/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 2-phenoxyethanol on potency of Sabin inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (IPV).

METHODSSabin IPV samples containing 5 mg or 7 mg 2-phenoxyethanol each dosage respectively were placed separately at 4 degrees C, 37 degrees C for 2 days and 7 days. D-antigen contents were tested with ELISA method. Then neutralizing antibodies in mice and guinea pigs were detected. The safety experiment was performed according to unusual toxicity test of China requirement for biological product.

RESULTSAfter addition of 2-phenoxyethanol, the I, II, and III D-antigen contents of Sabin IPV did not change. The antibody levels in mice and guinea pigs were not different between experimental group and control group. Animals were safe during observation period.

CONCLUSION2-Phenoxyethanol had no effect on potency and safety of Sabin IPV. It can be used as antiseptic for Sabin IPV.

Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Antigens, Viral ; analysis ; immunology ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Drug Stability ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethylene Glycols ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Guinea Pigs ; Mice ; Neutralization Tests ; Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; toxicity ; Vero Cells

The purpose of this paper is to establish sulfhydryl site-directed PEGylation method for lysostaphin and to evaluate effects of mutagenesis and modification of amino acid residue within putative linker on enzyme activity. On the basis of structural analysis of lysostaphin, amino acid 133-154 of tentative linker between the N-terminal and C-terminal domain were chosen as the candidate residues for site-directed mutagenesis to cysteine. Subsequently, sulfhydryl site-directed PEGylation was performed by reacting PEG-maleimide reagent with the newly introduced cysteine residue of the mutant lysostaphin. The Cys-mutant and PEG-modified proteins were both purified, and their enzymatic activity were further PEGylated lysostaphins. The mono-PEGylated lysostaphins were separated from unmodified lysostaphins through highly efficient one step method with Ni(2+)-NTA column chromatography. However, both Cys-mutant and PEGylated lysostaphin only retained partial activities of the wild-type enzyme. It suggests that sulfhydryl site-directed PEGylation modification of the tentative linker between the N-terminal and C-terminal domain may affect the catalytic activity of lysostaphin.
Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Catalysis ; Cysteine ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lysostaphin ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutant Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Staphylococcus ; metabolism ; Sulfhydryl Reagents ; pharmacology