Search

Health care-associated infections (HCAIs) are infections that occur while receiving health care, developed in a hospital or other health care facility that first appear 48 hours or more after hospital admission, or within 30 days after having received health care. Multiple studies indicate that the common types of adverse events affecting hospitalized patients are adverse drug events, HCAIs, and surgical complications. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention identifies that nearly 1.7 million hospitalized patients annually acquire HCAIs while being treated for other health issues and that more than 98,000 patients (one in 17) die due to these. Several studies suggest that simple infection-control procedures such as cleaning hands with an alcohol-based hand rub can help prevent HCAIs and save lives, reduce morbidity, and minimize health care costs. Routine educational interventions for health care professionals can help change their hand-washing practices to prevent the spread of infection. In support of this, the WHO has produced guidelines to promote hand-washing practices among member countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent tonsillitis is described as when an individual suffers from several attacks of tonsillitis per year. Chronic and recurrent tonsillitis both cause repeated occurrences of inflamed tonsils which have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. Numerous children suffer from recurrent tonsillitis and sore throats, and these illnesses become part of their life. Antimicrobials can provide temporary relief, but in many cases, tonsillitis recurs. The cause of such recurrent infections have been identified as microorganisms which often create biofilms and a repository of infection in the wet and warm folds of the tonsils. This review discusses different treatment modalities, their advantages and disadvantages, and new treatment options focusing on biofilms. All treatment options should be selected based on evidence and individual need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A disposable screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was successfully fabricated for electrochemical detection of stress biomarker cortisol. Firstly, graphene oxide (GO) suspension was drop-casted onto carbon electrode surface before being electrochemically reduced into rGO-modified SPCE. Secondly, the rGO-modified SPCE was treated with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) solution to activate carboxylic group (COOH) on the rGO surface which then reacts with amines (NH3) group of cortisol specific monoclonal antibody (C-Mab) to form an amide bonding. Finally, the electrochemical response of C-Mab/rGO-modified electrode towards cortisol was recorded by cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques using5 mM (Fe3[CN]6) as a redox probe. The significant change of current was observed with and without the presence of cortisol using our fabricated electrode, C-Mab/rGO-modified SPCE becomes the main principle in this cortisol electrochemical immunosensor. The incorporation of rGO onto SPCE surface exhibited an enhancement of electrocatalytic of electrochemical oxidation of Fe3[CN]6for the detection of cortisol. It was shown that the peaks current of Fe3[CN]6 was significantly reduced in the presence of cortisol onto the C-Mab/rGO-modified electrode surface. Several parameters were optimised for improving electrochemical detection of cortisol including rGO concentration, C-Mab concentration and immobilisation time of cortisol. Under optimal condition, our developed immunosensor was able to detect cortisol in a wide linear range of 0.001 µg/mL to 10 µg/mL which covers the human cortisol levels in normal and stressful environments. These findings would help in the development of biosensor to monitor the stress level among military personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]