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Background: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are among the most epidemiologically relevant health care-associated infections. The aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT) is a standardized practice used to prevent CLABSIs. In a pediatric hospital, the overall CLABSI rate was 1.92/1000 catheter days (CD). However, in one unit, the rate was 5.7/1000 CD. Methods: Nurses were trained in ANTT. For the implementation, plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were completed. Adherence monitoring of the ANTT and epidemiological surveillance were performed. Results: ANTT adherence of 95% was achieved after 6 PDSA cycles. Hand hygiene and general cleaning reached 100% adherence. Port disinfection and material collection had the lowest adherence rates, with 76.2% and 84.7%, respectively. The CLABSI rate decreased from 5.7 to 1.26/1000 CD. Conclusion: The implementation of ANTT helped reduce the CLABSI rate. Training and continuous monitoring are key to maintaining ANTT adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on bioaccumulation of UV‐absorbing compounds acquired through the diet, in larvae and postlarvae of Pleoticus muelleri, and to assess tissue antioxidant activity, survival, and development. Mysis stage I were exposed to two artificial radiation treatments: M‐PAR (photosynthetically active radiation, range = 400–700 nm) and M‐PAR + UVR (280–700 nm). The experimental larvae received a mixed dietary treatment of Artemia persimilis and the microalga Pavlova lutheri, reared under two radiation regimes: PAR (D‐PAR) and PAR + UVR (D‐PAR + UVR). Shrimp from all treatments reached 8 d postlarval stage (PL8), except those under M‐PAR + UVR treatment fed the D‐PAR‐cultured algae, which had 0% survival. Larvae in M‐PAR + UVR and M‐PAR treatments fed with D‐PAR + UVR diet presented the highest survival rates (70 and 75%, respectively), with 37 and 41% increase in PL size. UV‐absorbing compounds were detected in microalgae and PL subject to PAR + UVR treatments. Antioxidant activity, quantified by measuring the free‐radical 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl in homogenates of PL8, decayed drastically under radiation treatment M‐PAR + UVR fed with algae of the D‐PAR + UVR treatment. It is concluded that the bioaccumulation of UV‐absorbing compounds and the highest antioxidant activity in PL could improve the biochemical and photophysiological responses of shrimp under UVR stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis (Xam) is the causal agent of bacterial blight of cassava, which is among the main components of human diet in Africa and South America. Current information about the molecular pathogenicity factors involved in the infection process of this organism is limited. Previous studies in other bacteria in this genus suggest that advanced draft genome sequences are valuable resources for molecular studies on their interaction with plants and could provide valuable tools for diagnostics and detection. Here we have generated the first manually annotated high-quality draft genome sequence of Xam strain CIO151. Its genomic structure is similar to that of other xanthomonads, especially Xanthomonas euvesicatoria and Xanthomonas citri pv. citri species. Several putative pathogenicity factors were identified, including type III effectors, cell wall-degrading enzymes and clusters encoding protein secretion systems. Specific characteristics in this genome include changes in the xanthomonadin cluster that could explain the lack of typical yellow color in all strains of this pathovar and the presence of 50 regions in the genome with atypical nucleotide composition. The genome sequence was used to predict and evaluate 22 variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci that were subsequently demonstrated as polymorphic in representative Xam strains. Our results demonstrate that Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis strain CIO151 possesses ten clusters of pathogenicity factors conserved within the genus Xanthomonas. We report 126 genes that are potentially unique to Xam, as well as potential horizontal transfer events in the history of the genome. The relation of these regions with virulence and pathogenicity could explain several aspects of the biology of this pathogen, including its ability to colonize both vascular and non-vascular tissues of cassava plants. A set of 16 robust, polymorphic VNTR loci will be useful to develop a multi-locus VNTR analysis scheme for epidemiological surveillance of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of the midgut gland of Artemesia longinaris to salinity changes was evaluated by analyzing its histological changes. Animals were exposed gradually and abruptly to 33, 29, 25 and 16 psu for different time intervals and readapted to 33 psu for 30 days. Individuals maintained 10 days at 16 psu showed the lowest survival and presented histopathologies which were not present in those readapted to 33 psu. Shrimps abruptly transferred from 33 to 16 psu died in 3-5 h but did not show midgut gland alterations likely due to the brief exposure. Only shrimps abruptly transferred from 33 to 25 psu presented histopathologies after 96 h. When readapted to 33 psu for 30 days, the midgut gland recovered an unaltered structure. Except E-cells, which did not vary in height among treatments, F, R and B-cells were taller in animals gradually adapted to 29 than to 16 psu. Abrupt salinity changes had a significant effect on the mean height of F, R and B-cells of those animals transferred from 33 to 25 psu (from 24 to 96 h after transfer F and R-cells heights decreased, and from 96 to 144 h after transfer B-cells height increased). Our study shows the effect of osmotic stress at the tissue level on the midgut gland and, at least partially, explains the reason for the mortalities at low salinities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are a hospital problem with a prevalence of approximately 5% in Mexico. HCAIs have been related to the patient-nurse ratio (PNR). This study aimed to analyze the association between PNR and HCAI in a tertiary-level pediatric hospital., Methods: We conducted a descriptive and prospective study at a tertiary-level pediatric hospital in Mexico. Nursing attendance and HCAIs records were documented from July 2017 to December 2018. PNR was calculated using nurse staffing records and patient census., Results: We obtained 63,114 staff attendance data from five hospital departments for the morning, evening, and night shifts. PNR > 2:1 was associated with a 54% (95% confidence interval (CI) 42-167%; p < 0.001) increased risk (odds ratio (OR)) for HCAIs, adjusted by shift staff, special conditions, and surveillance periods. The HCAIs more associated with PNR were urinary tract infections (OR 1.83; 95%CI 1.34-2.46), procedure-related pneumonia (OR 2.08; 95%CI 1.41-3.07), and varicella (OR 2.33; 95%CI 1.08-5.03)., Conclusions: A high number of patients per nurse increased the probability of various types of HCAI. PNR needs to be established the HCAI guidelines and policies, as regulating the number of patients per nurse can prevent HCAIs and their complications., (Copyright: © 2023 Permanyer.)

Heleobia piscium (d'Orbigny, 1835), a member of the Cochliopidae family found only in South America, is distributed from Entre Ríos, Delta del Paraná, and the littoral of the Río de la Plata down as far as to Punta Indio (Buenos Aires), the southernmost limit of the snail's geographical distribution. To date, little information is available regarding the reproductive cycle of species within this family either in Argentina or throughout South America. The present work analyzed the histology of the reproductive system of the gonochoric species H. piscium and determined the stages oogenesis and spermatogenesis under natural conditions. Specimens of H. piscium were collected in the Multiple-Use Natural Reserve Isla Martín García, located in the Upper Río de la Plata estuary to the south of the mouth of the Uruguay River. The gametogenic cycle in both sexes was found to consist of the following stages: early maturation, maturation, and evacuation. The maturation period was found to extend from January to October and evacuation of the gametes to start in November and end in February (summer in the Southern Hemisphere). The results indicated the H. piscium exhibit a reproductive cycle without a resting period., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests.