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Biomedical subjects

P H Everall

Publications and source records attributed to P H Everall.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Problems in the disinfection of class 1 microbiology safety cabinets.

Microbiology safety cabinet disinfection procedures using formaldehyde have been tested. Tubercle bacilli were killed by concentrations of formaldehyde obtained by heating commercial formalin irrespective of whether the bacilli were in the cabinet free space or above the prefilters. However, Bacillus stearothermophilus spore papers for for the testing of low temperature steam/formaldehyde sterilisers were almost never sterilised and a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis (NCTC 7944) showed a resistance intermediate between the B stearothermophilus spores and the tubercle bacilli. Tests using a vaccine strain of poliovirus type 3 indicated a considerable degree of resistance of the virus to the action of formaldehyde. No such resistance was demonstrated by vaccinia virus or echovirus 14. Chemical and biological evidence is presented which indicates that filter paper discs are an unsuitable carrier material for a challenge organism in testing the efficiency of any formaldehyde sterilising process. Recommendations are made towards developing a satisfactory test procedure.

Disinfection↗

Sterilisation in the laboratory autoclave using direct air displacement by steam.

A device using a steam injection funnel is described by means of which air can be driven quickly and surely from an autoclave load. It is simple and inexpensive, necessitates no changes in the working routine of a microbiology laboratory, and does not interfere with the operation of the autoclave in its normal mode.

Laboratories↗

Quantitative recovery of spores from thermophilic spore papers.

A homogeniser (Stomacher 400) which does not damage bacteria has been used to produce an homogenate of spore papers, from which it was possible to make quantitative assessments of viable spores recoverable from such papers before and after exposure to sterilising procedures.

Agar↗

Some observations on cooling in laboratory autoclaves.

Cooling times for various autoclave loads were recorded using thermocouples. Loads which may be encountered during normal laboratory working require between 17 and 174 minutes to cool to 100 degrees, C and up to 260 minutes to cool to 95 degrees C. Such long cooling times had an adverse effect on nutritive properties of bacteriological culture medium. Observations are made on some factors which influenced the cooling times, and the need for artificially assisted cooling is stressed. Recommendations are given for the safe operation of laboratory autoclaves.

Culture Media↗

Antibodies to Candida albicans in hospital patients with and without spinal injury and in normal men and women.

The presence of serum agglutinins and precipitins to Candida albicans in men and women who had impaired bladder function following spinal injury is compared with that in other patients in hospital and in apparently fit men and women. Antibody levels which have commonly been regarded as significant were found in 35 of 76 patients who had urinary candidiasis; in 10 of 52 patients who had spinal injury without urinary candidiasis; in eight of 57 patients who had neither of these conditions, and in nine of 191 normal men and women. Observations are made on the antigens involved in these reactions and on the need for standardization of both reagents and techniques.

Adult↗

Tuberculoid lymphadenitis due to Mycobacterium chelonei.

An 8-year-old boy developed cervical lymphadenitis four months after an injection of dental anaesthetic. Histology of the lymphatic tissue showed a tuberculoid granulomatous reaction with scanty acid-fast bacilli. Mycobacterium chelonei was isolated in pure culture (NCTC 10882). The patient showed specific skin hypersensitivity to an extract of M. chelonei, but not to that of M. ranae. This is thought to be the first recorded case of lymphadenitis in man caused by M. chelonei; it adds another possibility to be considered in the differential diagnosis of ;a lump in the neck'.

Child↗

Human fascioliasis in Shropshire.

Five patients with fascioliasis presented with malaise, pruritus, and pain in the right hypochondrium. Eosinophilia, increase in serum gamma globulin, and pyrexia were other features. Four patients treated with oral bithionol recovered completely and it is suggested that this is an effective form of therapy. The double diffusion precipitin test, being speedy and simple, was used as a screening procedure for diagnosis. The source of infection was wild watercress growing in a farm ditch.

Administration, Oral↗