The Journal of hospital infection
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The level of contamination of stethoscopes used in a neonatal intensive care unit was studied, along with the practices used for cleaning these items. A policy of alcohol cleaning was introduced and the effect of this change on the level of bacterial growth was observed after a six-week period. It was found that 71% of stethoscopes had a significant bacterial growth and that this was reduced to 30% after the cleaning procedure change (P < 0.05). Stethoscopes and other equipment are a potential source of nosocomial infection on the neonatal intensive care unit.
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An outbreak of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) food poisoning affected 17 of 44 (38.6%) patients interviewed on two hospital wards. A case-control study showed a statistically significant association between the consumption of roast pork and illness (P < 0.01). C. perfringens type A, untypable serotype, was isolated from samples of pre-cooked vacuum sealed pork supplied by a local meat producer. ⋯ Cuts of meat were too large and equipment to ensure rapid cooling of cooked meat was not installed. Cost improvements taken by hospitals, such as the use of commercially cooked meat, may not be consistent with the highest standards of food safety. Amendments to the District Catering Policy were implemented to prevent further outbreaks.