Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine
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At fibreoptic bronchoscopy the potential exists for contamination of bronchoscopes and microbiological specimens. Patients may also be cross infected with acid fast bacilli (AFB). During a five month period, 12 bronchial wash specimens of 65 patients undergoing bronchoscopy, one bronchoscope and an autocleaner, were contaminated with the AFB, Mycobacterium chelonae (MCH). ⋯ To avoid contamination of bronchoscopy specimens with MCH, use of autoclearners should be discouraged and sterile water and containers used in cleaning procedures. If MCH contamination occurs in this setting, the bronchoscope and dismantled valve mechanism should undergo ethylene oxide sterilisation.
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Hypothermia occurs within domestic and non-residential settings. Most epidemiological data originate from the northern hemisphere, with little data being generally available concerning cases from New Zealand and Australia. ⋯ The two main non-neonatal groups contributing to cases of hypothermia were males aged 13-65 years, and the elderly. In the aged, the proportion of hypothermia-related deaths was no different from that associated with other disorders, however, the case-fatality ratio was three times greater, highlighting the need for improving prevention and management strategies.