Microbial Flora (microbial + flora)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Mathematical Modeling of Microbial Growth in Packaged Refrigerated Orange Juice Treated with Chemical Preservatives

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 5 2001
S.C. Andrés
ABSTRACT Microbial flora of refrigerated orange juice was analyzed during storage at 10 °C and the effects of the following factors were discussed: 1) the previous washing process of the orange peel, 2) the different levels of the added preservatives (citric acid, ascorbic acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate), 3) the gaseous permeabilities of the packaging film. Gompertz equation was applied to model molds and yeasts growth for the different treatments and packaging conditions. The washing procedure with sodium hypochlorite extend 2,3 d the storage life of the juice (time to reach microbial counts of 106 CFU/ml) in both packaging films. The use of organic acids and potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate (1.66,6.94 mM) led to storage life values > 11 d in polyethylene and > 20 d in the low gaseous permeability film, maintaining good sanitary conditions. [source]


Microbial flora of root canal,treated teeth associated with asymptomatic periapical radiolucent lesions

MOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2001
G. S. P. Cheung
This study aimed to investigate the composition of microflora in endodontically treated teeth associated with asymptomatic periapical lesions in southern Chinese patients. Twenty-four teeth which had received nonsurgical root canal treatment more than 4 years previously, and which presents an acceptable coronal restoration with a periapical radiolucent area, were re-treated nonsurgically. Bacteriological samples were obtained after removal of the old root canal filling. The samples were inoculated on enriched trypticase soy agar and four selective media for incubation at 37°C in both a carbon dioxide-enriched atmosphere and anaerobically. Eighteen teeth that had received gutta-percha root canal fillings were grouped for analysis, 12 (66.7%) of which contained cultivable microorganisms. The total colony forming units per ml of transport medium ranged from 0 to 2.3×105. The number of bacterial genera recovered ranged between 0 and 6, with facultative gram-positive cocci being the most prevalent group of bacteria isolated. Facultative anaerobic bacteria were present in all, whereas strict anaerobic bacteria were found in 3 out of the 12 teeth with positive growth. The size of the periapical rarefaction did not show any relationship with the quantity of microorganisms recovered. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, streptococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were most frequently isolated in this group of patients. The possible origin of these organisms is discussed. [source]


Life as an endodontic pathogen

ENDODONTIC TOPICS, Issue 1 2003
Ecological differences between the untreated, root-filled root canals
This review describes the type of microbial flora in the untreated root canal and the root-filled canal with persistent infection. Recent contributions of molecular methods of microbial identification are outlined along with a discussion of advantages and limitations of these methods. Ecological and environmental factors are the prime reasons for differences in the microbial flora in these distinct habitats. Shared phenotypic traits and an ability to respond to the modified environment select for the species that establish a persistent root canal infection. [source]


Dissipation kinetics and mobility of chlortetracycline, tylosin, and monensin in an agricultural soil in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2006
Jules C. Carlson
Abstract A robust high-throughput method was refined to extract three growth-promoting antibiotics, tylosin (TYL), chlortetracycline (CTC), and monensin (MON), from soil. Analysis was performed by electrospray liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Soil dissipation rate studies were performed in a farm field soil for antibiotics applied with and without manure. Tylosin, CTC, and MON followed first-order dissipation kinetics with half-lives of 4.5, 24, and 3.3 d, respectively, with the addition of manure and 6.1, 21, and 3.8 d, respectively, without manure. Manure application significantly increased TYL dissipation rate, perhaps because of the introduced microbial flora, but had no significant effect on CTC or MON. Monensin dissipation half-life was found to be much shorter in the field study than in a controlled laboratory study, perhaps because of differences in microbial communities. The antimicrobials were not highly mobile. Chlortetracycline was the only antibiotic detected at 25 to 35 cm depth and only up to 2% of the initial concentration in a sandy loam soil. These antibiotics are therefore expected to degrade primarily in agricultural soils before moving to greater depths or to groundwater in significant concentrations in most agricultural systems. [source]


Oral microbial flora and oral malodour of the institutionalised elderly in Japan

GERODONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
Eiki Honda
Abstract Objectives: To determine the oral health status, especially the level of oral microbial flora and oral malodour, of institutionalised elderly people compared with non-institutionalised elderly people. Setting: Three institutions and numerous private homes. Subjects: 56 institutionalised and 56 non-institutionalised elderly people. Main Outcome Measures: Institutionalised elderly people had higher levels of Candida, staphylococci, and oral malodour. Results: Institutionalised elderly people had a higher level of Candida in denture wearers, and a higher level of staphylococci and oral malodour compared with the non-institutionalised elderly. Conclusion: The institutionalised elderly have a higher risk of opportunistic infections and oral health care should be improved to protect them from these infections and to reduce oral malodour. [source]


Effect of Person-Centered Showering and the Towel Bath on Bathing-Associated Aggression, Agitation, and Discomfort in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 11 2004
Philip D. Sloane MD
Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of two nonpharmacological techniques in reducing agitation, aggression, and discomfort in nursing home residents with dementia. The techniques evaluated were person-centered showering and the towel bath (a person-centered, in-bed bag-bath with no-rinse soap). Design: A randomized, controlled trial, with a usual-care control group and two experimental groups, with crossover. Setting: Nine skilled nursing facilities in Oregon and six in North Carolina. Participants: Seventy-three residents with agitation during bathing (69 completed the trial) and 37 nursing assistants who bathed them. Measurements: Agitation and aggression were measured using the Care Recipient Behavior Assessment; discomfort was measured using a modification of the Discomfort Scale for Dementia of the Alzheimer Type. Raters who were blinded to subject status coded both from videotaped baths. Secondary measures of effect included bath duration, bath completeness, skin condition, and skin microbial flora. Results: All measures of agitation and aggression declined significantly in both treatment groups but not in the control group, with aggressive incidents declining 53% in the person-centered shower group (P<.001) and 60% in the towel-bath group (P<.001). Discomfort scores also declined significantly in both intervention groups (P<.001) but not in the control group. The two interventions did not differ in agitation/aggression reduction, but discomfort was less with the towel bath (P=.003). Average bath duration increased significantly (by a mean of 3.3 minutes) with person-centered showering but not with the towel bath. Neither intervention resulted in fewer body parts being bathed; both improved skin condition; and neither increased colonization with potentially pathogenic bacteria, corynebacteria, or Candida albicans. Conclusion: Person-centered showering and the towel bath constitute safe, effective methods of reducing agitation, aggression, and discomfort during bathing of persons with dementia. [source]


Microbiologic Evaluation of Gallbladder Bile of Healthy Dogs and Dogs with Iatrogenic Hypercortisolism: A Pilot Study

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010
P.H. Kook
Background: In people, hypercortisolism (HC) has been associated with acalculous cholecystitis and biliary dyskinesia, which may potentiate ascending biliary infections. In dogs, an association between HC and gallbladder disease recently has been documented, although the role of bacteria remains controversial. Furthermore, there is no information on the gallbladder bile microbial flora in healthy dogs. Objectives: To investigate the microbial flora in gallbladder bile in healthy dogs, the relationship between iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism and bactibilia and possible changes in biliary microbial flora after cortisol withdrawal in dogs. Animals: Six control dogs and 6 dogs treated with hydrocortisone. Methods: Gallbladder bile obtained by percutaneous ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis was cultured aerobically and anaerobically and examined cytologically before (d0), during (d28, d56, d84), and after (d28p, d56p, d84p) administration of hydrocortisone (8 mg/kg PO q12h). Results: In the control group, 2/42 bile cultures yielded bacterial growth (Enterococcus sp.; Escherichia coli on d0) and 1/42 bile smears had cytological evidence of bacteria (d28). In the HC group, 2/42 bile cultures yielded bacterial growth (Enterococcus sp. on d28; Bacillus sp. on d28p) and 3/42 bile smears had cytological evidence of bacteria (d84, d84, d28p). All dogs remained healthy throughout the study period (168d). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Based on the results of conventional bacterial culture techniques, gallbladder bile of healthy dogs periodically may harbor bacteria, which do not appear to be clinically relevant. A 3-month period of iatrogenic HC was not associated with bactibilia. A higher prevalence of bactibilia may be detected with micromolecular techniques. [source]


Skin Care of the Diaper Area

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
Ralf Adam Ph.D.
These needs include products such as diapers that absorb the excreta, as well as products for cleansing and conditioning the skin. A number of factors play a role in development of diaper dermatitis, including prolonged exposure to excreta, alterations in skin pH or increased hydration, and changes in skin microbial flora. Recent decades have seen great improvements in our understanding of these factors and our ability to develop new and better products to protect baby skin. Better diaper designs and the development of pH-buffered baby wipes have improved the care of skin in the diaper area. Continuing research offers the promise of new products with additional benefits for caregivers and infants. [source]


Vaginal Nitric Oxide in Pregnant Women with Bacterial Vaginosis

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
Mehmet R. Genç
Problem To evaluate vaginal nitric oxide (NO) production in response to alterations in the vaginal microbial flora. Method of study Cervicovaginal lavage samples from 206 women at 18,22 weeks of gestation were tested for NO, interleukin-1, (IL-1,), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), tumor necrosis factor- , and the inducible 70 kDa heat shock protein (hsp70). Bacterial vaginosis (BV) was diagnosed based on gram staining of vaginal smears. Results and conclusions Elevated NO (>2.14 mmol/L) was associated with a diagnosis of BV (38% versus 11%, P < 0.008) as well as an increased median vaginal IL-1ra concentration (72.5 ng/ml versus 36.6 ng/ml, P = 0.041). Elevated vaginal NO was also associated with vaginal hsp70 and this relationship was independent of BV status or IL-1ra concentrations (P < 0.026). We conclude that vaginal hsp70 release in response to abnormal vaginal microflora may trigger NO production in an attempt to minimize the pathological consequences of this altered milieu. [source]


Characterization of ammonia-assimilating bacteria in a lagoon for wastewater from a paddock of dairy cattle

ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2002
Hiraku SASAKI
ABSTRACT We investigated microorganisms that assimilated ammonia in lagoon treatment processes. Ammonia-assimilating microorganisms were detected by nitrogen-limited medium that contained ammonia as the sole nitrogen source. Numbers of ammonia-assimilating aerobes (log CFU/g) were 3.4, 4.8, 5.0, 4.8 and 5.0 (log CFU/mL) on the culture plate incubated at 4°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C and 25°C, respectively. Many isolates used ammonia in high rates when they were purely cultivated in nitrogen-limited medium added to sterilized lagoon extract. Many of them used ammonia even when they were cultivated in media containing viable microbial flora of the lagoon. Among them, enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas sp. were identified by analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA. [source]


The effect of prebiotics in the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2009
M Bisceglia
Abstract Background:, Breast milk oligosaccharides such as galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS) and fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS) can influence the intestinal microbial flora. The latter, in turn, can modulate several intestinal and extraintestinal functions, including bilirubin metabolism. Supplementing infant formula with a prebiotic mixture might then be a novel and safe intervention to manage mild neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Aim:, To investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with prebiotics on moderate hyperbilirubinaemia in healthy, term infants. Methods:, A prospective, double-blind, clinical trial was performed on seventy-six consecutive newborns who were randomly assigned to receive a formula containing 0.8 g/dL of a mixture from scGOS and lcFOS (ratio 9:1), or maltodextrines as placebo for 28 days. Bilirubin levels were determined by the transcutaneous bilirubin measurement within 2 h after birth (T1), at 24, 48 and 72 h and at 5, 7, 10 and 28 days of life. The number of stool per day was also recorded. Results:, Neonates receiving prebiotics showed a larger number of stools over all the duration of dietary intervention compared to that of those on placebo (Repeated Measures ANOVA p < 0.001; day 28 3.4 ± 0.0.9 vs 1.7 ± 0.9, respectively; Dunn test p < 0.05). Neonates whose formula was supplemented with prebiotics showed a lower transcutaneous bilirubin that was statistically significant from 72 h of life (5.46 ± 1.6 vs 7.07 ± 2.49, post hoc Dunn test, p < 0.05) throughout the duration of the dietary intervention (day 28 2.41 ± 0.4 vs 2.85 ± 0.5, post hoc Dunn test, p < 0.05). Conclusion:, The addition of prebiotics to standard infant diet might represent a novel strategy to help control neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. [source]