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a culture of service...
April, 2013
© 2013, Hardy Diagnostics,
all rights reserved
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Hand Sanitizer
_____________________
Can hand sanitizers really be more effective
than hand washing?
Find out.
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MicroTips...
_______________________
Is there a way to get brighter more distinct colors when gram staining?
Hardy's
Gram Stain Advanced
has several features to help produce a more reliable gram stain with brighter colors, especially with organisms that are difficult to stain, such as anaerobes,
Bacillus,
and
Neisseria
spp. It contains a unique formulation of crystal violet, matched with a stabilized iodine, and a more intense counterstain.
Gram Stain Advanced.
Learn more.
Order
Gram Stain Advanced
.
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Brainteasers
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Look for us
in Denver!
If you are attending the National ASM meeting in Denver in May, please stop by and say hi!
We will be at Booth 643.
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Microgen
Biochemical panels
for bacterial ID
Microgen offers an easy, fast, and reliable way to identify bacteria biochemically. Each multi-test panel is designed for ease of use. Ask for the free interpretation software CD when ordering!
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Part II
Tom Swifties...
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"That's the last time I'll stick my arm in a lion's mouth," Tom said offhandedly.
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"I'll have a martini," said Tom, dryly.
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"Pass me the shellfish," said Tom crabbily.
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"Can I go looking for the
Grail
again?" Tom requested.
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"I unclogged the drain with a vacuum cleaner," said Tom succinctly.
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"We just struck oil!" Tom gushed.
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"It's freezing," Tom muttered icily.
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"They had to amputate them both at the ankles," said Tom defeatedly.
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"Hurry up and get to the back of the ship!" Tom said
sternly
.
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"We could have made a fortune canning pineapples" Tom groaned dolefully.
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Think about it...
* Why do they call it an asteroid when it's outside the hemisphere, but
call it a hemorrhoid when it's in your butt?
* Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad
at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out
the window?
* Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are going dead?
* Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know
there is not enough money?
* Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion
stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
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Wisdom to ponder...
Elvis Presley
1935 ~ 1977
One of the most popular musicians of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or "the King."
"Ambition is a dream with a V8 engine."
"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to."
"I've tried to lead a straight, clean life, not set any kind of a bad example."
"I'm so nervous. I've always been nervous, ever since I was a kid."
"I've never written a song in my life.
It's all a big hoax."
"From the time I was a kid, I always knew something was going to happen to me. Didn't know exactly what."
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QUICK LINKS...
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Want to receive the MicroBytes
Newsletter
at home?
CLICK HERE
Want to review past issues
of MicroBytes?
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Did you know?
Hardy Diagnostics...
-
Is celebrating its 32nd year of serving microbiologists.
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Is
ISO 13485
certified for the manufacture of medical devices to give you confidence in our products.
-
Offers you its technical manual,
HUGO
, which contains over 4,500 pages of information regarding microbiology.
-
Maintains a worldwide network of over 40
distributors.
Send a
message to the president
.
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Micro Musings...
"There are trillions of microbes living on my body...
but I still get lonely sometimes."
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Case History #10
Presented by Brent Barrett
Rare Food = Rare Bug
An Indiana resident presented with symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and chills.
A travel history was taken, which revealed a recent trip to Florida in which the patient sampled the local seafood including lightly cooked oysters.
In the lab, stool cultures showed yellow colonies on TCBS Agar plates. In addition, a string test was performed giving positive results.
What is it?
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Food Poisoning
on the Rise
Overall, the number of food borne illnesses in the US rose 3% in 2012 compared to 2011. However, the number of
E. coli
and
Salmonella
cases have not risen significantly, compared to the dramatic increases in
Vibrio
and
Campylobacter
.
Vibrio
The CDC reports a 25% surge compared to the previous year in
Vibrio
infections arising from undercooked or raw shellfish. For example: due to an outbreak last year in Nassau County in New York, the state health department temporarily banned shellfish harvesting. Since 2006-2008, cases of Vibrio infections have risen by 43%. There were 200 cases in 2012.
Campylobacter
Campy infections rose 14% compared to 2006-2008. This is mostly due to undercooked poultry. Campy is the second most common cause of food borne illness, with Salmonella taking the lead in the cause of intestinal distress.
Here is a listing of the most recent major outbreaks...
2008-2009, Salmonella in Peanut Butter
This caused 9 deaths and sickened 700. The owner of Peanut Corp. of America in Virginia (now bankrupt) is currently being sued with 76 counts of negligence against him.
2010, Salmonella in eggs
1,900 people became sick after eating eggs from Iowa egg farms. A federal criminal probe is under way.
2011, Listeria in Cantaloupes
A farm in Colorado was linked to 33 deaths and 147 illnesses, due to unsanitary processing equipment. This was the largest and worst incident of fatal food poisoning since the early 1900's.
2012, Salmonella in Peanut Butter
Sunland Inc of New Mexico (an organic peanut butter supplier to Trader Joe's) was shut down by the FDA after 42 cases of
Salmonella
were reported.
For more information on test methods for food and cosmetics,
see the BAM
(Bacteriological Analytical Manual) published online by the FDA.
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CRE increasing at alarming rates...
CRE FACTS
CRE, an acronym for Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, is a growing concern due to their resistance to almost all antibiotics in common usage today.
CRE increased from 1.2% of all Enterbacteriacea in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011.
10.4% of Klebsiella isolates are resistant to carbapemens compared to 1.6% a decade earlier.
18% of acute care hospitals have reported at least one CRE infection.
In 2011, CRE went rampant throughout the NIH Clinical Center in Maryland killing six and infecting 18; all attributable to a single patient who was discharged three weeks before the next case emerged.
Healthy people usually do not get CRE infections. In healthcare settings, CRE infections most commonly occur among patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions. Patients whose care requires devices like ventilators (breathing machines), urinary (bladder) catheters, or intravenous (vein) catheters, and patients who are taking long courses of certain antibiotics are most at risk for CRE infections.
The death rate is about 50% for those who become infected with CRE.
The CDC states the following about the treament of CRE: "CRE are often resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics but may remain susceptible to one or more antibiotics. Decisions on treatment of infections with CRE should be made on a case-by-case basis by a healthcare provider. Some people might be colonized rather than infected with CRE and may not require any treatment."
More information
from the CDC.
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The Hidden Sleuth
Can you find Sherlock Holmes?
"Believe half of what you see
and none of what you hear."
~ Marvin Gaye
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Check out the survey results...
Does Social Media
Make Us
More or Less Social?
According to Nielsen, internet users continue to spend more time with social media sites than any other type of site. 30% of their time on a PC and 20% of their mobile phone time is spent on social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
The total time spent on social media in the U.S. increased by 37% from 2011 to 2012. Americans now spend an average of seven hours at social networking per month, which trails the 21 hours that people spend in traditional "face to face" socializing.
For 18 to 34 year-olds that use networking sites, they report spending an average of 3.8 hours per day at virtual socializing!
Is this making us more or less social?
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Voice your opinion...
Should corporations and unions be allowed to contribute to political campaigns?
Due to a US Supreme Court ruling in 2010, corporations, non-profit organizations, and labor unions are now allowed to make unlimited contributions to political campaigns and "Super PACS" (Political Action Committees).
Over $6 billion was spent from all sources on the election campaigns of 2012.
Does this represent an expression of freedom of speech or does it interfere with the democratic process?
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"Do all the good you can.
By all the means you can.
In all the ways you can.
In all the places you can.
At all the times you can.
To all the people you can.
As long as ever you can."
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Why good grammar is so important...
Let's eat grandma.
Let's eat, grandma.
____________________
Commas save lives!
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Love your enemies...
Without them,
you would have no one
to blame but yourself.
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