微生物发酵床养猪技术研究进展

微生物发酵床养猪模式是一种新型的低能耗、环保健康养殖方式。本文从微生物发酵床养猪技术原理、垫料的组成与管理技术、垫料微生物群落结构、对病原微生物的抑制作用、挥发性物质以及用后垫料资源化利用技术等方面综述了国内微生物发酵床养猪技术进展,分析了该技术推广应用中存在的问题,并提出构建微生物发酵床垫料资源化利用体系作为今后重点研究与发展方向。     

肉鸭发酵床抗生素、重金属累积及细菌耐药性的演变特性

【目的】了解肉鸭发酵床使用过程中抗生素、各类金属元素累积特性,细菌抗生素耐受性演变特性。【方法】2011年11月至2013年7月,江苏某肉鸭发酵床养殖场饲养肉鸭期间,选取刚制作完成发酵床的鸭舍,和饲养4批次、8批次肉鸭时的鸭舍,检测发酵床中抗生素、金属元素含量,及发酵床中细菌的抗生素耐受水平。【结果】肉鸭发酵床垫料内强力霉素残留量因每批次肉鸭饲料中的使用而显著上升,氧氟沙星未现在垫料内累积。发酵床垫料饲养至8批次肉鸭时,垫料内耐受16、100μg/m L强力霉素三种可培养细菌的平均菌落数与比例为最高,而耐受8、50μg/m L氧氟沙星的平均菌落数、菌落数比例未现明显的增长趋势。发酵床使用过程中,垫料内As、Pb、Hg元素含量未显著增加,Cd元素检测量极低,Zn、Mn元素含量增加趋势明显,Cu、Cr元素累积速度缓慢。【结论】每批次使用强力霉素可在多批次肉鸭饲养后显著增加发酵床垫料中强力霉素含量,显著增强垫料中肠道菌群耐受强力霉素能力,Zn、Mn元素含量总体呈上升趋势。     

肉鸭养殖过程中发酵床垫料菌群结构变化的研究

【目的】探究发酵床使用时间和肉鸭粪便微生物对发酵床垫料菌群结构、总菌和大肠杆菌数量的影响。【方法】采集江苏某肉鸭发酵床养殖场内刚制作完成的发酵床垫料样品,及其饲养4批次、8批次后的垫料样品,同时采集各批次34日龄肉鸭粪便样品,采用变性梯度凝胶电泳技术(Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis,DGGE)、16S rRNA基因序列分析和实时荧光定量PCR (Quantitative real-time PCR)技术对发酵床使用过程中垫料菌群结构进行定性和定量研究。【结果】0批次(D0)与4批次(D4)、8批次(D8)垫料菌群相似性分别为68.81%、70.82%,而4批次与8批次间垫料菌群的相似性则达81.93%,显著高于D4、D8与D0间相似性(P<0.05)。条带6、8 (最相似菌分别为Leqionella tunisiensis、Pedobacte bauzanensis)在3个时间点垫料菌群中均表现优势,且含量较为稳定;条带10 (最相似菌为Rummeliibacillus suwonesis)仅在2个重复使用垫料菌群中表现优势;条带12、13 (最相似菌分别是Psychrobacter sp. PRwf-1、Iamia majanohamensis)共同存在于垫料样和粪便样。肉鸭粪便中大肠杆菌的数量显著高于4批次、8批次垫料中的数量(P<0.05),与0批次垫料间差异不显著(P>0.05)。【结论】使用时间和肉鸭粪便微生物共同影响了发酵床垫料菌群结构和数量,菌群结构随使用时间的延长而趋于稳定。     

不同年期发酵床垫料细菌群落多样性及功能

探究不同年期发酵程度对发酵床垫料细菌群落多样性及功能的影响，探究其中的有益微生物，开发适合陕北地区的发酵床专用菌剂。以铺设1、2、3和4年的发酵床垫料为研究对象，新铺设的发酵床垫料作为对照（CK），采用MiSeq 高通量测序技术分别测定不同年期发酵床垫料细菌群落16S rRNA 基因 V3~V4 区序列并进行生物信息学分析。不同年期发酵床垫料获得V3~V4区924 008条有效序列，聚成686种操作分类单元 (operational taxonomic unit，OTU)，分属于15个门，30个纲，55个目，65个科和224个属，其中厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）和变形菌门（Proteobacteria）为发酵床垫料的主要优势菌门，其占比为40.88%~98.40%，其次为拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）和放线菌门（Actinobacteria），其占比分别为3.55%~17.54%和1.29%~3.00%。Shannon指数和Simpson指数分别在3.599~4.737和0.787~0.891之间，不同年期发酵床垫料细菌群落的丰度和多样性指数均高于对照，且随着发酵年限的增加，多样性与生长年期呈正相关，致病细菌埃希氏菌属(Escherichia) 及肠杆菌属 (Enterobacte) 丰度和多样性指数下降趋势明显。优势细菌属数目、组成及其丰度随发酵年限的不同而有所差异。短波单胞菌属 (Brevundimonas) 和芽胞杆菌属 (Bacillus)的总丰度最高，分别在 0.06%~43.63%和0.74%~49.35%之间，且优势细菌属中存在具有有益功能性状的微生物类群。群落功能预测分析初步显示不同年期的发酵床垫料细菌群落功能有所差异，其中年限为4年的发酵床垫料微生物群落的功能信息最为丰富，主要涉及到转运蛋白及磷酸转移酶系统功能，其他年期主要体现在ABC转运蛋白、细菌分泌系统、细菌毒素类及调控系统等功能方面。不同年期发酵床垫料细菌群落组成和功能存在较大差异，且发酵年限影响了发酵床垫料细菌群落多样性、群落结构及功能，随着发酵年限的增加，有益菌属丰度增加，致病菌属丰度下降。     

养猪微生物发酵床芽胞杆菌空间生态位特性

研究养猪微生物发酵床芽胞杆菌空间生态位特性,理解养殖粪污形成的环境生态位与芽胞杆菌种类的相互关系,为阐明微生物发酵床猪粪降解、臭味消除、猪病防控机理和资源化利用等提供科学数据。采用随机采样法获得微生物发酵床的上层垫料(0—20 cm)和下层垫料(40—60 cm)样本共14个。利用营养条件检测和宏基因组测序的方法,分析垫料样本的营养特性(有机质、全氮、腐殖酸、粗纤维)和生长条件(水分、pH),鉴定芽胞杆菌种类和测定相对丰度(reads);利用聚类分析、相关性分析、空间分布型分析、生态位宽度和重叠,揭示芽胞杆菌空间生态位特性及其因子间相互关系。研究结果表明,从空间生态位样本中共鉴定出芽胞杆菌目8个科中的6个科24个属种类(其中2个属具有芽胞杆菌种名形式,不属于芽胞杆菌),发现微生物发酵床垫料空间生态位中Ammoniibacillus(氨芽胞杆菌属,类芽胞杆菌科)、Desulfuribacillus(脱硫芽胞杆菌属,芽胞杆菌待建立新科)、Tuberibacillus(肿块芽胞杆菌属,芽胞乳杆菌科),国内未见报道,为中国新记录属。在被测生态位中相对含量(reads)最高的前3个属为芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)(reads=8020)、乳杆菌属(Lactobacillus)(reads=4565)、肿块芽胞杆菌属(Tuberibacillus)(reads=1418);发酵床上层垫料生态位芽胞杆菌属总量与下层相比无显著差异(P0.05),但属种类和数量结构、亚群落分化差异显著,上层生态位前5位高含量芽胞杆菌优势属(数量平均值)分别为Bacillus(532.86)、Lactobacillus(480.43)、Geobacillus(88.86)、Gracilibacillus(70.00)、Paenibacillus(40.86),而下层为Bacillus(612.86)、Tuberibacillus(188.57)、Lactobacillus(171.71)、Paucisalibacillus(60.00)、Ureibacillus(46.71)。分析表明5个生态位最宽的芽胞杆菌分别为:Bacillus(10.5159)、Ornithinibacillus(8.6094)、Paenibacillus(7.8463)、Oceanobacillus(6.9927)、Rummeliibacillus(5.7417),对发酵床环境条件适应范围较宽、对营养条件要求较低的芽胞杆菌,空间生态位宽度较宽,可利用的资源数较多,反之亦然;分析表明芽胞杆菌各属之间空间生态位重叠Pianka测度范围为0.00—0.99,有些属之间生态位重叠很高,如Gracilibacillus和Ammoniibacillus,有些几乎不重叠,如Desulfuribacillus和Aneurinibacillus;芽胞杆菌空间生态位宽度与生态位重叠存在着相互关系,生态位较宽的属,如芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus),与其他属之间的空间生态位重叠集中在0.20—0.80之间,空间生态位较窄的属,如Geobacillus,与其他属之间的空间生态位重叠主要分布在0.20或0.80。     

普洱茶渥堆发酵与堆肥渥堆发酵的比较研究

普洱茶的自然渥堆发酵工艺与农业及环保中的堆肥发酵工艺在堆垛方法、堆垛形状和大小、自然升温过程、高温发酵、翻堆工艺等方面有许多相似之处,主要差别是原料和含水量的不同。对不同原料堆肥已有详细的研究及其动态菌群和多种发酵剂的研究和应用报道,明确了高温菌在渥堆发酵过程中起重要作用,对其翻堆工艺也有较详细的参数及其机械化的应用,但普洱茶渥堆发酵基本上还停留在自然发酵、人工翻堆、常温菌的研究及老茶头作发酵剂的应用等水平上。堆肥的许多研究手段和方法甚至物质转化、脱毒、高温菌的研究等都值得普洱茶渥堆发酵研究加以借鉴。     

养猪微生物发酵床芽胞杆菌空间分布多样性

了解微生物发酵床大栏养猪垫料中的芽胞杆菌多样性和空间分布规律,为微生物发酵床管理、芽胞杆菌新资源挖掘及菌剂开发奠定基础。将发酵床划分为32个方格(4行×8列),采用五点取样法获得每个方格的样品。采用可培养法从32份样品中分离芽胞杆菌菌株,利用16S rRNA基因序列初步鉴定所分离获得的芽胞杆菌种类。利用聚集度指标和回归分析法,分析芽胞杆菌的样方空间分布型。通过Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数、Hill指数及丰富度指数分析,揭示微生物发酵床中芽胞杆菌的空间分布多样性。从32份样品中共获得芽胞杆菌452株,16S rRNA基因鉴定结果表明它们分别隶属于芽胞杆菌纲的2个科、8个属、48个种。其中,种类最多的为芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus),30种;赖氨酸芽胞杆菌属(Lysinibacillus),6种;类芽胞杆菌属(Paenibacillus),5种;短芽胞杆菌属(Brevibacillus),3种;鸟氨酸芽胞杆菌属(Ornithinibacillus)、大洋芽胞杆菌属(Oceanibacillus)、少盐芽胞杆菌属(Paucisalibacillus)和纤细芽胞杆菌属(Gracilibacillus)各1个种。芽胞杆菌种类在发酵床空间分布差异很大,根据其空间出现频次,可分为广分布种类,如地衣芽胞杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis);寡分布种类,如根际芽胞杆菌(B.rhizosphaerae);少分布种类,如弯曲芽胞杆菌(B.flexus)。依据其数量,可分为高含量组优势种群,如地衣芽胞杆菌(B.licheniformis);中含量组常见种群,耐盐赖氨酸芽胞杆菌(Lysinibacillus halotolerans);寡含量组寡见种群,如根际芽胞杆菌(B.rhizosphaerae);低含量组偶见种群,如土地芽胞杆菌(B.humi)。空间分布型聚集度和回归分析测定表明,芽胞杆菌在微生物发酵床的分布类型为聚集分布。微生物发酵床垫料中芽胞杆菌种类总含量高达4.41×108个/g,其种类含量范围为0.01—94.1×106个/g(均值为8.96×106个/g),丰富度指数(D)、优势度指数(λ)、Shannon-Wiener指数(H')和均匀度指数(J')分别为0.4928、0.2634、1.3589和0.9803,其中香农指数最大的单个芽胞杆菌种类为地衣芽胞杆菌(B.licheniformis)。根据芽胞杆菌种类多样性指数聚类分析,当欧式距离λ=17时,可分为高丰富度高含量和低丰富度低含量类型。微生物发酵床的芽胞杆菌种类丰富、数量高,是一个天然的菌剂"发酵罐",有望直接作为微生物菌剂,应用于土壤改良、作物病害防控、污染治理等领域。     

微生物共发酵提高三七糠饲用价值的研究*

对白地霉Ｙ９６１０１株、绿色木霉Ｙ９６３０１株、米曲霉Ｌ９６２０１株和产朊假丝酵母Ｐ９６４０１株混合发酵三七糠生产的单细胞蛋白（ＳＣＰ）产品的饲用价值进行了研究。混菌发酵三七糠ＳＣＰ的纯蛋白质含量比发酵前提高１３０％,纤维素比发酵前降低３０．７％。小鼠急性毒性试验和微核试验均证明该产品无毒性。的饲养试验表明：三七糠ＳＣＰ产品适口性好、能降低料肉比、促进生长、具有潜在应用前景。     

发酵床中纤维素降解菌的分离与鉴定

从发酵床垫料中初步分离出43株纤维素降解菌。采用刚果红鉴别培养基及滤纸条培养基初筛,得到5株透明圈较大且使滤纸条产生崩解的菌株,通过进一步液体发酵,测定其CMC酶活、FPA酶活和天然纤维素酶活,获得2株具有较高纤维素降解活性菌株,并分别命名为F7和F21。经16S rRNA基因序列分子生物学鉴定和系统发育分析表明,这2株纤维素降解菌分别归属为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)和链霉菌(Streptomyces sp.)。     

饲用微生物的分离鉴定及其对杏鲍菇菌糠发酵的效果

【目的】菌糠的营养素含量齐全,但纤维素含量过高是阻碍其饲料化利用的主要因素。故本研究筛选适合于发酵杏鲍菇菌糠的微生物菌株,以改善其饲用品质。【方法】首先,本研究采用纤维素-刚果红、苯胺蓝和MRS-Ca (De Man, Rogosa, Sharpe-Ca)筛选培养基,结合纤维素、木质素酶活力及抑菌活性的测定,从EM (effective microorganisms)原液发酵的杏鲍菇菌糠中分离筛选具有较强纤维素、木质素降解能力及抑菌能力的细菌/真菌。通过细菌16S rRNA和真菌18S rDNA基因序列分析确定菌株所属种属。其次,将筛选出的菌株菌液等体积混合制成复合菌剂用于固态发酵杏鲍菇菌糠。测定不同发酵时长菌糠营养成分含量以确定最佳发酵时间,并与相同工艺条件下EM原液发酵的杏鲍菇菌糠进行饲用品质比较。【结果】筛选并鉴定得到纤维素酶活性较高的特基拉芽孢杆菌(Bacillus tequilensis)菌株P11、发酵毕赤酵母(Pichia fermentans)菌株R8和马克斯克鲁维应变酵母(Kluyveromyces marxianus)菌株MU5;木质素酶活性较高的解淀粉芽孢杆菌(Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp.plantarum)菌株MU7;抑菌活性较高的类肠膜魏斯氏菌(Weissella paramesenteroides)菌株R4和乳酸片球菌(Pediococcus acidilactici)菌株R9。使用以上菌株复合发酵杏鲍菇菌糠7 d后,各项指标达到稳定。与EM原液发酵的杏鲍菇菌糠相比,复合菌剂发酵杏鲍菇菌糠的NDF和ADF分别显著降低了19.6%和21.44%(P0.05);CP (crude protein)、CA (crude ash)和EE (ether extract)含量分别显著提高了10.44%、5.26%和123.53%(P0.05)。【结论】本研究筛选得到的芽孢杆菌、酵母菌和乳酸菌优势菌株复合后用于发酵杏鲍菇菌糠可以很好地改善其饲用品质,效果优于生产中常用市售EM原液。     

发酵床猪粪腐解菌群筛选

在浙江省安吉县采集了相邻的天然灌木林和板栗林土壤,分析土壤水溶性碳(WSOC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、易氧化碳(ROC)、水溶性有机氮(WSON)和微生物生物量氮(MBN),并利用核磁共振方法分析土壤总有机碳的波谱特征,研究天然灌木林改造成板栗林对土壤碳库和氮库的影响.结果表明： 天然灌木林改造成板栗林后,土壤中的碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾显著增加,而WSOC、MBC、ROC、WSON和MBN显著下降.天然灌木林和板栗林土壤有机碳以烷基碳和烷氧碳为主.天然灌木林改造成板栗林后,土壤有机碳中的烷氧碳和羰基碳比例显著下降,而烷基碳和芳香碳比例以及A/O-A值和芳香度均显著增加.天然灌木林改造成板栗林并长期集约经营后,土壤活性碳库和氮库含量均显著下降,而土壤碳库的稳定性显著增加.     

牲畜粪便与麦秆混合厌氧发酵的产气量、发酵时间及最优温度

探索牲畜粪便与作物秸秆混合发酵的产气量和发酵时间与发酵温度之间的关系,是解决农村户用沼气原料选择、确定最优发酵温度和提高农作物秸秆资源化利用效率的关键.采用可控型恒温发酵装置,以猪粪、牛粪和麦秆作为发酵原料,以常温厌氧发酵池的底物为接种物,在总固体（total solid,TS）质量分数为8%的条件下进行批量试验,研究了混合发酵的产气量、发酵时间及最优温度.结果表明：粪便与麦秆混合发酵明显提高了原料的产气效率,其中猪粪与麦秆混合发酵的累积产气量比猪粪作为单一发酵原料高24倍,而牛粪与麦杆混合发酵的累积产气量与单一牛粪无显著差异.猪粪、牛粪与麦秆混合发酵的最优温度均在30 ℃以上,发酵时间在60 d左右.厌氧发酵的发酵时间不总是随着温度的升高而缩短,单一以温度来断定厌氧发酵时间的长短是不可行的.     

Encasing mattresses in black plastic will not provide thermal control of bed bugs, Cimex spp. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

The suggestion that bed bug (Cimex spp.; Hemiptera: Cimicidae)-infested mattresses wrapped in black plastic and exposed to sunlight will be heated sufficiently to kill the bed bugs was tested. Two types of mattresses were tested: a thin mattress of solid foam rubber and a thick multilayered inner spring mattress. Temperature probes were placed on both upper and lower sides of the mattresses, which were wrapped in black plastic and placed outside on a summer day for >9 h wherein the ambient temperature peaked at 36.5 degrees C. The maximum recorded temperature on the upper (sun-exposed) sides was 85 degrees C for both mattresses, whereas lower side temperatures for the thick mattress never exceeded 35 degreesC, and some areas of the thin mattress failed to exceed 36.50C. Therefore, with published thermal death points of 40-45 degrees C depending on exposure time, and opportunities for bed bugs to avoid lethal temperatures by retreating from hot zones, this technique seems to be not suitable for bed bug management.     

Lignin and extractives derived inhibitors in the 2,3-butanediol fermentation of mannose-rich prehydrolysates

Summary Mannose, the predominant sugar in southern pine water prehydrolysates, has been fermented to 2,3-butanediol by Klebsiella pneumoniae AU-1-d3. Lignin derivatives and extractives soluble in the water prehydrolysates, however, hindered the butanediol fermentation. Treatments with sequential lime-sulfuric acid or mixed bed ion resins facilitated the butanediol fermentation of the water prehydrolysates. Fermentation inhibitors derived from southern pine lignin and extractives were identified.     

Growth and survival of bacteria implicated in sudden infant death syndrome on cot mattress materials

AIMS: To compare growth and survival of selected bacteria implicated in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) on cot mattress polyurethane (PU) inner-foams and on different types of cot mattress cover materials. METHODS AND RESULTS: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes were inoculated onto swatches of new-unused cot mattress PU inner-foam and onto three types of cot mattress covers (polyvinyl chloride, cotton and polyester). The influence of inoculation cell density, relative humidity (RH) and temperature of incubation on survival was assessed by recovery of cells in 0.85% NaCl, with viable cell enumeration by plate counting on selective and differential media. Utilization of carbon and nitrogen sources within cot mattress PU was assessed by following growth on aqueous leachate from PU, and by colorimetric determination of aromatic amines. Good survival capability (>206 d) was shown by all three test species on PU inner-foam and on polyester mattress cover at high RH (75%), but only by Staph. aureus on PU at low RH (25%). Aqueous soluble material from PU foam supports bacterial growth; removal of aromatic amines from aqueous leachate from PU accompanies growth of Staph. aureus. CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcus aureus has good survival capability on cot mattress PU foam, even at low RH. Soluble material within PU can serve as carbon and nitrogen sources for bacterial growth. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Prolonged survival of Staph. aureus on PU at low RH could explain, in the context of the common bacterial toxins hypothesis, an increased risk of SIDS associated with used infant mattresses.     

A two-phase model for water and heat transfer within an intermittently-mixed solid-state fermentation bioreactor with forced aeration

A two-phase dynamic model is developed that describes heat and mass transfer in intermittently-mixed solid-state fermentation bioreactors. The model predicts that in the regions of the bed near the air inlet there can be significant differences in the air and solid temperatures, while in the remainder of the bed the gas and solid phases are much closer to equilibrium, although there can be differences in water activity of around 0.05. The increase in the temperature of the gas as it flows through the bed means that it is impossible to prevent the bed from drying out, even if saturated air is used at the air inlet. The substrate can dry to water activities that severely limit growth, unless the bed is intermittently mixed, with the addition of water to bring the water activity back to the desired value. Under the conditions assumed for the simulation, which was designed to mimic the growth of Aspergillus niger on corn, two mixing events were necessary, one at 17.4 and the other at 27.9 h. Even though such a strategy can minimize the restriction of growth by water-limitation, temperature-limitation remains a problem due to the rapid heating dynamics. The model is obviously a useful tool that can be used to guide scale-up and to test control strategies. Such a model, describing the non-equilibrium situation between the gas and solid phases, has not previously been proposed for solid-state fermentation bioreactors. Models in the literature that assume gas-solid temperature and moisture equilibrium cannot describe the large temperature differences between the gas and solid phase which occur within the bed near the air inlet.     

Bed climate of Korean using ondol heating system

1. 1. To examine the influence of different bed conditions (ondol sleep, bed sleep on ondol with same bedding) of the Korean ondol traditional heating system on human response during sleep, bed climates and physiological responses such as skin and rectal temperatures, weight loss, body movement and subjective sensation were measured with 4 grown-up females as subjects while they were sleeping for 7 h.

2. 2. Bed climate: Temperatures under the mattress and inside the quilt were higher on ondol while temperatures on the mattress and humidity inside the quilt were higher on the bed.

3. 3. Rectal temperature was significantly higher on ondol; skin temperature showed no major differences in relation to bed conditions. The frequency of body movements had the highest correlation with bed climate of the parameters measured.

4. 4. Mattress weight decreased on ondol and increased on the bed.

5. 5. The frequency of body movements was significantly higher in ondol sleep.

6. 6. The subjects sensation showed difference on cushion sensation between the two types of bed condition.

7. 7. To obtain the same level of comfort on both ondol and bed sleeping conditions less thermal insulating value is needed for ondol sleep.

Two-stage steam gasification of waste biomass in fluidized bed at low temperature: parametric investigations and performance optimization

Steam gasification of waste biomass has been studied in a two-stage fluidized bed reactor, which has the primary pyrolysis fluidized bed using silica sand as bed material and the secondary reforming fixed bed with catalyst. The main objectives are parametric investigation and performance improvement especially at low temperature of around 600 °C using the wood chip and the pig manure compost as feedstock. Main operating variables studied are pyrolysis temperature, catalytic temperature, steam/biomass-C ratio, space velocity and different catalyst. Reaction temperatures and steam/C ratio have important role on the gasification process. About 60 vol.% H2 (dry and N2 free) and about 2.0 Nm3/kg biomass (dry and ash free basis) can be obtained under good conditions. Compared to Ni/Al2O3, Ni/BCC (Ni-loaded brown coal char) has a better ability and a hopeful prospect for the stability with coking resistance.     

A new intelligent bed care system for hospital and home patients

An intelligent bed-care system has been developed for monitoring patient movements and behavior in the hospital and at home in order to prevent injuries from falls, a major problem in health care facilities. Falls, as well as patient activity immediately preceding falls (i.e. exiting the bed), are especially dangerous when infusion extubation also occurs. This new system detects in-bed infusion fluid leaks, bleeding due to infusion-tube pullout, and urine resulting from incontinence. It employs stainless steel tape and wire noncontacting electrodes, several linear integrated circuits, and a low-power, 8-bit single-chip microcomputer The electrodes are installed between the bed mattress and sheet to record changes in an always-present alternating current (AC) voltage, which is induced on the patient's body by electrostatic coupling from a 100-V, 60-Hz alternating current power line around the bed. The microcomputer uses changes in the induced alternating current voltage to detect the patient's movements before and after leaving the bed, as well as any fluid leakage. The microcomputer alerts the nursing station, via the nurse call system or personal handy phone (PHS), that the patient is in an active state; has a dangerous posture on the bed; is contaminating the sheet due to leaking, bleeding or incontinence; or is out of bed.     

Aerial release of bacteria from cot mattress materials and the sudden infant death syndrome

AIM: To investigate aerial release of bacteria from used cot mattresses and to assess factors that may influence this process. METHODS AND RESULTS: Movement on used mattresses, simulating that of an infant's head, significantly enhanced aerial release of naturally acquired bacteria from the polyurethane foams (total count data, P = 0.008; Staphylococcus aureus, P = 0.004) or from polyvinyl chloride covers (total count data, P = 0.001). Aerial release of naturally acquired bacteria from used cot mattresses showed high variability and was poorly correlated (R2 < or = 0.294) with bacterial cell density within the materials. In experiments involving inoculation of S. aureus and Escherichia coli onto the polyurethane of unused cot mattresses, aerial release of the species correlated well (R2 > or = 0.950) with inoculation density when simulated infant head movement was applied. Aerial release of these bacterial species from the material decreased with increase in width or aqueous content of the material, and was lower from polyurethane foam of a used cot mattress. CONCLUSIONS: Simulated infant movement and mattress related factors influence aerial release of bacteria from cot mattress materials. With simulated infant movement on cot mattress polyurethane foam, levels of airborne bacteria above the material are proportional to bacterial population levels inoculated onto the material. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Cot mattresses harbouring relatively high levels of naturally acquired toxigenic bacteria, such as S. aureus, could pose a relatively high risk of infection to the infant's respiratory tract through increased aerial contamination. This has impact in the context of recent findings on cot mattress related risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome.