Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) represent a severe systemic threat to patients admitted in ICUs and contribute to increased mortality, prolonged length of stay in ICUs, and increased costs. The majority of CLABSIs are preventable. The current systematic review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of educational methods on CLABSI rates in adult ICUs. A systematic literature search was conducted using the electronic databases of Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Plus, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for studies published from the beginning of 1995 to March 2020. The terms used for the search were as follows: central venous catheters, infection, central line-associated bloodstream infections, intensive care unit, and education intervention in all possible combinations and using the word ‘and’ between them. Data were extracted independently and crosschecked by two authors using a standard data collection form. The quality of the studies included in the review was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS). The current systematic review included 27 interventional studies of central line insertion or maintenance or both in adult ICU settings with documentation of the CLABSI incidence expressed per 1,000 catheter days. A large deviation between the length of time and type of educational interventions was found. Statistical significance was found in all studies (except one) in terms of CLABSI reduction despite the large variation of the length or the type of the educational intervention. Continuing education on infection prevention may be necessary to maintain the post-intervention results and improve clinical outcomes.

The Cu(II) adsorption from aqueous solutions by magnetic biochar obtained from pine needles has been studied by means of batch-type experiments. The biochar fibers have been magnetized prior (pncm: carbonized-magnetized pine needles) and after oxidation (pncom: carbonized-oxidized-magnetized pine needles) and have been used as adsorbents to study the presence of carboxylic moieties on the magnetization and following adsorption process. The effect of pH (2–10), initial metal concentration (10−5–9·10−3 mol·L−1) and contact time (0–60 min) has been studied by varying the respective parameter, and the adsorbents have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements prior and after Cu(II)-adsorption. FTIR measurements were performed to investigate the formation of surface species and XRD measurements to record possible solid phase formation and characterize formed solids, including the evaluation of their average crystal size. The data obtained from the batch-type studies show that the oxidized magnetic biochar (pncom) presents significantly higher adsorption capacity (1.0 mmol g−1) compared to pncm (0.4 mmol g−1), which is ascribed to the synergistic effect of the carboxylic moieties present on the pncom surface, and the adsorption process follows the pseudo-second order kinetics. On the other hand, the FTIR spectra prove the formation of inner-sphere complexes and XRD diffractograms indicate Cu(II) solid phase formation at pH 6 and increased metal ion concentrations.

The effectiveness of Prussian Blue in reducing the radiocesium contamination in ovine tissues was investigated. Five ewes were fed 137Cs-contaminated wheat for 30 d. When the 137Cs concentration in milk had reached equilibrium, one animal, serving as the control, was slaughtered and the activity in its tissues was measured. Two ewes were offered daily 1 g of Prussian Blue labeled with 59Fe in the Fe(III) position, outside the complex anion. One week after the administration of Prussian Blue, these animals were slaughtered, 1 wk apart, and the level of 137Cs in their tissues was measured. Comparing the concentration of 137Cs in the blood and tissues of the Prussian Blue treated animals to the corresponding concentrations measured in the control, a considerable reduction in the radiocesium activity concentration is observed. However, 137Cs concentrations are maintained at non-zero (about 20%) values in the first 2 wk after the administration of Prussian Blue. This observation can be attributed to the fact that most of 137Cs binds to Prussian Blue in the animals' digestive tracts and the measured activity concentrations follow the elimination of cesium from tissues. Using a two-compartment mathematical model, we can predict the level of 137Cs in tissue, following the administration of Prussian Blue. Labeling Prussian Blue in the Fe(III)-position resulted in the measurement of a (2.4 +/- 0.02) % retention of Fe(III) in sheep.