Inferred amino acid sequences of the methyl coenzyme-M reductase (mcrA) gene from five different methanogen species were aligned and two regions with a high degree of homology flanking a more variable region were identified. Analysis of the DNA sequences from the conserved regions yielded two degenerate sequences from which a forward primer, a 32-mer, and a reverse primer, a 23-mer, could be derived for use in the specific PCR-based detection of methanogens. The primers were successfully evaluated against 23 species of methanogen representing all five recognized orders of this group of Archaea, generating a PCR product between 464 and 491 bp. Comparisons between the mcrA and 16S small subunit rRNA gene sequences using PHYLIP demonstrated that the tree topologies were strikingly similar. Methods were developed to enable the analysis of methanogen populations in landfill using the mcrA gene as the target. Two landfill sites were examined and 63 clones from a site in Mucking, Essex, and 102 from a site in Odcombe, Somerset, were analysed. Analysis revealed a far greater diversity in the methanogen population within landfill material than has been seen previously.

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One strain of a thermophilic, slightly halotolerant bacterium was isolated from a thermally polluted industrial runoff near Salisbury, United Kingdom. This organism, strain PRD-lT (T = type strain), for which we propose the name Rubrobacter xylanophilus sp. nov., produces short gram-positive rods and coccoid cells and forms pink colonies. The optimum growth temperature is approximately 60°C. Unusual internal branchedchain fatty acids (namely, 12-methylhexadecanoic acid and 14-methyloctadecanoic acid) make up the major acyl chains of the lipids. The results of our 16s rRNA sequence comparisons showed that strain PRD-lT is related to Rubrobacter radiotolerans and that these two organisms form a deep evolutionary line of descent within the gram-positive Bacteria.Over the past 20 years the microbiology of thermophiles has been dominated by the isolation and characterization of thermophilic Archaea species, many of which grow at extreme temperatures. During this time, however, many new thermophilic Bacteria species, several belonging to the gram-positive phylum, have been isolated from a wide range of thermal environments. The majority of the thermophilic gram-positive Bacteria species that have been described belong to the genera Bacillus, Alicyclobacillus, and Clostridium and other recently proposed genera, some of which were formerly included in the genus Clostridium (3,5,18,28,33,40).The species Rubrobacter radiotolerans, which was initially named Arthrobacter radiotolerans, was described on the basis of one strain isolated from a hot spring in Japan after gamma irradiation of water samples (35,44). R. radiotolerans is gram positive, has an optimum growth temperature of about 48"C, and forms short pleomorphic rod-shaped cells. It is also highly radiotolerant and possesses unique internally branched fatty acids.A pink-pigmented strain was recently isolated from a thermally polluted runoff from a carpet factory in the United Kingdom. This organism is more thermophilic than R. radiotolerans and also possesses unusual branched-chain fatty acids. On the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics, chemotaxonomic parameters, and 16s rRNA gene sequence data, we propose that this organism, strain PRD-lT (T = type strain), belongs to a new species, Rubrobacter xylanophilus. MATERIALS AND METHODSIsolation of strain PRD-IT. Strain PRD-lT was isolated from thermally polluted runoff (temperature, 50°C) from a carpet factory in Wilton, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. This strain was isolated by spreading a biofilm sample with a glass rod on tryptone soya agar. After incubation at 50°C for 5 days, one pinkpigmented colony appeared on a culture plate and was purified on the same medium. R. radiotolerans DSM 46359T was obtained from the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Braunschweig, Germany. Strains PRD-lT and DSM 46359T were routinely grown in Thermus medium containing 1.0 g of yeast extract per liter and 1.0 g of tryptone medium (41) per liter and were stored at -80°C in the same medium containing 1...

Simulation exercises are an important part of emergency preparedness activities for the healthcare community but evidence of their impact on the response to real major incidents is limited. This project studied the impact of health emergency preparedness exercises (HEPEs) on the response to a mass casualty terrorist incident. The mixed methods study design was adopted comprising an on-line survey and follow up individual interviews. Participants were healthcare staff who took part in responses to three major terrorist incidents in the UK in 2017. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were undertaken with quantitative data. Content and thematic analysis methods were used for qualitative data analysis. The online survey generated 86 responses; 79 (92%) were from the responders to the Manchester Arena bombing. Twenty-one survey respondents shared their experiences in in-depth interviews. Healthcare staff who took part in HEPEs felt better prepared to respond than those who did not attend an exercise. The most commonly reported benefits from HEPEs were awareness of major incident plans and having the opportunity to practice responding to a similar scenario in the recent exercise. Specific benefits included: improved coordination of the response through adherence to recently practiced incident plans ; confidence with response roles; real-time modifications of the response and support provided to staff who did not take part in exercises. Exercise recency was highlighted as an important facilitating factor. The study provides strong objective evidence that the response to a mass casualty terrorist incident was enhanced by training and service development achieved through HEPEs.

IntroductionSystem learning from major incidents is a crucial element of improving preparedness for response to any future incidents. Sharing good practice and limitations stimulates further actions to improve preparedness and prevents duplicating mistakes.MethodsThis convergent parallel mixed methods study comprises data from responses to an online survey and individual interviews with healthcare staff who took part in the responses to three terrorist incidents in the UK in 2017 (Westminster Bridge attack, Manchester Arena Bombing and London Bridge attack) to understand limitations in the response and share good practices.ResultsThe dedication of NHS staff, staff availability and effective team work were the most frequently mentioned enabling factors in the response. Effective coordination between teams and a functional major incident plan facilitated an effective response. Rapid access to blood products, by positioning the blood bank in the ED, treating children and parents together and sharing resources between trauma centres were recognised as very effective innovative practices. Recent health emergency preparedness exercises (HEPEs) were valued for preparing both Trusts and individual staff for the response. Challenges included communication between ambulance services and hospitals, difficulties with patient identification and tracking and managing the return to ‘normal’ work patterns post event. Lack of immediately available clinical protocols to deal with blast injuries was the most commonly mentioned clinical issue. The need for psychosocial support for responding and supporting staff was identified.DiscussionBetween-agencies communication and information sharing appear as the most common recurring problems in mass casualty incidents (MCIs). Recent HEPEs, which allowed teams, interdisciplinary groups, and different agencies to practice responding to similar simulated incidents, were important and informed actions during the real response. Immediate and delayed psychosocial support should be in place for healthcare staff responding to MCIs.