Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Edward B Walker
Weber State University, USA
Keynote: The search for bacterial anti-adherence agents
Time : 09:10-09:50
Biography:
Edward B Walker is a Presidential Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at Weber State University. He has obtained his Doctorate in Chemistry at Texas Tech University and continued his education as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Stanford University College of Medicine in Biochemical Pharmacology. He was selected as the Founding Director for the Utah Center of Excellence for Chemical Technology in 1990. He has numerous patents and peer-reviewed publications and is active in many professional societies and organizations including the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), American Chemical Society, American Society for Pharmacognosy, The Society of Cosmetic Chemistry and others. He has received many awards, for both his teaching and research, including the Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology.
Abstract:
Bacterial infections are the foremost cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Increasing antibiotic resistance is a serious challenge to the strategy of treating bacterial infections by local or systemic use of antimicrobial agents. One promising alternative approach to the prevention of bacterial infections focuses on inhibiting pathogen adhesion to host cells. The search for novel bacterial anti-adherence agents has grown dramatically in recent years. Inter-disciplinary research teams formed from a wide variety of physical and life scientists, clinicians, engineers and others have accelerated the discoveries in this arena. The majority of anti-adherence agents reported to date have been discovered in foods. Some of these food-derived compounds exert their effects in the oral cavity, stomach, intestines, and the urinary tract. To identify these active components, fruits, berries, seeds, tubers, and whole plants are often extracted into solvents, followed by subsequent partitioning into fractions that are then subjected to an assortment of assays. Some assays are based upon direct microscopic observation of bacterial adhesion, while others depend on model systems or bioassays that measure the effects of adherence antagonists. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) extracts are the source of the most extensively studied anti-adhesive components to date. Since the discovery of proanthocyanidins anti-adherence activity two decades ago, published accounts of research on cranberry’s anti-adherence activity have increased exponentially as has the availability of commercial cranberry products. Numerous other foods are being studied for ingredients and similar activities. The history of the discovery of cranberry’s active ingredients will be described, in hopes of stimulating more research into the discovery of more novel anti-adherence agents.
Fig: 1 Proanthocyanidins.
Keynote Forum
Huang Wei Ling
Medical Acupuncture and Pain Management Clinic, Brazil
Keynote: Is it possible to treat community-acquired and nosocomial infections with the same method, without the use of antibiotics?
Time : 09:50-10:30
Biography:
Huang Wei Ling, born in Taiwan, raised and graduated in medicine in Brazil, specialist in infectious and parasitic diseases, a General Practitioner and Parenteral and Enteral Medical Nutrition Therapist. Once in charge of the Hospital Infection Control Service of the City of Franca’s General Hospital, she was responsible for the control of all prescribed antimicrobial medication and received an award for the best paper presented at the Brazilian Hospital Infection Control Congress in 1998. Since 1997, she has been presenting her work worldwide, concerning the treatment of various diseases, using techniques based on several medical traditions around the world.
Abstract:
The difference between community-acquired and nosocomial infections is that community-acquired infections are defined as infections contracted outside of a health-care environment. Nosocomial infections, on the other hand, are those contracted after the patient’s admission and not incubated before hospitalization. In addition, the microorganisms potentially causing community infections are generally more sensitive to antimicrobials, as opposed to nosocomial infections, which are generally caused by multi-resistant bacteria. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that community-acquired and nosocomial infections can be treated with the same approach and without the administration of antibiotics. The method used was to include older medicine theories such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and three case reports of community-acquired infection compared to another three cases of nosocomial infection. All six cases were treated with the same method, by balancing the Yin, Yang, Qi and Blood, removing the Internal Heat using auricular acupuncture, and using energy based Chinese dietary reorientation. Findings: All cases of community-acquired and nosocomial infection reported in this study improved uniquely with the treatment administrated with no prescription of antimicrobials and the use of these drugs themselves was generating the energy imbalance that maintained the infectious process. Conclusion: Based on these six clinical reports, we can use the same method to treat community-acquired and nosocomial infection. This research was based on the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which indicated that these diseases came from the same roots, and therefore could be treated with the same method
Keynote Forum
Jos van der Vossen
TNO Quality of Life, Netherlands
Keynote: In vitro fermentation of selected prebiotics and their effects on the composition and activity of the adult gut microbiota
Time : 10:30-11:10
Biography:
Jos van der Vossen completed his PhD at Groningen University in 1988. During Postdoctoral Position he was involved in development of host-vector systems for optimizing bacterial strains for fermentation. Currently, he is about 30 years Scientist/Project Leader at TNO where, he is focussing on microbiome targeting interventions supporting human and animal heatlh.
Abstract:
TNO’s intestinal screening platform, the i-screen, is a versatile preclinical model allowing for determining modulatory effects of substances including prebiotics on the gut microbiota composition and activity. The presentation will elaborate on how this ex-vivo platform directs new opportunities for selection of beneficial susbstances like prebiotics that promote a healthy gut microbiota. The established protocols for collecting, handling and maintenance of fecal microbiota under anaerobic conditions ensuring viabilitiy and activity of bacteria are the elementary prerequisites for success of the i-screen. The gut microbiota from diverse population groups, e.g. adults, infants, obese, elderly as well as from diseased individuals support a tailored and if required a personalized approach. In addition, pathogenic species such as Clostridium difficile, C. perfringens, and other enteropathogens can be included in the microbiota to study ecological effects and potential interventions. The read out of the system is highly informative and a basis for decision making with regard to follow-up intervention studies. Effects on the composition of the microbiota, effects on pathogenic bacteria, metabolic activity as well as gene expression can be determined successfully. Such allows also for mode of action studies. By using the i-screen platform, effects of inulin, XOS, GOS, lactulose, HMO and hemp extracts on the gut microbiota were studied. Effects of prebiotics on extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli in the presence of antibiotics will also be discussed. Personal differences in microbiota composition and responses to antibiotics and prebiotics will also be highlighted.
- Workshop
Location: Armstrong
Session Introduction
Huang Wei Ling
Medical Acupuncture and Pain Management Clinic, Brazil
Title: Can metallic surgical implants influence the body’s health?
Biography:
Huang Wei Ling, born in Taiwan, raised and graduated in medicine in Brazil, specialist in infectious and parasitic diseases, a General Practitioner and Parenteral and Enteral Medical Nutrition Therapist. Once in charge of the Hospital Infection Control Service of the City of Franca’s General Hospital, she was responsible for the control of all prescribed antimicrobial medication and received an award for the best paper presented at the Brazilian Hospital Infection Control Congress in 1998. Since 1997, she has been presenting her work worldwide, concerning the treatment of various diseases, using techniques based on several medical traditions around the world.
Abstract:
The necessity of surgical implants use is a consequence of the increase of life expectancy. Therefore, there is a range of studies regarding the implant materials and their interactions. However, those studies are carried out analysing the factory and interaction of materials, and often, they do not consider the effects of those materials in the normal functioning of the human body
Lunch Break 12:15-13:05 @ Hotel Restaurants
- Microorganisms in Pharmaceutical Industry | Biotechnology Outbreak | Pharamceutical Microbiology | Biosensors and their Application in Healthcare | Microorganisms in Pharmaceutical Industry
Location: Armstrong
Chair
Jos van der Vossen
TNO Quality of Life, Netherlands
Session Introduction
Mai Mohammed Al-Ghanem
Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar
Title: The marine environment, a novel source of antimicrobial metabolites
Time : 13:05-13:30
Biography:
Mai Mohammed Al-Ghanem has completed her PhD at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. She works as a Biological Researcher in the Biotechnology Department (Agriculture research) at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment in Doha, Qatar. Her background includes Marine Microbiology and Molecular Biology.
Abstract:
Modern medicine relies heavily on antibiotics to combat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to humanity and a challenge to modern medicine. The development of new antimicrobials is urgently needed before the current antibiotics used become compromised by antibiotic resistance. Microbial species of natural environments are a rich source of novel compounds and secondary metabolites with unique bioactive properties and an excellent ground for investigation for future drug discovery and the expansion of the pharmaceutical pipeline.
Denis Rajnovic
University of Barcelona, Spain
Title: Fast phage detection and quantification: An optical density-based approach
Time : 13:30-13:55
Biography:
I'm a third year PhD student enrolled at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Spain. Here at UAB, I'm a part of the microbial biosensor group in which we tend to develop sensitive, cheap and fast detection tools for industrial or public health applications. My work is to develop microbial detection and quantification methods in clear and turbid media or on paper, by using optical, colorimetric or fluorescence readings. Also, I'm part of a diagnostic group at the University Hospital of Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. Here, the focus is to develop diagnostic and monitoring tools for infectious microorganisms. My role is to implement and optimize different colorimetric or fluorescent immunological assays for virus detection and to make it as sensitive and fast as possible. During the academic year, I hold practical classes in basic microbiology for the UAB students
Abstract:
Since 1959 with the proposal of Double Agar Layer (DAL) method for phage detection and quantification, many sophisticated methods have emerged meanwhile. However, many of them are either too complex/expensive or insensitive to replace routine utilization of DAL method in clinical, environmental and industrial environments. For that purpose, we have explored an alternative method for the detection and quantification of bacteriophages that fulfills the criteria of being rapid, simple and inexpensive. In this paper we have developed a method based on the analysis of optical density kinetics in bacterial cultures exposed to phage-containing samples. Although the decrease in optical density caused by cell lysis was one of the first observable consequences of the effect of viral infection in bacterial cultures, the potential of the method for the assessment of phage abundance has never been fully exploited. In this work we carry out a detailed study of optical density kinetics in phage-infected bacterial cultures, as a function of both, phage abundance and initial concentration of the host organisms. In total, 90 different combinations of bacteria/phage concentrations have been used. The data obtained provide valuable information about sensitivity ranges, duration of the assay, percentages of inhibition and type of lysing behavior for each phage concentration. The method described can detect, as few as 10 phage particles per assay volume after a phage incubation period of 3.5h. The duration of the assay can be shortened to 45 min at the expense of losing sensitivity and increasing the limit of detection to 108 pfu/ml. Despite using non-sophisticated technology, the method described has shown sensitivity and response time comparable to other high-end methods. The simplicity of the technology and of the analytical steps involved, make the system susceptible of miniaturization and automation for high-throughput applications which can be implemented in routine analysis in many environments.
Kohei Oda
Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan
Title: A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly (ethylene terephthalate) and its enzymes involved in the degradation
Time : 13:55-14:20
Biography:
Kohei Oda has obtained his MS degree at the University of Osaka Prefecture (UOP) in 1969, and PhD in 1975. He worked at UOP as an Assistant, and as an Associate Professor. He moved to the Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT) as a Professor in 1992. His scientific fields of interest are Applied Microbiology and Applied Biochemistry. In 2007, KIT awarded him the status of Professor Emeritus. He worked as a Visiting Professor at the Universidad Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2007, and at Khon Kaen University, Thailand in 2009. He received an Award from Nikkei Business Publications, Inc in 1997. Since 2016, he has become a Fellow of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. His main contributions are discoveries of novel families of peptidases, sedolisins and eqolisins. His ongoing interests are not only sedolisins and eqolisins, but also microbial hydrolytic enzymes involved in degradation of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET).
Abstract:
Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is used extensively worldwide in plastic products, and its accumulation in the environment has become a global concern. Because the ability to enzymatically degrade PET for microbial growth has been limited to a few fungal species, biodegradation is not yet a viable remediation or recycling strategy. By screening natural microbial communities exposed to PET in the environment, we isolated a novel bacterium, Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 that is able to use PET as its major energy and carbon source. When grown on PET, this strain produces two enzymes capable of hydrolyzing PET and the reaction intermediate, mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalic acid (MHET). Both enzymes are required to enzymatically convert PET efficiently into its two environmentally benign monomers, terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.
Figure 1: PET Degradation Systems
Segula Masaphy
MIGAL Galilee Research Institute, Israel
Title: Medicinal mushroom as a source for anti-Leishmanial activity
Time : 14:20-14:45
Biography:
Segula Masaphy has expertise in fungal, mainly mushroom, ecology and biotechnology, including the study of their secondary metabolites bioactivities. Her studies includes the use of fungal cultures for isolating health promoting metabolites, where in earlier project a new antifungal compound belong to the echinocandins group was isolated from a newly isolated Fusarium strain. Currently, her research focuses on biotechnology of the Morchella edible mushroom and its exploitation.
Abstract:
Statement of the Problem: Leishmaniasis is an important infectious disease, caused by a range of Leishmania species, multi-host protozoa parasites transmitted to humans by the sand fly and infecting macrophages. It is an increasing worldwide health problem, including the Mediterranean basin and Israel. Current chemotherapy treatments are limited by their toxic effect, need for long treatment and increasing development of resistance of the parasite cells. Thus, the development of alternative therapies is considered, including the use of herbal and mushroom products. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of extracts from the edible Morchella mushroom on Leishmania survival and growth in in-vitro system.
Methodology: Extracts from the mushroom fruiting bodies as well as mycelial cultures were applied into in vitro growth system of Leishmania tropica and L. major promastigote stage cells and their proliferation and survival were determined. Also the toxicity of the extracts against human macrophages was studied. Several fractionation steps of a crude extract were conducted obtaining an aqueous mushroom extract, 80% ethanol fraction, water-soluble polysaccharide fraction and polyphenolic fraction, all were compared.
Findings: All four extracts showed anti-leishmanial activity, with the aqueous extract being the most active. The inhibition activity exhibited dose-dependent Leishmania killing activity with no recovery of the cells was recorded after exposure to the mushroom extract. No cytotoxic activity against human macrophages at the same extract concentrations was recorded.
Hafiza Noreen
National Textile University, Pakistan
Title: Evaluation of antifungal and antibacterial activity of aerial parts of Coronopus didymus against phytopathogens
Time : 14:45-15:10
Biography:
Hafiza Noreen has her expertise in LC/MS screening, identification of specific compounds from plant extracts, cytotoxic screening, antimicrobial, antioxidant screening as well as identification (MS) and structural determination (NMR) of novel compounds which showed antiâ€cancer activity. She is proficient in tissue culture and a range of analytical techniques including Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS), LC/MS/MS and Spectrophotometry. This work belongs to her Ph.D Thesis. She has published three papers from her Ph.D work in reputed international journals.
Abstract:
Fungi and bacteria are the most important phytopathogens that infect many plants in terms of growth and productivity, thereby causing significant economic losses in agriculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activity of various extracts of Coronopus didymus against phytopathogens. Phytochemicals of the aerial parts of C. didymus were extracted by maceration using solvents of different polarity. The ethanol extract was further fractionated to afford three flavones (1-3) by size exclusion chromatography. The antifungal and antibacterial susceptibility of various solvent extracts, fractions and isolated flavones was determined using poisoned food technique and disc diffusion method, respectively, against three fungi (Macrophomina phaseolina, Colletotrichum falcatum and Alternaria solani) and two bacteria (Streptomyces scabies and Xanthomonas campestris). Most effective antifungal and antibacterial activities were recorded for ethanol extract of C. didymus against M. phaseolina (percentage inhibition =87.8%) and X. campestris (zone of inhibition =14 mm), respectively. Compound 3 (5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxy flavone) showed largest percentage inhibition (86.7%) against A. solani, which was even higher than the chemical fungicide, propineb (83.3%). Compound 3 depicted largest zone of inhibition (15 mm) against X. campestris, which was even higher than the chemical bactericides viz., bismerthiazole and kasugamycin, with inhibition zone of 11 mm and 14 mm, respectively. In conclusion, the isolated flavones are potent antifungal and antibacterial agents with broad spectrum of activity against phytopathogens.
Muhammad Shahid Khan
NovaMed Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd., Pakistan
Title: Validation of aseptic processes by media fill
Time : 15:25-15:50
Biography:
Mr. Muhammad Shahid Khan has got more than 18 years of experience in Pharmaceutical Industry at different positions. He is currently working as Plant Manager in NovaMed Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd, a local firm but also manufacturing products for many multinational companies like Sanofi aventis, ICI, Getz Pharma and Searle. He is expert in product and process development and validation. He has developed many products. He has attended many training workshops, exhibitions and technical seminars in Pakistan and abroad.
Abstract:
The validation of aseptic processing is carried out by media fill (also known as process simulation, simulated product fills, broth trials, broth fills etc). The media fill is a technique in which a liquid microbiological growth medium is prepared and filled in place of actual product in a simulation of normal manufacturing process. This process normally includes exposing the microbiological growth medium to product contact surfaces of equipment, container closure systems, critical environments, and process manipulations to closely simulate the same exposure that the product itself will undergo. The final containers are then incubated and checked for microbial growth. Results are then interpreted to assess the potential for a unit of drug product to become contaminated during actual operations (e.g., start-up, sterile ingredient additions, aseptic connections, filling, closing). The purpose of media fill study is to validate that the processes, systems, environment, container closure system, practices, equipment, personnel etc. are capable of producing a sterile product in a consistent and reproducible manner. The medium used should support the growth of a wide variety of microorganisms, including aerobic bacteria, yeasts and moulds (non-selective medium). Mostly Soybean Casein Digest Medium (SCD) also known as tryptone soya broth (TSB) is used.
- Clinical Immunology | Mucosal Immunology | Vaccines and Immunization | Infectious Diseases
Location: Armstrong
Chair
Huang Wei Ling
Medical Acupuncture and Pain Management Clinic, Brazil
Session Introduction
Huang Wei Ling
Medical Acupuncture and Pain Management Clinic, Brazil
Title: How can we treat recurrent herpes virus infection without the use of antiviral drugs?
Time : 15:50-16:15
Biography:
Huang Wei Ling, born in Taiwan, raised and graduated in medicine in Brazil, specialist in infectious and parasitic diseases, a General Practitioner and Parenteral and Enteral Medical Nutrition Therapist. Once in charge of the Hospital Infection Control Service of the City of Franca’s General Hospital, she was responsible for the control of all prescribed antimicrobial medication and received an award for the best paper presented at the Brazilian Hospital Infection Control Congress in 1998. Since 1997, she has been presenting her work worldwide, concerning the treatment of various diseases, using techniques based on several medical traditions around the world.
Abstract:
Ayako Wakabayashi
Nippon Medical School, Japan
Title: HMGB1 released from damaged intestinal epithelia contributes to activation of mucosal DCs and induction of intestinal CTLs and IgA
Time : 16:15-16:40
Biography:
Ayako Wakabayashi is a Senior Assistant Professor in Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Nippon Medical School, Tokyo Japan since 2016. She has completed her PhD and postdoctoral studies as a research resident from Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Her research interests lie in the area of mucosal immunology in the digestive tract, sensitization to food allergy, and gastrointestinal infectious diseases. She is the instructor for immunology, Allergology, food Hygienics, and nutrition.
Abstract:
Cholera toxin (CT) is a potent mucosal adjuvant and oral administration of antigens plus intact CT but not CTA or CTB subunit induces antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs as well as IgA production in intestinal mucosa; however, mechanisms for the induction of these immune responses remain unknown. We attempted to examine whether oral administration of CT induces enhancement of intestinal cell death and release of HMGB1. The number of viable intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) was remarkably reduced and the number of dying AnnexinV+ 7-AAD+ cells was significantly increased in EpCAM+ IECs at 16 h after the oral administration of intact CT, compared to the group with oral CTA or CTB subunit. Then, we observed a significant increase of the fecal HMGB1 levels at 6 and 16 h after the oral CT-stimulation compared to other groups. After that, we tried to examine whether cytoplasmic HMGB1+ IECs are increased by the oral CT-stimulation. The cytoplasmic HMGB1+ IECs were significantly increased by the oral CT-stimulation and they were EpCAM+CD45- IECs. HMGB1 dose-dependently enhanced the expression of CD80 and CD86 on DCs in vitro, and intravenous or oral administration of glycyrrhizin, an HMGB1 inhibitor, significantly suppressed activation of mucosal DCs, induction of intestinal CTLs and IgA, and DTH responses by oral CT-stimulation. Taken together, these results suggest that oral administration of intact CT but not CTA or CTB subunit triggers epithelial cell death in the gut and the release of HMGB1 from damaged IECs and that the released HMGB1 may mediate activation of mucosal DCs and induction of CTLs and IgA in the intestine.
Shirin Tarafder
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh
Title: Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of clinically diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in a Bangladeshi patient population
Time : 16:40-17:05
Biography:
Dr.Shirin Tarafder has completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the age of 24 years from Dhaka University and Master of Philosophy in Medical Microbiology from Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research, Bangladesh. She is associate professor in the department of Microbiology and Immunology, Bangabandhu sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh. She has published 23 papers in reputed journals. She is life member of Bangladesh Society of Medical Microbiologist and Bangladesh Society of Pathologist
Abstract:
Introduction
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) is a clonal B-cell neoplasm of mature cells whose diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, cell morphology and Immunophenotyping. It is generally accepted that any lymphocytosis superior to 5000/cmm in an adult person and without any other evident cause , must raise the suspicion of a CLL diagnosis. The most reliable methodology for the diagnosis of CLL is Immunophenotyping by Flow Cytometric.
Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of multipara metric Flow Cytometry Immunophenotyping (FCI) as a standard methodology for the confirmation of or exclusion of CLL diagnosis in clinically suspected CLL patients.
Patients and Methods
Four colour flow cytometry multipara metric immunophenotyping method was used in EDTA peripheral blood samples taken from 25 consecutive patients diagnosed preliminary as CLL through clinical data, complete blood count, peripheral blood film and bone marrow examination. The following fluorescent monoclonal antibodies were used: CD19, CD5, CD20, CD22, CD23, CD79b, CD79a, FMC7, Kappa and Lambda light chains, CD10, CD11c, CD3, CD7, CD25, CD30, CD56, CD95, BCL2, and CD34. Marker of immaturity CD34 was added to exclude blast cells. The flow cytometric analysis was performed on a Beckman coulter cytomics FC500 flow cytometer using software CXP to analyze data. Appropriate isotype control studies to determine background fluorescence were also used.
Result
Among 25 patients, 4(16%) showed normal T-cell population (CD3+,CD5+,CD7+), while 21(84%) showed pathological B-cell lines. From these, 16(64%) of 25 patients expressed typical CLL markers (CD19+,CD5
,CD23, FMC7-, Kappa or Lambda light chain restriction) whilst 5(20%) of them showed B-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia profile (CD19+,CD5+/-,CD23-,FMC7+, Kappa or Lambda light chain restriction).
Conclusion
Flow cytometry immunophenotyping is a fundamental laboratory method without which final diagnosis of CLL cannot be established.
Frederic J. Deschamps
University Hospital of Reims, France
Title: Flu vaccination and working population
Time : 17:05-17:30
Biography:
Frederic J. Deschamps, is Medical doctor (Lille- France University in 1990) He is PhD in Occupational Toxicology for 1993. He was nominated professor of Medicine in 2002. He has improved for the last 20 years the Department of Occupational Diseases of the University Hospital of Reims (Champagne County). He manages for 1995 the Regional Institute of Occupational Health. He belongs to the French National University College of Occupational Researches and Practionners. He has focused his work an occupational infectious diseases and health effects of low doses toxics with long term exposure
Abstract:
Flu is a pandemic infection. The virus is easily transmissible. The risk can be reduced by vaccination. In most workplaces employees with flu continue to work and could contaminate a lot of people including colleagues, customers, and patients. A major problem for workers infected by flu is their general perception of this disease. Today there is still considerable ignorance about risks of contracting this infection. Flu is not confined to certain risk groups. It concerns all the workers belonging to all industrial and commercial sectors. The virus is a contamination problem that can be easily prevented by actions in the workplace. At the beginning, individuals contaminated by flu are asymptomatic for few days. The annual incidence of flu concerning the working population is very high. The professional cost of this disease is significant. Lack of accurate information in workplace is evident. It is important to assess the perception of workers to be at risk of being infected. Few companies have policies relative to flu infection and contamination. Workplace education programs need involvement of all the relevant parties including occupational health professionals, human resources, specialist and other concerned with staff training. The aim is to propose an update concerning the best way to increase protection against flu at work.
- Special Session
Location: Armstrong
Session Introduction
Huang Wei Ling
Medical Acupuncture and Pain Management Clinic, Brazil
Title: How many resources are wasted in the treatment of nosocomial infections and how much could we save if they were completely controlled?
Time : 17:30-18:00
Biography:
Huang Wei Ling, born in Taiwan, raised and graduated in medicine in Brazil, specialist in infectious and parasitic diseases, a General Practitioner and Parenteral and Enteral Medical Nutrition Therapist. Once in charge of the Hospital Infection Control Service of the City of Franca’s General Hospital, she was responsible for the control of all prescribed antimicrobial medication and received an award for the best paper presented at the Brazilian Hospital Infection Control Congress in 1998. Since 1997, she has been presenting her work worldwide, concerning the treatment of various diseases, using techniques based on several medical traditions around the world.