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This retrospective study was conducted to identify the incidence and characteristics associated with readmissions for surgical site infections following caesarean section in a tertiary hospital from 2012 to 2015. Of 6334 patients who underwent caesarean section, 165 (2.6%) were readmitted, most commonly for surgical site infection (25.5%, n = 42). Thirty‐seven of these patients (88%) had an emergency caesarean compared to five (12%) following an elective caesarean section. Of the women with surgical site infections, 69% were overweight and 14% had diabetes. Emergency caesarean sections were responsible for the majority of readmissions, particularly in women with co‐morbidities that predisposed them to infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Governments use numerous policy instruments to encourage both “upstream” and “downstream” sorting of residues into different recycling streams. Wood waste in particular takes up a large amount of landfill space, and its anaerobic decomposition contributes to global warming through the emission of carbon dioxide and methane. In Australia the wood residue stream, such as used pallets from the commercial and industrial sector, is of particular concern to various states and territories. Diverted wood residue can provide an important resource for use in bioenergy or biofuel production. This study attempted to identify whether there is a difference between wood separating and non-separating waste facilities. This study also attempted to determine whether there is a relationship between the amount of general (total) waste collected and variables indicating general waste generation in surrounding areas, including distance to nearest population centre, distance to nearest capital city and population “catchment” of the waste facility location. It was found that a high percentage of landfills accept wood residue (80%). The results suggest that the availability of recycling is not dependent upon the relative size of the landfill and that economies of scale are not a driving factor behind wood residue recycling opportunity, but that other factors may drive or contribute to the availability of wood residue recycling. Finally, there was no clear relationship between the amounts of general waste passing through the facilities and other variables such as distance to nearest population centres, nearest capital city and population within a given radius. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background, Aims and Scope. Harvest residues were formed into windrows to prevent nitrogen (N) losses through volatilisation and erosion that occurred following pile and burn operations in hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex A. Cunn.) plantations of subtropical Australia. We selected second rotation (2R) hoop pine sites where the windrows (10–15 m apart) had been formed 1, 2 and 3 years prior to sampling in order to examine soil carbon (C) and N in the areas beneath and between the windrows. Methods. We used conventional chemical methods, anaerobic incubation assay, 13C and 15N natural abundance analyses and, solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Results. Percent mineralisable N (PCMN) was the only parameter in the underneath windrow position at the Year 1 site that did not show a significant difference to the rest of the positions along the transect. However positions adjacent to windrows did have significantly greater PCMN at the Year 1 site than other positions along the transect. PCMN, total N and total C were significantly greater underneath the windrows at the Year 3 site, whilst δ13C was significantly more negative in the underneath windrow positions. Discussion. PCMN was the most sensitive biological indicator of the changes occurring in the soil due to decomposition of the windrows, with the beneath-windrow position having a significantly higher PCMN than the inter-windrow position (p<.0.001) at the Year 3 site. Isotopic natural abundance for both 13C and was able to detect the influx of labile materials from new residues. Solid-state 13C NMR was able to detect inputs of labile C from the windrows at the Year 1 site, whilst the increase in aromatic C at the Year 3 site was indicative of the more advanced stages of windrow decomposition. Conclusions. Decomposition of windrowed residues had a beneficial effect on soil N and C pools. However, the effect remained localised after 3 years, indicating that trees needed to be planted close to the windrows to gain any benefit from residue decomposition. Recommendations and Perspectives. The use of windrows allows a clear planting area and provides a good barrier against soil erosion. However, trees can only gain access to the nutrients from the decomposing residues if they are planted close to the windrows. Limiting the width of the cleared areas to allow for only 2 planting rows will give the maximum benefit to the developing trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Swan-Canning estuary, in southwestern Australia, is subject to frequent algal blooms and associated periods of hypoxia due to high levels of nutrients in stormwater runoff and sewage spills. Fish in which cellular respiration is impaired due to chronic exposure to non-nutrient pollutants in the water will have a reduced ability to survive these periods of high stress. In order to investigate if metabolic respiration in black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) was altered, fish were collected from five sites in the Swan-Canning estuary in summer 2001, summer 2002 and winter 2002. Aerobic and anaerobic capacities were estimated by measuring the enzymes cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Neither seasonal or annual trends, nor upstream or downstream gradients were observed in either biomarker. The fish collected from the Barrack Street site, which is close to the Perth Central Business District, were heavily challenged in their aerobic capacity in the summer months compared to the other sites. In addition, the fish at Barrack Street displayed an altered anaerobic capacity. It is likely that the impaired metabolic capacity of the fish at Barrack Street reduces the fishes'' ability to survive the frequent algal blooms within the estuary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The susceptibilities of 900 clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria to 14 antimicrobial agents were determined by an agar dilution technique. Chloramphenicol, imipenem and metronidazole were found to be active against virtually all of the strains; only a single Bacteroides fragilis isolate was resistant to both imipenem and metronidazole. The addition of clavulanic acid to amoxycillin and ticarcillin potentiated the activities of these agents against all anaerobes including members of the B. fragilis group. Ampicillin/sulbactam and clindamycin were the next most active agents, 91 and 89% of isolates respectively being susceptible. Seventy-three per cent of the bacteria tested were susceptible to cefoxitin and 65% to cefotetan, with the MICs of almost 50% of the isolates clustering between 16 and 32 mg/L. There was also clustering around the breakpoint (64 mg/L) of piperacillin. Azithromycin exhibited poor activity against the B. fragilis group; only 18% of isolates were susceptible to < or = 4 mg/L. However, 92% of non-B. fragilis Bacteroides group strains were susceptible to this agent. We conclude that imipenem, metronidazole, chloramphenicol, ticarcillin/clavulanate, co-amoxiclav and, to a lesser extent, ampicillin/sulbactam are suitable as empirical therapy for infections caused by anaerobic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]