Objective To evaluate the microbial loading in aerosols produced after air-puff by non-contact tonometer (NCT) as well as the effect of alcohol disinfection on the inhibition of microbes and thus to provide suggestions for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in ophthalmic departments of hospitals or clinics during the great pandemics. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in this study. A NIDEK NCT was used for intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement for patients who visited Department of Ophthalmology in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University during March 18–25 2020. After ultra-violate (UV) light disinfection, the room air was sampled for 5 minutes. Before and after alcohol disinfection, the air samples and nozzle surface samples were respectively collected by plate exposure method and sterile moist cotton swab technique after predetermined times of NCT air-puff. Microbial colony counts were calculated after incubation for 48 hours. Finally, mass spectrometry was performed for the accurate identification of microbial species. Results Increased microbial colonies were detected from air samples close to NCT nozzle after air-puff compared with air samples at a distance of 1 meter from the nozzle ( p = 0.001). Interestingly, none microbes were detected on the surface of NCT nozzle. Importantly, after 75% alcohol disinfection less microbes were detected in the air beside the nozzle ( p = 0.003). Microbial species identification showed more than ten strains of microbes, all of which were non-pathogenic. Conclusion Aerosols containing microbes were produced by NCT air-puff in the ophthalmic consultation room, which may be a possible virus transmission route in the department of ophthalmology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcohol disinfection for the nozzle and the surrounding air was efficient at decreasing the microbes contained in the aerosols and theoretically this prevention measure could also inhibit the virus. This will give guidance for the prevention of virus transmission and protection of hospital staff and patients.

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Background: Bergeyella cardium infection is becoming increasingly prevalent in patients with infective endocarditis, suggesting its significance in disease pathogenesis. However, few studies have fully characterized this species. Results: Herein, we report the morphological and physiological characteristics, as well as whole genome sequencing of a newly identified B. cardium HPQL strain isolated from a patient with infective endocarditis. Results from the cellular morphology and biochemical analysis provide basic knowledge on the new pathogen. The whole genome sequencing of B. cardium HPQL consists of a circular chromosome with a total length of 2,036,890 bp. No plasmid was detected. Comparative genomics were carried out then. Antibiotics resistance related genes, pathogenesis related genes, predicted insertion sequences, genome islands and predicted CRISPRs sequences were demonstrated. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide a complete genome sequence for Bergeyella spp.Conclusions: This study provides fundamental phenotypic and genomic information for the newly identified fastidious infective endocarditis causative bacteria, B. cardium. Our results provide insights into effective clinical diagnosis and treatment of this pathogen.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 plays a crucial role in the development of the central nervous system. To explore the expression and possible role of SHP2 during the course of bacterial meningitis, this article reports a juvenile rat bacterial meningitis model established by direct intracisternal injection of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Expression of SHP2 at both mRNA and protein levels were assessed. White blood cell count and concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were also measured. In the cortex, bacterial meningitis led to a significant upregulation of mRNA encoding SHP2. SHP2 protein levels and CSF white blood cell count were positively correlated. However, there was no significant correlation between the levels of SHP2 protein and TNF-alpha concentrations in CSF. These findings do not support an essential role of SHP2 in the pathogenesis of experimental pneumoniae meningitis, but it is possible that SHP2 protein expression may be used as a marker of disease activity.