This is the first study to apply a THB grouping for Chinese Canadians. Results will provide an important basis for nutrition interventions to encourage immigrants to make healthy food choices, using both traditional and Western foods.

No abstract

A nine-laboratory collaborative study was conducted to select positive and negative quality assessment control strains for the detection of inducible clindamycin resistance in staphylococci. Four strains of Staphylococcus aureus were tested as unknowns on 10 different days in each laboratory using the recently recommended CLSI (formerly NCCLS) disk diffusion method and the inoculum purity control method. Strains contained either macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS B ) resistance genes encoded by erm(A) or erm(C) or a macrolide resistance efflux pump encoded by msr(A). Based upon the results of this study, strain UT 32 (now designated ATCC strain BAA-977) containing erm(A) is recommended as the positive control organism for inducible clindamycin resistance. Strain UT 25 (now designated ATCC BAA-976), which harbors the efflux pump encoded by msr(A), is recommended as the negative control organism.Macrolide (e.g., erythromycin), lincosamide (e.g., clindamycin), and streptogramin (e.g., quinupristin-dalfopristin) antimicrobial agents (collectively MLS agents) are widely used in the treatment of staphylococcal infections. Macrolide resistance may be due to an active efflux mechanism encoded by msr(A) (conferring resistance to macrolides and type B streptogramins but not to clindamycin) or to a ribosomal target modification that affects the activities of macrolides, lincosamides, and type B streptogramins (MLS B resistance). MLS B resistance in staphylococci is usually encoded by erm(A) or erm(C) (2, 4, 5) and can be either constitutive or inducible (MLS B i). While constitutive resistance to clindamycin can be detected by standard susceptibility testing methods, inducible clindamycin resistance is not detected by standard broth-or agar-based susceptibility test methods (8, 10). Thus, standard susceptibility tests cannot reliably differentiate msr(A) resistance (clindamycin susceptible) and MLS B i resistance (inducibly clindamycin resistant).Fiebelkorn et al. recently described a practical disk diffusion method for the detection of MLS B i strains (D-zone test) (3). It involves placing standard erythromycin and clindamycin disks in adjacent positions from 15 to 26 mm apart on a MuellerHinton agar plate when performing the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI; formerly the NCCLS) disk diffusion test. Inducible resistance to clindamycin is manifested by a flattening or blunting of the clindamycin zone of inhibition adjacent to the erythromycin disk, giving a D shape to the zone of inhibited growth. The same authors have also shown that the D-zone test can be performed by placing erythromycin and clindamycin disks 15 mm from edge to edge in the heavyinoculum area of standard blood agar plates used for purity checks with automated or broth-based susceptibility test systems (6). There is increasing interest in assessing the incidence of inducible clindamycin resistance in hospitals and the community (3, 9, 10). However, there are no standardized quality assessment strains for training and competency as...

W e've been told that it's just a matter of time before there is a bioterrorist attack in the USA. Although the probability that we will personally deal with bioterrorism is low, Louis Pasteur reminded us that "chance favors the prepared mind." Knowledge about bioterrorism can empower us to recognize it early and to protect ourselves when caring for these patients. We need to know about hospital plans for bioterrorism. The increased awareness can also help us with unique cases. For example, a few years ago at a local hospital, a person bleeding from the mouth and nose was brought into the emergency room. This person had just flown in from Africa, and a diagnosis of viral hemorrhagic fever had to be considered. There was a recent outbreak of Ebola in Uganda. Someone could flee that country and show up in our hospital with serious disease. We need to be prepared. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines bioterrorism as "the intentional use of microorganisms or toxins de

Evaluation of university-run dietetic internship programs will improve preceptors' experience and, ultimately, increase the capacity for training future dietitians. We attempted to identify preceptors' perceptions of their roles, benefits, and supports, as well as of the skills/traits that students need for internship, and suggested improvements for the internship program. Fifteen of 39 current program preceptors who had supervised more than one intern consented to participate in an ethics-approved research methodology. They responded anonymously to a series of questions posted in an online discussion group, and provided feedback on the subsequent reports. While no consensus emerged, more than 50% of participants perceived their role as providing a supportive learning experience for interns. Benefits noted most frequently were personal academic growth and contributions to their organizations from intern research projects. Effective supports included conventional communication methods and website materials. Participants identified self-motivation, independence, and communication skills as most important for interns. They also provided several suggestions for program improvements. The study methods and results could be helpful to other university-run internship programs seeking improvement and growth.