Journal reports on MRSA eradication

Two common strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, were virtually eradicated in the laboratory by exposing them to a wavelength of blue light, in a process called photo-irradiation that is described in a paper published online ahead of print in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery (New Rochelle, New York). The article will appear in the April 20 issue of the peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc. The paper is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/pho

The authors report that the higher the dose of 470-nm blue light, the more bacteria were killed. High-dose photo-irradiation was able to destroy 90.4% of the US-300 colonies and the IS-853 colonies. The effectiveness of blue light in vitro suggests that it should also be effective in human cases of MRSA infection, and particularly in cutaneous and subcutaneous infections.

New glucose monitoring study published

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI; Wayne Pennsylvania) recently published Performance Metrics for Continuous Interstitial Glucose Monitoring; Approved Guideline (POCT05-A), which provides recommendations for methods for determining analytical and clinical metrics of continuous interstitial glucose monitors (CGMs).

CGMs are medical devices that measure glucose in the interstitial fluid just under the skin. CGM offer patients the potential of monitoring their glucose and managing insulin levels without repeated fingersticks. CGM technology has the potential to revolutionize diabetes management by providing real-time information not only about current glucose level, but also about time-dependent characteristics of glucose fluctuation, in particular about the short-term or instantaneous glucose rate and direction of change.

CLSI is a global, nonprofit, membership-based organization specializing in standards and guidelines for the healthcare and medical testing community.