title: Achieving asepsis of banana leaves for the management of toxic epidermal necrolysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Banana leaf is used in many centers in India during the care of patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and other extensive blistering disorders. Sepsis is an important cause of death in TEN patients and use of banana leaf may be a source of such infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted this study to detect the bacterial flora of the banana leaf and to examine various methods of rendering the leaf aseptic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five pieces of banana leaf, 2 x 2 cm in size, were cultured separately in blood agar as follows: One piece was heated over a flame and one was soaked in boiling water and one was autoclaved. Methylated spirit was applied over one piece and ignited. One piece was placed on the media, 'as is.' The Petri dishes were incubated examined after 48 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the pieces except the autoclaved specimen of the leaf grew coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) when aseptic precautions were not maintained and aerobic spore bearers when all aseptic measures were subsequently instituted during the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend measures to prevent possible transmission of bacterial infection by the leaf. Autoclaved and aseptically handled banana leaves may be used to reduce chance of infection in the treatment of TEN.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. srini_cr_1955@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Srinivas
authors.forename: V Shanmuga
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Sundaram
authors.forename: B Appala
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.forename: S Karthick
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thirumurthy
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
mesh_terms: D001207:Asepsis / Q000379:methods*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D028521:Musa; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*