Articles

A hospital-wide outbreak of IMI-17-producing Enterobacter ludwigii in an Israeli hospital

To describe the course and intervention of an hospital-wide IMI-Producing Enterobacter ludwigii outbreak.

Authors: Vered Schechner, Katya Levytskyi, Ohad Shalom, Alexander Yalek and Amos Adler

Demographic, clinical, and paraclinical characteristics of COVID-19 pediatric cases in southeast Iran

Even though children seem to be less vulnerable to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, still a diverse range of clinical presentations and symptoms have been reported in children. Few studies as...

Authors: Gholamreza Soleimani, Fatemeh Akbarirad, Elham Shafighi Shahri and Seyyed Masoud Sajjadi

Are coveralls required as personal protective equipment during the management of COVID-19 patients?

Few studies have investigated the contamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the management of patients with severe-to-critical coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine th...

Authors: Jongtak Jung, Kyoung-Ho Song, Hyeonju Jeong, Sin Young Ham, Eu Suk Kim and Hong Bin Kim

Infection prevention strategies are highly protective in COVID-19 units while main risks to healthcare professionals come from coworkers and the community

Early evaluations of healthcare professional (HCP) COVID-19 risk occurred during insufficient personal protective equipment and disproportionate testing, contributing to perceptions of high patient-care relate...

Authors: Shruti K. Gohil, Kathleen A. Quan, Keith M. Madey, Suzanne King-Adelsohn, Tom Tjoa, Delia Tifrea, Bridgit O. Crews, Edwin S. Monuki, Saahir Khan, Sebastian D. Schubl, Cassiana E. Bittencourt, Neil Detweiler, Wayne Chang, Lynn Willis, Usme Khusbu, Antonella Saturno…

Clonal spread of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae among patients at admission and discharge at a Vietnamese neonatal intensive care unit

The increasing prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is a growing problem globally, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Previous studies have shown high rates of CRE ...

Authors: Björn Berglund, Ngoc Thi Bich Hoang, Ludwig Lundberg, Ngai Kien Le, Maria Tärnberg, Maud Nilsson, Elin Bornefall, Dung Thi Khanh Khu, Jenny Welander, Hai Thanh Le, Linus Olson, Tran Minh Dien, Lennart E. Nilsson, Mattias Larsson and Håkan Hanberger

Assessment of knowledge and implementation practices of the ventilator acquired pneumonia (VAP) bundle in the intensive care unit of a private hospital

Studies have shown that a ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle significantly decreases VAP rates. In this study, we evaluated existing knowledge, practices, and adherence of nurses and infection contro...

Authors: Cybele Lara Abad, Cordella P. Formalejo and Dan Meynard L. Mantaring

Real-world experience of how chlorhexidine bathing affects the acquisition and incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in a medical intensive care unit with VRE endemicity: a prospective interrupted time-series study

Critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) often acquire opportunistic infections or are colonized by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), which limits therapeutic options and results in high ca...

Authors: Jin Woong Suh, Nam Hee Kim, Min Jung Lee, Seoung Eun Lee, Byung Chul Chun, Chang Kyu Lee, Juneyoung Lee, Jong Hun Kim, Sun Bean Kim, Young Kyung Yoon, Jang Wook Sohn and Min Ja Kim

Management of donations of personal protective equipment in response to the massive shortage during the COVID-19 health crisis: providing quality equipment to health care workers

In the COVID-19 pandemic context, a massive shortage of personal protective equipment occurred. To increase the available stocks, several countries appealed for donations from individuals or industries. While ...

Authors: Guillaume Cambien, Jérémy Guihenneuc, Xavier Fouassin, Olivier Castel, Anne Bousseau and Sarah Ayraud-Thevenot

Assessing the accuracy of a new hand hygiene monitoring device (SmartRub®): from the laboratory to clinical practice

We developed SmartRub® powered by iQati®, an electronic device composed of a wristband and an alcohol-based handrub pocket-sized dispenser that measures and provides feedback on the duration of hand friction a...

Authors: Chloé Guitart, Yves-Alain Robert, Nasim Lotfinejad, Simon Fourquier, Yves Martin, Daniela Pires, Julien Sauser, René Beuchat and Didier Pittet

Staphylococcus aureus - selective reporting of antibiogram results and its impact on antibiotic use: Interventional study with a reference group on the effect of switching from non-selective to selective antibiotic reporting

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies worldwide focus on optimising the use of antibiotics. Selective susceptibility reporting is recommended as an effective AMS tool although there is a lack of represent...

Authors: Franka Lestin-Bernstein, Ramona Harberg, Ingo Schumacher, Lutz Briedigkeit, Oliver Heese and Kristina Biedermann

The effect of eye protection on SARS-CoV-2 transmission: a systematic review

The effect of eye protection to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in the real-world remains uncertain. We aimed to synthesize all available research on the potential impact of eye protection on transmission of SARS...

Authors: Oyungerel Byambasuren, Elaine Beller, Justin Clark, Peter Collignon and Paul Glasziou

Low frequency of community-acquired bacterial co-infection in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 based on clinical, radiological and microbiological criteria: a retrospective cohort study

We defined the frequency of respiratory community-acquired bacterial co-infection in patients with COVID-19, i.e. patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR or a COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) score...

Authors: Sophie Coenen, Jara R. de la Court, David T. P. Buis, Lilian J. Meijboom, Rogier P. Schade, Caroline E. Visser, Reinier van Hest, Marianne Kuijvenhoven, Jan M. Prins, Suzan F. M. Nijman, Elske Sieswerda and Kim C. E. Sigaloff

Antibiotic consumption in long-term care facilities in Poland and other European countries in 2017

The aim of this research study was to compare the situation concerning the use of microbiology testing, the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) and antimicrobial consumption (AMC) in Polish l...

Authors: Jadwiga Wojkowska-Mach, Michał Brudło, Mariusz Topolski, Tomasz Bochenek, Estera Jachowicz, Małgorzata Siewierska and Anna Różańska

Risk factors for colonization with multiple species of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales: a case-case–control study

Approximately 11% of patients colonized with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) are colonized with more than one ESBL-producing species. We investigated risk factors associat...

Authors: Isabelle Vock, Lisandra Aguilar-Bultet, Adrian Egli, Pranita D. Tamma and Sarah Tschudin-Sutter

Drivers of global media attention and representations for antimicrobial resistance risk: an analysis of online English and Chinese news media data, 2015–2018

How antimicrobial resistance (AMR) risk is communicated in news media can shape public understanding and the engagement of different sectors with AMR. This study examined online news media attention for AMR ri...

Authors: Qiuyan Liao, Jiehu Yuan, Meihong Dong, Pauline Paterson and Wendy Wing Tak Lam

Nosocomial cluster of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter cloacae in an intensive care unit dedicated COVID-19

Concomitant prevention of SARS-CoV-2 and extensively drug-resistant bacteria transmission is a difficult challenge in intensive care units dedicated to COVID-19 patients. We report a nosocomial cluster of four...

Authors: Guillaume Miltgen, Thomas Garrigos, Pascal Cholley, Marine Deleume, Nicolas Allou, Jérôme Allyn, David A. Wilkinson, Nathalie Lugagne, Olivier Belmonte, Xavier Bertrand, Didier Hocquet and Patrick Mavingui

A pre-pandemic COVID-19 assessment of the costs of prevention and control interventions for healthcare associated infections in medical and surgical wards in Québec

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) present a major public health problem that significantly affects patients, health care providers and the entire healthcare system. Infection prevention and control prog...

Authors: Eric Tchouaket Nguemeleu, Stephanie Robins, Sandra Boivin, Drissa Sia, Kelley Kilpatrick, Bruno Dubreuil, Catherine Larouche, Natasha Parisien and Josiane Letourneau

Droplets generated from toilets during urination as a possible vehicle of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

In the health care setting, infection control actions are fundamental for containing the dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR). Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), especially Klebsiella ...

Authors: Fabio Arena, Anna Rita Daniela Coda, Valentina Meschini, Roberto Verzicco and Arcangelo Liso

Epidemiology of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli from repeated prevalence studies over 11 years in a long-term-care facility

Escherichia coli sequence type (ST) 131 H30 is an emerging multidrug resistant subclone, known to spread and cause outbreaks in long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Authors: Romain Martischang, Patrice François, Abdessalam Cherkaoui, Nadia Gaïa, Gesuele Renzi, Americo Agostinho, Monica Perez, Christophe E. Graf and Stephan Harbarth

ESBL/pAmpC-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae carriage among veterinary healthcare workers in the Netherlands

Animals are a reservoir for ESBL/pAmpC-producing Escherichia coli/Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-E/K). We investigated the association between occupational contact with different types of animals and the prevalence ...

Authors: Anouk P. Meijs, Esther F. Gijsbers, Paul D. Hengeveld, Cindy M. Dierikx, Sabine C. de Greeff and Engeline van Duijkeren

Economic impact of a care bundle to prevent surgical site infection after craniotomy: a cost-analysis study

Surgical site infections after craniotomy (SSI-CRAN) significantly impact patient outcomes and healthcare costs by increasing length of stay and readmission and reoperation rates. However, to our knowledge, no...

Authors: Emilio Jiménez-Martínez, Guillermo Cuervo, Jordi Carratalà, Ana Hornero, Pilar Ciercoles, Andreu Gabarrós, Carmen Cabellos, Ivan Pelegrin, Maria Angeles Domínguez-Luzón, Jordi Càmara, Ramon Moreno-Fuentes, Jordi Adamuz and Miquel Pujol

Impact of interprofessional service-learning on the effectiveness of knowledge transfer of antimicrobial resistance to Hong Kong elders: a quasi-experiment

Community perception on antimicrobials plays a role in driving the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of interprofessional service-learning on the ef...

Authors: Anna C. Y. Lo, Joyce T. S. Li, Janita P. C. Chau, Samuel Y. S. Wong, David S. C. Hui and Vivian W. Y. Lee

Decontaminating N95/FFP2 masks for reuse during the COVID-19 epidemic: a systematic review

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare facilities have been lacking a steady supply of filtering facepiece respirators. To better address this challenge, the decontamination and reuse of these res...

Authors: Alexandra Peters, Nasim Lotfinejad, Rafael Palomo, Walter Zingg, Pierre Parneix, Hervé Ney and Didier Pittet

An outbreak investigation of Burkholderia cepacia infections related with contaminated chlorhexidine mouthwash solution in a tertiary care center in Turkey

We report a nosocomial outbreak caused by Burkholderia cepacia that occurred among six patients admitted in the medical and surgical intensive care unit between 04 March 2019 and 02 April 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey...

Authors: Hüseyin Bilgin, Gülşen Altınkanat Gelmez, Fatma Bayrakdar, Elvan Sayın, Fethi Gül, Nazlı Pazar, Gülcan Çulha, Serap Süzük Yıldız, Ismail Cinel and Volkan Korten

Overuse of antibiotics in maternity and neonatal wards, a descriptive report from public hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Overuse of antibiotics is a major challenge and undermines measures to control drug resistance worldwide. Postnatal women and newborns are at risk of infections and are often prescribed prophylactic antibiotic...

Authors: Mwaka A. Kakolwa, Susannah L. Woodd, Alexander M. Aiken, Fatuma Manzi, Giorgia Gon, Wendy J. Graham and Abdunoor M. Kabanywanyi

Case report of the first cured patient with Mycobacterium Chimaera infection following cardiac valve replacement in the mainland of China

Mycobacterium chimaera infections subsequent to cardiac surgery are related to contaminated heater-cooler devices, with high mortality. Nevertheless, few studies have been reported in Asia.

Authors: Di Lu, Chun-Hong Zhang, Li-Jiang Chen, Pei-Feng Jin, Xia-Fei Feng, Xi Zhou, Wei-Cong Huang, Jue Wang, Ying Dai and Yun Fu

Effectiveness of chlorhexidine in preventing infections among patients undergoing cardiac surgeries: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Although several meta-analyses reported the impact of chlorhexidine (CHX) use in patients undergoing various types of surgery, no meta-analysis summarized the overall effectiveness of CHX specifically for card...

Authors: Jianhua Wei, Lingying He, Fengxia Weng, Fangfang Huang and Peng Teng

Beyond the operating room: do hospital characteristics have an impact on surgical site infections after colorectal surgery? A systematic review

Hospital characteristics have been recognized as potential risk factors for surgical site infection for over 20 years. However, most research has focused on patient and procedural risk factors. Understanding h...

Authors: Rui Malheiro, Bárbara Peleteiro and Sofia Correia

Assessing the impact of the Global Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance (Global-PPS) on hospital antimicrobial stewardship programmes: results of a worldwide survey

The Global Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance (Global-PPS) provides a methodology to support hospitals worldwide in collecting antimicrobial use data. We aim to evaluate the im...

Authors: Ines Pauwels, Ann Versporten, Helene Vermeulen, Erika Vlieghe and Herman Goossens

Rapid reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 variant-of-concern Alpha detected in a nurse during an outbreak at a non-covid inpatient ward: lessons learned

We describe the lessons learned during a SARS-CoV-2 variant-of-concern Alpha outbreak investigation at a normal care unit in a university hospital in Amsterdam in December 2020. The outbreak consisted of nine ...

Authors: Jelle Koopsen, Mireille Dekker, Philip Thung, Marcel Jonges, Harry Vennema, Tjalling Leenstra, Dirk Eggink, Matthijs R. A. Welkers, Peter A. A. Struijs, Chantal Reusken, Rosa van Mansfeld, Menno D. de Jong, Janke Schinkel and Ingrid J. B. Spijkerman

Effectiveness of topical vancomycin in the prevention of spinal surgical site infections: a retrospective cohort study

The risk of surgical site infections (SSIs), particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) SSIs, after spinal surgeries is one of the most daunting experiences to patients and surgeons. Some aut...

Authors: Rawan T. Tafish, Ahmed F. Alkhaldi, Anouar Bourghli and Turki A. Althunian

Mechanical ventilation-associated pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii in Northeast China region: analysis of genotype and drug resistance of bacteria and patients’ clinical features over 7 years

To investigate the clinical features and outcomes of patients with mechanical ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab), and to characterize the drug resistance of pathogenic s...

Authors: Tao Zhang, Xiao Xu, Cai-Fang Xu, Salisu Rabiu Bilya and Wei Xu

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors on antibiotic use and resistance among healthcare workers in Italy, 2019: investigation by a clustering method

Identifying healthcare workers (HCW) who have less awareness and knowledge on antibiotic use and resistance represents a challenge for public health, since it might help the development of novel educational an...

Authors: Martina Barchitta, Michela Sabbatucci, Francesca Furiozzi, Stefania Iannazzo, Andrea Maugeri, Francesco Maraglino, Rosa Prato, Antonella Agodi and Annalisa Pantosti

Virus matrix interference on assessment of virucidal activity of high-touch surfaces designed to prevent hospital-acquired infections

High-touch surfaces are a critical reservoir in the spread of nosocomial infections. Although disinfection and infection control protocols are well developed, they lack the ability to passively reduce the path...

Authors: Sadru-Dean Walji, Mark R. Bruder and Marc G. Aucoin

The epidemiology of bloodstream infections and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in Thuringia, Germany: a five-year prospective, state-wide surveillance study (AlertsNet)

Monitoring pathogens of bloodstream infections (BSI) and their antibiotic susceptibility is important to guide empiric antibiotic treatment strategies and prevention programs.

Authors: Franziska Schöneweck, Roland P. H. Schmitz, Florian Rißner, André Scherag, Bettina Löffler, Mathias W. Pletz, Sebastian Weis, Frank M. Brunkhorst and Stefan Hagel

Increasing incidence and antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli bloodstream infections: a multinational population-based cohort study

Escherichia coli is an important pathogen in humans and is the most common cause of bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs). The objectives of our study were to determine factors associated with E. coli BSI incid...

Authors: Melissa C. MacKinnon, Scott A. McEwen, David L. Pearl, Outi Lyytikäinen, Gunnar Jacobsson, Peter Collignon, Daniel B. Gregson, Louis Valiquette and Kevin B. Laupland

Abstracts from the 6th international conference on prevention & infection control (ICPIC 2021)

Authors:

Non-prescriptionxx antibiotic use for people aged 15 years or older for cough in China: a community-based survey

Non-prescription antibiotic use at community is a main driver of antimicrobial resistance. Cough is a common condition and prevalent in all townships, including China. This study aims to investigate the non-pr...

Authors: Yan Luo, Xuewen Tang, Linling Ding, Zhujun Shao, Jianxing Yu, Yangqing Chen, Yang Zhou, Hanqing He and Zhiping Chen

Admission screening and cohort care decrease carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae in Vietnamese pediatric ICU’s

To assess if admission screening for Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and cohort care can reduce CRE acquisition (CRE colonization during hospital stay), Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI), hospital-...

Authors: K. Garpvall, V. Duong, S. Linnros, T. N. Quốc, D. Mucchiano, S. Modeen, L. Lagercrantz, A. Edman, N. K. Le, T. Huong, N. T. B. Hoang, H. T. Le, D. TK. Khu, D. M. Tran, P. H. Phuc, H. Hanberger…

Investigation of possible transmission of a susceptible microorganism through a contaminated duodenoscope; a case report

Despite compliance to extensive reprocessing protocols, duodenoscopes have been linked to outbreaks of susceptible and multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) due to persistent duodenoscope contamination. Duoden...

Authors: Judith A. Kwakman, Arjan W. Rauwers, Corné H. W. Klaassen, Marco J. Bruno and Margreet C. Vos

Prevalence of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in a Chinese multidrug-resistant TB cohort after redefinition

Recently, the definition of extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) has been revised. In this study, we conducted a descriptive and retrospective study to determine the prevalence of XDR-TB in a Chinese multidr...

Authors: Cong Yao, Haiping Guo, Qiang Li, Xuxia Zhang, Yuanyuan Shang, Tongxin Li, Yufeng Wang, Zhongtan Xue, Lu Wang, Liang Li and Yu Pang

COVID-19 lessons learned: a global perspective

One June 15, 2021, infectious disease authorities from around the world participated in a joint webinar to share experiences and lessons learned in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the overriding goals...

Authors: Kevin T. Kavanagh, Christine Pontus, Judith Pare and Lindsay E. Cormier

Animal source food eating habits of outpatients with antimicrobial resistance in Bukavu, D.R. Congo

Antibiotic resistance is a public health concern in Democratic Republic Congo and worldwide. It is usually caused by antibiotic over prescription or dispensing practices. The consumption of animal source food ...

Authors: Ghislain Bilamirwa Ngaruka, Brigitte Bora Neema, Theophile Kashosi Mitima, Antoine Sadiki Kishabongo and Olivier Basole Kashongwe

A five-component infection control bundle to permanently eliminate a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii spreading in an intensive care unit

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infection outbreaks are difficult to control and sometimes require cohorting of CRAB-positive patients or temporary ward closure for environmental cleaning. We ...

Authors: Marianna Meschiari, José-María Lòpez-Lozano, Vincenzo Di Pilato, Carola Gimenez-Esparza, Elena Vecchi, Erica Bacca, Gabriella Orlando, Erica Franceschini, Mario Sarti, Monica Pecorari, Antonella Grottola, Claudia Venturelli, Stefano Busani, Lucia Serio, Massimo Girardis, Gian Maria Rossolini…

Genomic analysis of Staphylococcus aureus from the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat in Nigeria

Staphylococcus aureus can colonize various host species, and human-animal interaction is a significant factor for cross-species transmission. However, data on S. aureus colonization in animals, particularly on ru...

Authors: Adebayo Osagie Shittu, Fadekemi Funmilayo Taiwo, Neele Judith Froböse, Bianca Schwartbeck, Silke Niemann, Alexander Mellmann and Frieder Schaumburg

Pathogens distribution and antimicrobial resistance in bloodstream infections in twenty-five neonatal intensive care units in China, 2017–2019

Overcrowding, abuse of antibiotics and increasing antimicrobial resistance negatively affect neonatal survival rates in developing countries. We aimed to define pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance (AM...

Authors: Jing Liu, Zengyu Fang, Yonghui Yu, Yanjie Ding, Zhijie Liu, Chengyuan Zhang, Haiying He, Hongli Geng, Weibing Chen, Guoying Zhao, Qiang Liu, Baoying Wang, Xueming Sun, Shaofeng Wang, Rongrong Sun, Delong Fu…

Long-term antimicrobial effectiveness of a silver-impregnated foil on high-touch hospital surfaces in patient rooms

The hospital environment has got more attention as evidence as source for bacterial transmission and subsequent hospital-acquired infection increased. Regular cleaning and disinfection have been proposed to lo...

Authors: Andreas F. Widmer, Sonja Kuster, Marc Dangel, Sammy Jäger and Reno Frei

Nosocomial infections among COVID-19 patients: an analysis of intensive care unit surveillance data

Surveillance of nosocomial infections, like catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), central line-associated bloodstream infection, possible ventilator-associated pneumonia and secondary bloodstrea...

Authors: Clara Chong Hui Ong, Sharifah Farhanah, Kyaw Zaw Linn, Ying Wei Tang, Chu Ying Poon, Allie Yin Lim, Hui Ru Tan, Nur Hafizah Binte Hamed, Xiaowei Huan, Ser Hon Puah, Benjamin C. H. Ho, Margaret M. L. Soon, Brenda S. P. Ang, Shawn Vasoo, Monica Chan, Yee Sin Leo…

Trends in prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolated from patients with community- and healthcare-associated bacteriuria: results from 2014 to 2020 in an urban safety-net healthcare system

The prevalence of infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E. coli) is increasing worldwide, but the setting in which this increase is occurring is not well defined. ...

Authors: Eva Raphael, M. Maria Glymour and Henry F. Chambers

Correlation between antibiotic consumption and the incidence of healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection: a retrospective chart review and analysis

Healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and is associated with morbidity and mortality. The use of antibiotics is an important risk fac...

Authors: Ji Hyun Yun, Ga Eun Park and Hyun Kyun Ki