Journal of Hospital Infection

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) is an airborne disease, justifying the identification of suspect patients on admission, and their hospitalization in individual rooms with the implementation of Airborne Supplementary Precautions (ASP). The aim of this study was to identify, in a high-prevalence hospital, the frequency of non-isolated PT and the factors associated with the delay in implementing ASP. This was a retrospective observational study, including patients with at least one Mycobacterium tuberculosis-positive specimen...

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are associated with relevant morbidity and mortality. Longitudinal dynamics in CLABSI incidence and the spectrum of causative microorganisms are limited. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe trends in CLABSI incidence, use of central lines, and causative pathogens. METHODS: We analysed prospectively collected data on CLABSI at a Swiss tertiary care hospital between January 2016 and December 2023...

BACKGROUND: Global rise of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) is alarming and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant public health threat globally. Although certain risk factors are known including recent antimicrobial therapy, inappropriate use and hospitalization, the focus on gender-specific aspects in MDRO is scarce. Our aim was to show gender-specific differences in colonization and infections of multiple MDRO and their detection sites. METHODS: For this multicentre, retrospective cohort study surveillance data between 2015 and 2020 was collected in 86 hospitals of the Helios group, Germany...

BACKGROUND: The spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is a critical health issue. Isolation measures imposed to prevent transmission may result in adverse psychological effects among affected patients. This emphasises the need for better communication and information to improve their hospital experience and mental well-being as well as to prevent inadequate treatment. AIM: The present study examines whether tailored counselling sessions during contact isolation can enhance patients' understanding of their situation concerning the significance of their MDRO status and enhance their well-being...

Hospital severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks are relevant for patients and healthcare systems within and beyond the pandemic. We aimed to explore the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and their infection prevention and control (IPC) measures during the different pandemic waves. A comprehensive structured template for SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks was developed and filled out by six university hospitals. The main outcome variable was outbreak size (OS). A total of 80 outbreaks and 734 infection cases were enrolled between 03/2020-02/2023...

BACKGROUND: Despite adherence to reprocessing protocols, duodenoscopes often remain contaminated, highlighting significant knowledge gaps in reprocessing efficiency. AIM: This study aims to identify risk factors in duodenoscope reprocessing procedures affecting contamination rates. METHODS: We included cultures from Pentax ED34-i10T2 duodenoscopes collected between February 2022 and December 2023. Contamination was determined by the presence of microorganisms of gut or oral origin (MGO)...

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections are costly and airborne transmission is increasingly recognised as important for spread. Air Cleaning Units (ACUs) may reduce transmission but little research has focused on their effectiveness on open wards. AIM: Assess whether ACUs reduce nosocomial SARS-CoV-2, or other, infections on older adult inpatient wards. METHODS: Quasi-experimental before-after study on two intervention-control ward pairs in a UK teaching hospital...

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BACKGROUND: Previous studies on Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in proton pump inhibitor (PPIs) users generally enrolled a heterogeneous population and did not include a control group of histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) users or adjust for confounding variables, such as previous antibiotics. It is uncertain whether hospitalized patients using PPIs for stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) are at a higher risk of CDI compared to those using H2RAs. This study aimed to compare the association between CDI and the usage of antisecretory drugs (ASDs): PPIs and H2RAs, for stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) among hospitalized patients, and the impact of the duration of their use on CDI...

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OBJECTIVES: To identify factors contributing to general and inappropriate antibiotic prescription among long-term care facility (LTCF) residents with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). METHODS: Prospective multicentric observational study. Residents with LRTI were recruited among 32 LTCFs in Western Switzerland during winter 2022-2023. Residents underwent lung ultrasound (LUS) within three days of LRTI onset, serving as the pneumonia diagnosis reference standard...

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Validation of prion inactivation processes for medical devices relies on in vivo experimental protocols. However, bioassays are costly, long (one to two years) and ethically disputable. Additionally, results obtained with one prion strain, for example 263K (hamster-adapted strain originating from sheep scrapie), cannot be easily extrapolated to relevant human prion strains, further questioning the utility of bioassays. Over the past two decades, cell-free prion amplification assays have emerged as potential alternatives to bioassays...

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OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) have gained prominence with increased awareness regarding the importance of appropriate antibiotic use. However, ASP implementation for outpatient antibiotic prescriptions is uncommon, particularly in South Korea. This study aimed to analyse the patterns and appropriateness of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions at a tertiary care hospital in Korea. METHODS: We analysed the patterns of oral antibiotic prescription from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2023, at the outpatient department of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital...

Sink drains in hospitals are notorious reservoirs of bacteria, hosting both planktonic microorganisms and biofilms within the siphon. Considering that disinfectants based on peracetic acid are both non-corrosive and effective in eliminating biofilm and planktonic microorganisms, they present a potential solution for decontaminating sink drains. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of Clinell Drain Disinfectant®, a peracetic acid-based disinfectant, in the intensive care unit (ICU) of UZ Brussel, a department that has been confronted with nosocomial infections linked to sinks for several years...

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) remains a challenge in healthcare, contributing to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and adverse patient outcomes, including mortality. Effective preoperative skin disinfection interventions, such as povidone-iodine (PVI) and chlorhexidine (CHG), are widely used but their efficacy remains debated. To address this gap, this meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of PVI and CHG. METHOD: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases up to June 2024 to identify studies comparing PVI versus CHG for preoperative skin antisepsis...

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