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Background: A national point prevalence survey (PPS) of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and antibiotic use (AU) was carried out in Germany in 2022 in the framework of the European PPS conducted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The objective was to determine the prevalence of HAI and AU in German hospitals and to compare the obtained values with those of the most recent previous PPS, which was carried out in 2016., Methods: The German National Reference Center for the Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections was entrusted with the organization of the PPS of 2022. As recommended by the ECDC, each hospital in a representative sample of 50 hospitals was invited to participate, and all other interested hospitals in Germany were also able to participate if desired. The data were collected by specially trained hospital staff in May, June, and July 2022. The definitions and methods put forth by the ECDC were used., Results: Data from 66 586 patients in 252 hospitals were included. The prevalence of HAI in all participating hospitals was 4.9%, and that of AU was 26.9%. The HAI and AU prevalences were essentially unchanged in comparison to 2016. The most common types of HAI were surgical site infection (23.5%), lower respiratory tract infection (21.6%), and urinary tract infection (19.0%)., Conclusion: HAI were just as frequent in 2022 as in 2016, affecting approximately one in twenty hospitalized patients on any given day.

Background: The extensive use of antibiotics is reflected by an increasing prevalence of infections with multidrug-resistant bacteria, including third-generation cephalosporin-resistant bacteria (3GCRB). For neonatal intensive care units screening and enhanced barrier precautions are recommended to control the spread of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, while evidence for efficacy of barrier precautions remains scarce in a non-outbreak setting., Objective: To determine the impact of a screening program for maternal 3GCRB colonization and the effects of contact precautions and cohort nursing, concerning the risk of neonatal late-onset sepsis (LOS) and antibiotic use rates (AURs)., Study Design: In a retrospective matched-pair cohort study, data of neonates exposed to maternal 3GCRB colonization were compared with findings in non-exposed neonates., Results: Of 3,144 neonates admitted, 184 neonates born to 3GCRB-positive mothers were eligible. Among them, 37 (20%) became 3GCRB positive during hospital stay. 3GCRB-exposed infants had a lower rate of LOS (6.5 vs. 14.1%, p=0.03) and lower AURs in that time period compared to controls (mean 0.009 vs. 0.025, p=0.006). When started within the first 72h after birth, days of therapy with meropenem were significantly lower in non-exposed vs. 3GCRB-exposed infants (mean 0.13 vs. 0.42; p=0.002). No invasive infections with 3GCRB occurred., Conclusions: Neonates of 3GCRB-positive mothers do not have an increased a priori risk for invasive 3GCRB infection and may benefit from enhanced contact precautions measures., Hintergrund: Der zunehmende Einsatz von Antibiotika führt zu einem Anstieg von Infektionen mit multiresistenten Erregern wie z. B. Drittgeneration Cephalosporin-resistenten Bakterien (3GCRB). Empfehlungen zu Screening- und Kohortierungsmaßnahmen auf neonatologischen Intensivstationen zielen auf die Prävention von horizontaler Transmission und invasiven Infektionen ab. Für Nicht-Ausbruchssituationen ist die Evidenz für Hygienemaßnahmen und Screeningprogrammen unzureichend. ZIEL: Evaluation eines Screening für mütterliche 3GCRB-Besiedlung mit nachfolgender Isolation bzw. Kohortenpflege des Neugeborenen (NG) unter Bezug auf das Risiko einer Late-Onset-Sepsis (LOS) und die Anzahl der Antibiotika-Tage (AUR)., Studiendesign: In einer retrospektiven Fall-Kontroll-Kohortenstudie wurden Daten von NG mit maternaler 3GCRB-Besiedelung im Vergleich zu einer Kontrollgruppe mit unauffälligem Screening analysiert., Ergebnisse: In einer Kohorte von 3144 NG fanden sich 184 NG von 3GCRB-besiedelten Müttern. Bei 37 (20%) wurde im Verlauf eine Besiedelung mit 3GCRB nachgewiesen. In der Gruppe der 3GCRB-exponierten NG kam es seltener zu einer LOS (6,5 vs. 14,1%, p=0,03). Zwischen dem 4. Lebenstag und der Entlassung hatten 3GCRB-exponierte NG eine niedrigere AUR (Mittelwert 0,009 vs. 0,025, p=0,006) als die Kontrollgruppe. Die Behandlungstage mit Meropenem (Start in den ersten 3 Lebenstagen), war in der Kontrollgruppe signifikant geringer als in der 3GCRB-exponierten Gruppe (Mittelwert 0,13 vs. 0,43 Tage; p=0,002). In beiden Gruppen trat keine invasive Infektion mit 3GCRB auf., Schlussfolgerung: Neugeborene, deren Mütter 3GCRB besiedelt sind, haben kein erhöhtes a priori Risiko für eine invasive Infektion mit 3GCRB Erregern und profitieren wahrscheinlich von erweiterten Kohortierungs- und Isolationsmaßnahmen., Competing Interests: C. Dame is member of the Neonatology Group of the Commission for Hospital Hygiene, Infection Prevention and Control (KRINKO) of the Federal Robert-Koch Institute (RKI), Berlin, Germany. All other authors report no conflict of interest relevant to this article., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: In 2011 and again in 2016, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) asked all European countries to carry out nationwide studies on the prevalence of nosocomial infection (NI) and antibiotic use (AU). Data on NI and AU constitute an essential basis for the development of measures to prevent infection and lessen antibiotic resistance., Methods: The German prevalence study of 2016 was carried out according to the ECDC protocol. Alongside a sample of 49 acute-care hospitals requested by the ECDC that was representative in terms of size (number of beds), further hospitals were invited to participate as well. Analyses were made of the overall group (218 hospitals, 64 412 patients), the representative group (49 hospitals), and the core group (46 hospitals). The core group consisted of the hospitals that had participated in the study of 2011., Results: The prevalence of patients with NI was 4.6% in the overall group in 2016; it had been 5.1% in 2011 (p <0.01). In the representative group, the prevalence was 3.6% (compared to 5.1% in 2011, p <0.01). In the core group, the prevalence of NI was the same in 2016 as it had been in 2011. The prevalence of patients with ABU in the overall group remained the same, but a fall was seen in the representative group (21.5% versus 23.3%; p <0.01) and a rise in the core group (27.3% versus 26.2%; p = 0.02). The staff-patient ratio among the infection prevention and control professionals improved in all three groups., Conclusion: A decrease in NI and AU prevalence was seen in the representative group, while mixed results were seen in the other analyzed groups. Further efforts to reduce NI and ABA are clearly necessary.

Objectives: Data on antibiotic usage (AU) are helpful for improvement of antibiotic stewardship. This study describes findings and targets for quality improvement in German hospitals identified in a national point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and AU., Methods: The survey was organized by the German National Reference Centre for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections (NRZ) as part of a pan-European survey organized by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Infection control personnel of participating hospitals were trained in methodology and performed the survey in September and October 2011. Data on the antimicrobials prescribed (e.g. compounds and indications) were analysed by the NRZ. In order to submit national data to the ECDC, a representative sample of 46 hospitals was generated, although other hospitals were invited to participate in the survey if interested., Results: In total, 41,539 patients were surveyed in 132 hospitals. AU prevalence in these hospitals and in the representative sample did not differ significantly [25.5% (95% CI 24.5%-26.6%) and 23.3% (95% CI 21.3%-25.5%), respectively]. AU rates were higher compared with a previous survey in 1994. Antimicrobials were administered for treatment in 70% and prophylaxis in 30% of cases. Surgical prophylaxis (SP) was prolonged (>1 day) in 70% of cases. Indication was documented in patients' charts in 73% of administrations. The most frequently used agents were cefuroxime (14.3%), ciprofloxacin (9.8%) and ceftriaxone (7.5%)., Conclusions: The study identified several points for improvement, e.g. the large amount of prolonged SP, the extensive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and the high percentage of antibiotic administration without documented indication.

Background: In 2011, seventeen years after the first national study on the prevalence of nosocomial infections and antibiotic use in German hospitals, a second national prevalence study was carried out according to the specifications of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)., Methods: The ECDC protocol, containing uniform surveillance definitions and ascertainment methods, was implemented. The only infections counted were those that were active or under treatment with antibiotics on the day of the study. In addition to the representative sample required by the ECDC, which consisted of 46 hospitals, further hospitals participated on a voluntary basis., Results: Data on 41 539 patients in 132 hospitals were analyzed. The prevalence of infections that had arisen during the current hospital stay was 3.8% in the overall group and 3.4% in the representative sample of 9626 patients in 46 hospitals. The prevalence of all nosocomial infections, including those acquired before the current hospital stay and still present upon admission, was 5.1% in both the overall group and the representative sample. The prevalence of antibiotic use on the day of the study was 25.5% and 23.3% in the two groups, respectively., Conclusion: The prevalence of nosocomial infection has not changed since 1994, but the prevalence of antibiotic use has increased. In interpreting these findings, one should bear in mind that confounders may have influenced them in different directions: The mean length of hospital stay is now shorter than in 1994, but the mean age of hospitalized patients is higher.