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BackgroundNosocomial transmission of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a problem in resource-limited settings. However, the degree of TB exposure and the intermediate- and long-term morbidity and mortality of hospital-associated TB is unclear. In this study we determined: 1) the nature, patterns and intensity of TB exposure occurring in the context of current TB cohorting practices in medical centre with a high prevalence of TB and HIV; 2) the one-year TB incidence after discharge; and 3) one-year TB-related mortality after hospital discharge.MethodsFactors leading to nosocomial TB exposure were collected daily over a 3-month period. Patients were followed for 1-year after discharge. TB incidence and mortality were calculated and logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with TB incidence and mortality during follow up.Results1,094 patients were admitted to the medical wards between May 01 and July 31, 2010. HIV was confirmed in 690/1,094 (63.1%) of them. A total of 215/1,094 (19.7%) patients were diagnosed with PTB and 178/1,094 (16.3%) patients died during the course of their hospitalization; 12/178 (6.7%) patients died from TB-related complications. Of the 896 (83.7%) discharged patients, 41 (4.6%) [corrected] were diagnosed with TB during the year of follow up. Overall, 123/896 (14%) patients died during the follow up period, of whom 26/123 (21%) died from TB. [corrected] One-year TB incidence rate and TB-associated mortality were associated with the number of days that the patient remained hospitalized, the number of days spent in the cohorting bay (regardless of whether the patient was eventually diagnosed with TB or not), and the number and proximity to TB index cases. There was no difference in the performance of each of these 3 measurements of nosocomial TB exposure for the prediction of one-year TB incidence.ConclusionSubstantial TB exposure, particularly among HIV-infected patients, occurs in nosocomial settings despite implementation of cohorting measures. Nosocomial TB exposure is strongly associated with one-year TB incidence and TB-related mortality. Further studies are needed to identify strategies to reduce such exposure among susceptible patients.

Background: The extensive use of mobile phones in the hospital among health care workers (HCWs) can lead to infectious agents being transferred from one patient to another and thus serve as a vehicle in the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus auerus (MRSA) contamination of mobile phones and hands of HCWs in Gandaki Medical College and Teaching Hospital. Methods: The present study was hospital and laboratory based cross-sectional study, carried out from April, 2017 to December, 2017. A total of 100 mobile phone swab and 100 hand swab samples of HCWs were collected and cultured directly on MacConkey agar, blood agar, and mannitol salt agar after 24 hrs of enrichment. All the isolated organisms including MRSA were identified using standard microbiological techniques and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using disc diffusion technique. Results: Among the Gram positive isolates, frequency distribution from mobile phones showed the highest prevalence of coagulase negative Staphylococci (CONS) (34.69%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (20.41%), Bacillus spp (15.31%), Micrococci spp (11.23%), however considerable number of Diptheroides (8.16%), Enterococci (6.12%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (4.08%). Siimilarly from hand swabs CONS (39.62%), followed by S. aureus (26.42%), Bacillus spp (10.38%), Micrococci (11.32%), Enterococci (6.60%) and Diptheroids (5.66%) were isolated. The frequency of MRSA was 20%, 25% among mobile phones and hands of HCWs respectively. Drugs like Vancomycin, Amikacin, Clindamycin and Gentamycin were found quite effective against S. aureus in the present study and would be better options for the management of such infections. Conclusions: Mobile phones and hands of HCWs were the potential source of nosocomial infections including multidrug-resistant pathogens like methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

Introduction and objectives: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections in cirrhosis are associated with poor outcomes. We attempted a prospective study on infections in patients with cirrhosis evaluating microbiology of these infections and how outcomes depended on factors like bacterial resistance, appropriate antibiotics, stage of liver disease and whether outcomes were significantly different from patients who did not have infections. Materials and methods: This was a prospective evaluation involving one hundred and fifty nine patients with cirrhosis who were admitted at Peerless Hospitex Hospital and Research Center, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, during a 24 month period. One hundred and nineteen of these patients either had an infection at the time of admission or developed infection during hospitalization. Forty patients did not have an infection at admission and did not acquire infection while admitted. Data was collected about demographics, etiology of cirrhosis, liver and renal function and microbiology. Results: Infections were community acquired in 27.7% of patients, healthcare associated in 52.9% and nosocomial in 19.3%. Gram negative bacilli (Escherichia coli 47.4% Klebsiella pneumoniae 23%) were common. 84.9% of enterobacteriaceae produced ESBL, AmpC or Carbapenemases. Spontaneous bacteria peritonitis (SBP) and urinary tract infection (UTI) were the most common sites of infection. In hospital mortality was 21.9%. Non-survivors had higher MELD (26 vs 19, p

Resumen: Antecedentes: Las sepsis son las infecciones nosocomiales más frecuentes en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales (UCIN), afectando especialmente a los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso al nacer (RNMBP, ≤ 1.500 g). Un sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica puede contribuir a su prevención mediante una evaluación continua de su frecuencia y factores de riesgo asociados. El objetivo de este artículo es describir la implementación del sistema de vigilancia de las sepsis nosocomiales en RNMBP (NeoKissEs) en un grupo de UCIN españolas. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte de RNMBP con < 28 días de edad ingresados en las UCIN participantes. Dos UCIN tradujeron y adaptaron materiales a partir del sistema original alemán NEO-KISS. Durante la implementación, se desarrollaron 8 talleres formativos, con participación de 210 profesionales. Se creó un sistema web para la introducción de datos de pacientes y episodios de sepsis, su monitorización, análisis comparativo y retroalimentación a las unidades. En cada UCIN, un neonatólogo fue responsable de la implementación, recogiendo información sobre las dificultades percibidas durante el proceso. Resultados: De 50 unidades que aceptaron participar, 45 utilizaron NeoKissEs durante la fase de implementación, registrando 1.108 episodios de sepsis asociados a catéter vascular en 3.638 neonatos, con una tasa de 18,4 episodios por 1.000 pacientes-día con catéter (IC del 95%: 17,8-19,1). Conclusiones: El sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica NeoKissEs representa una fuente útil de información para la comparación estandarizada de la incidencia de sepsis de las UCIN, evaluar factores de riesgo y facilitar la evaluación del efecto de futuras intervenciones preventivas. Abstract: Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are the most frequent nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), especially in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight ≤ 1500 g). An epidemiologic surveillance system may contribute to the prevention of infection by continuous monitoring of its frequency and associated risk factors. The aim of this article was to describe the implementation of the NeoKissEs surveillance system for BSIs in VLBW newborns in a group of Spanish NICUs. Methods: We assessed the clinical cohort consisting of all VLBW newborns aged less than 28 days admitted to the participating units. In the pilot phase, 2 NICUs translated and adapted materials from the original German NEO-KISS system. During implementation, 210 health care professionals attended one of 8 educational workshops. A web-based system was created that allows entering data regarding patients and BSI episodes, data monitoring, benchmarking and providing feedback to the units. At each NICU, one neonatologist was responsible for the implementation of the system and reporting the difficulties perceived throughout the process. Results: Out of the 50 units that agreed to participate, 45 successfully started using the surveillance platform during the implementation phase, recording 1108 episodes of catheter-associated BSI (CABSI) in 3638 newborns, and finding an overall rate of CABSI of 18.4 (95% CI, 17.8-19.1) per 1000 catheter days. Conclusions: The NeoKissEs surveillance system constitutes a helpful source of information for the purpose of benchmarking the performance of neonatal units, assessing factors associated with BSI in VLBW infants and measuring the impact of future preventive interventions in NICUs.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are the most frequent nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), especially in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight ≤ 1500 g). An epidemiologic surveillance system may contribute to the prevention of infection by continuous monitoring of its frequency and associated risk factors. The aim of this article was to describe the implementation of the NeoKissEs surveillance system for BSIs in VLBW newborns in a group of Spanish NICUs. Methods: We assessed the clinical cohort consisting of all VLBW newborns aged less than 28 days admitted to the participating units. In the pilot phase, 2 NICUs translated and adapted materials from the original German NEO-KISS system. During implementation, 210 health care professionals attended one of 8 educational workshops. A web-based system was created that allows entering data regarding patients and BSI episodes, data monitoring, benchmarking and providing feedback to the units. At each NICU, one neonatologist was responsible for the implementation of the system and reporting the difficulties perceived throughout the process. Results: Out of the 50 units that agreed to participate, 45 successfully started using the surveillance platform during the implementation phase, recording 1108 episodes of catheter-associated BSI (CABSI) in 3638 newborns, and finding an overall rate of CABSI of 18.4 (95% CI, 17.8-19.1) per 1000 catheter days. Conclusions: The NeoKissEs surveillance system constitutes a helpful source of information for the purpose of benchmarking the performance of neonatal units, assessing factors associated with BSI in VLBW infants and measuring the impact of future preventive interventions in NICUs. Resumen: Antecedentes: Las sepsis son las infecciones nosocomiales más frecuentes en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales (UCIN), afectando especialmente a los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso al nacer (RNMBP, ≤ 1.500 g). Un sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica puede contribuir a su prevención mediante una evaluación continua de su frecuencia y factores de riesgo asociados. El objetivo de este artículo es describir la implementación del sistema de vigilancia de las sepsis nosocomiales en RNMBP (NeoKissEs) en un grupo de UCIN españolas. Métodos: Estudio de cohorte de RNMBP con < 28 días de edad ingresados en las UCIN participantes. Dos UCIN tradujeron y adaptaron materiales a partir del sistema original alemán NEO-KISS. Durante la implementación, se desarrollaron 8 talleres formativos, con participación de 210 profesionales. Se creó un sistema web para la introducción de datos de pacientes y episodios de sepsis, su monitorización, análisis comparativo y retroalimentación a las unidades. En cada UCIN, un neonatólogo fue responsable de la implementación, recogiendo información sobre las dificultades percibidas durante el proceso. Resultados: De 50 unidades que aceptaron participar, 45 utilizaron NeoKissEs durante la fase de implementación, registrando 1.108 episodios de sepsis asociados a catéter vascular en 3.638 neonatos, con una tasa de 18,4 episodios por 1.000 pacientes-día con catéter (IC del 95%: 17,8-19,1). Conclusiones: El sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica NeoKissEs representa una fuente útil de información para la comparación estandarizada de la incidencia de sepsis de las UCIN, evaluar factores de riesgo y facilitar la evaluación del efecto de futuras intervenciones preventivas.

During March 13–June 23, 2018, anthrax-like cutaneous lesions attributed to the Bacillus cereus group of organisms developed in 12 newborns in India. We traced the source of infection to the healthcare kits used for newborn care. We used multilocus sequence typing to characterize the 19 selected strains from various sources in hospital settings, including the healthcare kits. This analysis revealed the existence of a genetically diverse population comprising mostly new sequence types. Phylogenetic analysis clustered most strains into the previously defined clade I, composed primarily of pathogenic bacilli. We suggest that the synergistic interaction of nonhemolytic enterotoxin and sphingomyelinase might have a role in the development of cutaneous lesions. The infection was controlled by removing the healthcare kits and by implementing an ideal housekeeping program. All the newborns recovered after treatment with ciprofloxacin and amikacin.

Cell phones are indispensable accessories both professionally and socially, but they also play role as perfect substrate for microorganisms’ transitions. Therefor; Health care workers mobile phones are one of the most important vehicles which transfer nosocomial infection agents in particular pathogenic multi-resist bacteria. Thus, this study aims at examining and conducting of cell phones which could play a potential role in the extent of bacterial pathogens mainly nosocomial bacteria in Iraqi hospitals. Therefore, 102 cell phone samples were collected from patients, doctors and Health care staff working in hospital by Sterile cotton swab on the surface of cell phone and directly sited in liquid media. The samples staking on the Blood and MacConkey agar media were used for bacterial species isolation then identified via Vitek 2 Compact ID/AST cards from BioMיrieux. Bacteria species were isolated from 93 of the studied cell phones: Coagulase negative Staphylococci epidermidis (28%), then Escherichia coli (22%), Klebsiella pneumonia (16%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13%), Staphylococcus aureus (12%), Bacilli (5%), Enterobacter (3%), and Proteus spp. (1%). And 80% of the bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, predominantly the bacteria isolated from Nurse and Doctor phones. This study shows the potential of cell phones to be developed as pathogenic bacteria carriers.

Abstract Background Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious complication and common cause of death in patients with liver cirrhosis. This study was conducted to compare the microbiological characteristics, drug resistance, and treatment outcomes for nosocomial SBP and community-acquired SBP. Methods A retrospective study was performed on 334 patients with culture-positive SBP at Beijing Youan Hospital, China, between January 2012 and December 2016. The medical records for these patients were reviewed, and their clinical and laboratory data were analyzed. Results A total of 155 (46.4%) patients with nosocomial SBP and 179 (53.6%) with community-acquired SBP were included in this study. From the patients’ ascitic fluids, 334 pathogenic strains, including 178 Gram-negative bacterial strains, 138 Gram-positive bacterial strains and 18 other microbial strains were isolated. E. coli was the major pathogen (24.3%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.0%) and Enterococcus faecium (10.5%). The proportion of Enterococcus was significantly higher in the patients with nosocomial SBP (6.1% vs. 27.7%, P

Abstract Background P. aeruginosa is a pathogen frequently resistant to antibiotics and a common cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Non-antibiotic strategies to prevent or treat VAP are therefore of major interest. Specific polyclonal avian IgY antibodies have previously been shown to be effective against pneumonia caused by P. aeruginosa in rodents and against P. aeruginosa airway colonization in patients. Objectives To study the effect of specific polyclonal anti-P. aeruginosa IgY antibodies (Pa-IgY) on colonization of the airways in a porcine model. Method The pigs were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and subject to invasive hemodynamic monitoring and allocated to either receive 109 CFU nebulized P. aeruginosa (control, n = 6) or 109 CFU nebulized P. aeruginosa + 200 mg Pa-IgY antibodies (intervention, n = 6). Physiological measurement, blood samples, and tracheal cultures were then secured regularly for 27 h, after which the pigs were sacrificed and lung biopsies were cultured. Results After nebulization, tracheal growth of P. aeruginosa increased in both groups during the experiment, but with lower growth in the Pa-IgY-treated group during the experiment (p = 0.02). Tracheal growth was 4.6 × 103 (9.1 × 102–3.1 × 104) vs. 4.8 × 104 (7.5 × 103–1.4 × 105) CFU/mL in the intervention group vs. the control group at 1 h and 5.0 × 100 (0.0 × 100–3.8 × 102) vs. 3.3 × 104 (8.0 × 103–1.4 × 105) CFU/mL at 12 h in the same groups. During this time, growth in the intervention vs. control group was one to two orders of ten lower. After 12 h, the treatment effect disappeared and bacterial growth increased in both groups. The intervention group had lower body temperature and cardiac index and higher static compliance compared to the control group. Conclusion In this porcine model, Pa-IgY antibodies lessen bacterial colonization of the airways.

Abstract Background Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics, distribution of capsular types, and antimicrobial resistance of K. pneumoniae bacteremia among community-acquired (CA), healthcare-associated (HCA), and nosocomial infections. Methods This retrospective study of patients with K. pneumoniae bacteremia was conducted at Taipei Veterans General Hospital from January to December 2015. Clinical characteristics of K. pneumoniae bacteremia were collected. The K. pneumoniae isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and capsular genotyping. Results In total, 337 patients with K. pneumoniae bacteremia were identified: 70 (20.8%), 102 (30.3%), and 165 (48.9%) presented with CA, HCA, and nosocomial infection, respectively. The 28-day mortality of HCA bacteremia was lower than that of nosocomial bacteremia (17.6% versus 30.9%, p = 0.016); however, that of the HCA and CA bacteremia was similar (17.6% versus 14.3%, p = 0.557). CA isolates had the highest prevalence of virulent capsular types (51.4%), followed by HCA (36.3%) and nosocomial isolates (19.4%). The proportion of multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates was highest in nosocomial infections (41.8%), followed by HCA (23.5%) and CA infections (5.7%). Conclusion CA, HCA and nosocomial K. pneumoniae are distinct entities, as evidenced by the differences in clinical characteristics, antimicrobial resistance, and capsular types found in this study.

Abstract This nation-wide survey on the epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) included 142 healthcare institutions and showed an increasing number of VRE colonizations and infections in Switzerland, probably for the most part due to nosocomial dissemination. The introduction and spread of a new clone, gaps in VRE screening policies as well as heterogeneity regarding the management of VRE clusters may be possible explanations.

For decades, the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii has been rampant in critically ill, hospitalized patients. Traditional antibiotic therapies against this pathogen have been failing, leading to rising concerns over management options for patients. Two new antibiotics, eravacycline and omadacycline, were introduced to the market and have shown promising results in the treatment of Gram-negative infections. Since these drugs are newly available, there is limited in vitro data about their effectiveness against MDR A. baumannii or even susceptible strains. Here, we examined the effectiveness of 22 standard-of-care antibiotics, eravacycline, and omadacycline against susceptible and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) A. baumannii patient isolates from Cooper University Hospital. Furthermore, we examined selected combinations of eravacycline or omadacycline with other antibiotics against an XDR strain. We demonstrated that this collection of strains is largely resistant to monotherapies of carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, folate pathway antagonists, cephalosporins, and most tetracyclines. While clinical breakpoint data are not available for eravacycline or omadacycline, based on minimum inhibitory concentrations, eravacycline was highly effective against these strains. The aminoglycoside amikacin alone and in combination with eravacycline or omadacycline yielded the most promising results. Our comprehensive characterization offers direction in the treatment of this deadly infection in hospitalized patients.

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) are phenotypically indistinguishable from the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–A. baumannii (ACB) complex members using routine laboratory methods. Early diagnosis plays an important role in controlling A. baumannii infections and this could be assisted by the development of a rapid, yet sensitive diagnostic test. In this study, we developed an enzyme-based electrochemical genosensor for asymmetric PCR (aPCR) amplicon detection of the blaOXA-51-like gene in A. baumannii. A. baumanniiblaOXA-51-like gene PCR primers were designed, having the reverse primer modified at the 5′ end with FAM. A blaOXA-51-like gene sequence-specific biotin labelled capture probe was designed and immobilized using a synthetic oligomer (FAM-labelled) deposited on the working electrode of a streptavidin-modified, screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). The zot gene was used as an internal control with biotin and FAM labelled as forward and reverse primers, respectively. The blaOXA-51-like gene was amplified using asymmetric PCR (aPCR) to generate single-stranded amplicons that were detected using the designed SPCE. The amperometric current response was detected with a peroxidase-conjugated, anti-fluorescein antibody. The assay was tested using reference and clinical A. baumannii strains and other nosocomial bacteria. The analytical sensitivity of the assay at the genomic level and bacterial cell level was 0.5 pg/mL (1.443 µA) and 103 CFU/mL, respectively. The assay was 100% specific and sensitive for A. baumannii. Based on accelerated stability performance, the developed genosensor was stable for 1.6 years when stored at 4 °C and up to 28 days at >25 °C. The developed electrochemical genosensor is specific and sensitive and could be useful for rapid, accurate diagnosis of A. baumannii infections even in temperate regions.

Background: Rapid identification and investigation of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) is important for suppression of SARS-CoV-2, but the infection source for hospital onset COVID-19 infections (HOCIs) cannot always be readily identified based only on epidemiological data. Viral sequencing data provides additional information regarding potential transmission clusters, but the low mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 can make interpretation using standard phylogenetic methods difficult. Methods: We developed a novel statistical method and sequence reporting tool (SRT) that combines epidemiological and sequence data in order to provide a rapid assessment of the probability of HCAI among HOCI cases (defined as first positive test >48 hr following admission) and to identify infections that could plausibly constitute outbreak events. The method is designed for prospective use, but was validated using retrospective datasets from hospitals in Glasgow and Sheffield collected February–May 2020. Results: We analysed data from 326 HOCIs. Among HOCIs with time from admission ≥8 days, the SRT algorithm identified close sequence matches from the same ward for 160/244 (65.6%) and in the remainder 68/84 (81.0%) had at least one similar sequence elsewhere in the hospital, resulting in high estimated probabilities of within-ward and within-hospital transmission. For HOCIs with time from admission 3–7 days, the SRT probability of healthcare acquisition was >0.5 in 33/82 (40.2%). Conclusions: The methodology developed can provide rapid feedback on HOCIs that could be useful for infection prevention and control teams, and warrants further prospective evaluation. The integration of epidemiological and sequence data is important given the low mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 and its variable incubation period. Funding: COG-UK HOCI funded by COG-UK consortium, supported by funding from UK Research and Innovation, National Institute of Health Research and Wellcome Sanger Institute.

Introduction: Enterococci are important agents of nosocomial infection, ranking as the second most common organisms causing complicated urinary tract infections, bacteraemia, endocarditis, intra-abdominal and pelvic infections, wound and soft tissue infections, neonatal sepsis, and, rarely, meningitis. Infections by enterococci have traditionally been treated with cell wall active agents (e.g., penicillin or ampicillin) in combination with an aminoglycoside (streptomycin/gentamicin); however, emergence of High Level Aminoglycoside Resistance (HLAR), β lactam antibiotics resistance and vancomycin resistance by some strains has led to failure of synergistic effects of combination therapy. Aim: To characterise enterococci up to the species level and study their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Materials and Methods: The present study was a crosssectional study in which a total of 14114 clinical specimens, obtained during the period from September 2018 to August 2020 in this cross-sectional study, were tested to identify and speciate enterococcal isolates using standard microbiological methodology. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics (percentage and proportion). Results: During the study period of two years, 146 enterococci were recovered from 14114 different clinical samples, accounting for an infection rate of 1.03%. Among 146 enterococcal isolates, 116 (79.5%) were obtained from urine, 13 (8.9%) from blood, 10 (6.8%) from pus, 4 (2.7%) from wound swab and 3 (2.1%) from catheter tip. The predominant isolates were E. faecalis (82.2%) followed by E. faecium (15.8%), E.durans (1.3%) and E.gallinarum (0.7%). On studying the antibiotic susceptibility pattern, most of enterococcal isolates were predominantly resistant to ampicillin and ciprofloxacin (73.9% in both) and least resistant to linezolid (3.4%). Conclusion: Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were the predominant species in present study and majority of the isolates was sensitive to linezolid (96.6%). Therefore, it is necessary to implement infection control measures like antimicrobial stewardship especially restricting the use of antibiotics to minimum.

ABSTRACT: Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is the main causative agent of antimicrobial-related diarrhea in humans and a major pathogen-associated enteric disorder in foals and adult horses. Moreover, studies have suggested that animals are a possible reservoir of toxigenic C. difficile strains for humans. Despite this known importance, the epidemiology of C. difficile infection (CDI) in equine is still largely unknown. Therefore, this study described six cases of equine CDI occurring in Minas Gerais, Brazil, including the characterization of the isolates. All but one equine included in this research developed CDI after antimicrobial therapy, three of which occurred during hospitalization. Coinfection with Salmonella Heidelberg and S. Infantis was detected in three cases, making the antimicrobial treatment challenging. All animals recovered after metronidazole administration. All C. difficile isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin, while three were resistant to moxifloxacin and two were resistant to clindamycin. The isolates were classified as RT126 (n = 4), RT078 (n = 1), and RT014/020 (n = 1), all previously reported infecting humans and animals worldwide.

We present a case of a term infant born to an asymptomatic mother at a community hospital who required transfer to a local neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) immediately after birth for respiratory distress. The infant was tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at 24 hours of life by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing due to the absence of prenatal maternal COVID-19 testing and was found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 at that time. A second RT-PCR test was obtained on the infant on day of life (DOL) 4 and was also positive, confirming an accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 disease in the infant. Both the mother and father remained asymptomatic and concomitantly tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on two separate occasions. The infant subsequently clinically improved and was discharged without any complications. This case raises the potential concern for two unreported newborn issues related to COVID-19. First, the potential unreliability of negative maternal COVID-19 testing surrounding the time of delivery as it relates to routine newborn testing and isolation needs, and second, if the negative material testing was accurate, this raises the concern for a potential case of nosocomial COVID-19 infection within the first 24 hours of life.

Objective: Coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused delays in definitive treatment of patients with prostate cancer. Beyond the immediate delay a backlog for future patients is expected. The objective of this work is to develop guidance on criteria for prioritisation of surgery and reconfiguring management pathways for patients with non‐metastatic prostate cancer who opt for surgical treatment. A second aim was to identify the infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to achieve a low likelihood of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) hazard if radical prostatectomy (RP) was to be carried out during the outbreak and whilst the disease is endemic. Methods: We conducted an accelerated consensus process and systematic review of the evidence on COVID‐19 and reviewed international guidance on prostate cancer. These were presented to an international prostate cancer expert panel (n = 34) through an online meeting. The consensus process underwent three rounds of survey in total. Additions to the second‐ and third‐round surveys were formulated based on the answers and comments from the previous rounds. The Consensus opinion was defined as ≥80% agreement and this was used to reconfigure the prostate cancer pathways. Results: Evidence on the delayed management of patients with prostate cancer is scarce. There was 100% agreement that prostate cancer pathways should be reconfigured and measures developed to prevent nosocomial COVID‐19 for patients treated surgically. Consensus was reached on prioritisation criteria of patients for surgery and management pathways for those who have delayed treatment. IPC measures to achieve a low likelihood of nosocomial COVID‐19 were coined as 'COVID‐19 cold' sites. Conclusion: Reconfiguring management pathways for patients with prostate cancer is recommended if significant delay (>3–6 months) in surgical management is unavoidable. The mapped pathways provide guidance for such patients. The IPC processes proposed provide a framework for providing RP within an environment with low COVID‐19 risk during the outbreak or when the disease remains endemic. The broader concepts could be adapted to other indications beyond prostate cancer surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Ralstonia solanacearum is a very rare cause of infection in humans. There is no described nosocomial outbreak due to R. solanacearum so far. We determined R. solanacearum as the source of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) outbreak. Materials and methods: This outbreak analysis was carried out in a 1000-bed tertiary care university hospital in Turkey. The outbreak analysis included hematology, oncology, nephrology, gastroenterology wards, emergency department, and intensive care units. The first case with R. solanacearum CRBSI was detected on May 20, 2019 and R. solanacearum was isolated in catheter blood cultures in 34 patients until October 3, 2019 Results: Standard outbreak analysis procedures were applied. Culture samples were taken from the fluids administered via catheters. The cultures did not yield any bacteria. As a result of the investigation in storage area, it was found that there were leaks, air bubbles, and water drops inside the packaging of saline solutions. R. solanacearum was yielded in the cultures obtained from the surface of saline bags and the inner sides of plastic packings. To validate our hypothesis, a clonal analysis was performed using arbitrarily primed-PCR method and Sanger sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for identification among isolates. All R. solanacearum isolates were monoclonal and identical. Conclusion: This is the first outbreak of R. solanacearum CRBSI described in a hospital setting. The source of the outbreak was a contamination in the surface of saline bags and the inner sides of plastic packings. Efficacy of an active surveillance system, accurate and rapid conduction of microbiological identification are essential for outbreak management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report in this study for the first time the prevalence of multiple resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus in clinical settings in Saudi Arabia. A total of 1060 clinical specimens of hospitalized patients were screened for the presence of S. haemolyticus in the period between September and December 2020. Primary identification of the isolates was carried out by colonial characteristics on mannitol salt agar and clumping factor test, confirmation of presumptive isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Vitek® 2, while PCR was employed to detect mecA and vanA genes. A total of 20 S. haemolyticus isolates were recovered from 20 samples (blood cultures, urine, nasal swab, wound swab, groin swab, and axilla swab), 90% (P <0.001, x2) of the isolates were multiple resistant to three antimicrobial agents and more. Resistance to oxacillin was exhibited in 95% of the isolates, while none of the isolates were resistant to vancomycin and linezolid, yet resistance to rifampicin was observed in 30 % of the isolates. The findings of this study highlights the emerging trends of Staphylococcus haemolyticus as potential drug resistant pathogen in hospital settings in Saudi Arabia, which requires in depth investigation on molecular understanding on antimicrobial resistance and virulence traits of the strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Candida auris is associated with health-care associated infection in Canada. • Strict infection control practices can halt the progression of nosocomial transmission. • Routine chromogenic media can be used to detect Candida auris. • Whole-genome sequencing is helpful in establishing nosocomial transmission. Candida auris was first described in Japan in 2009 and has since been detected in over 40 countries. The yeast is concerning for multiple reasons, primarily: (1) challenges with accurate identification; (2) reported multidrug resistance; (3) published mortality rates of 30%-60%; and (4) persistence in the environment associated with human transmission. We report the emergence of a healthcare-associated cluster in the Greater Vancouver area in 2018 and describe the measures implemented to contain its transmission. Cases were identified through passive and ring surveillance of affected wards. Positive isolates were sent to provincial and national reference laboratories for confirmation and genomic characterization. Extensive infection control measures were implemented immediately after the initial case was identified. Four cases were identified during the outbreak. In a 4-month period, over 700 swabs were collected in order to screen 180 contacts. Whole genome sequencing concluded that all isolates clustered together and belonged to the South Asian clade. No isolates harbored FKS gene mutations associated with resistance to echinocandins. Infection control measures, including surveillance, education, cleaning and/or disinfection, patient cohorting, isolation, and hand hygiene, effectively contained the outbreak; it was declared over within 2 months. The spread of C auris in healthcare facilities has not spared Canadian institutions. Our experience demonstrates that strict infection control measures combined with microbiological screening can effectively halt transmission in healthcare centers. The necessity of active prospective screening remains unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nosocomial infection (hospital-acquired infections) is considered a significant concern for the global health care system. The present study aims to assess radiographers' overall knowledge about nosocomial infection control practices (ICP) in southern West Bank hospitals. A descriptive cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire was conducted. The assessment questions' primary scope was intended to evaluate the overall knowledge of the participated radiographer about ICP and was accomplished in three phases; assess the general knowledge of nosocomial infection, knowledge in the primary infection prevention standards, and knowledge of ICP in the radiology department. The final data analysis was performed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and it included 40 radiographers from private and public hospitals. For the first phase, the participants' main knowledge score was 62.0%; the second phase's main knowledge score was 68.4%, whereas the third phase's main knowledge score was 77.8%. The mean overall awareness was 70.09%, which translated as a moderate awareness. The study also assessed the overall knowledge of the participated radiographer in accordance with participants characteristics; the study indicates no correlation between the awareness of radiographers in nosocomial infection due to the gender, age, and working experience of the radiographers (p =.850, p =.581, p =.038, respectively), while it shows a statistically significant difference in radiographers with long working experiences (62.5%) compared with (37.5%) among radiographers with relatively shorter experiences (p =.038) which reflects that radiographers with longer working experience have more awareness of the ICP. • Health care–associated infections can appear in a patient through hospital medical care or through the other health care facility, which was away at the time of admission. Nosocomial infections can happen during health care delivery for other diseases, and sometimes after the patient's discharge. • Evaluating overall knowledge of radiographers about nosocomial infection control practices in southern West Bank hospitals. • Assessing the general knowledge of nosocomial infection, knowledge in the primary infection prevention standards, and knowledge of infection control practices in the radiology department. • Lack of knowledge was more noticeable in radiographers' identification of significant sources of the infection as well as the proper selection and usage of the personal protective equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a large epidemic (n = 126) of keratoconjunctivitis predominantly with two lineages of adenovirus (AdV) type D8 in patients seen in eye casualty between march and August 2019. Other AdV species identified by viral sequencing included B, C, and E. Despite various features of more severe eye disease being present, these were not significantly different between the different AdV species, with similar rates of pseudomembrane formation and keratitis observed in patients with AdV species B as for those with AdV species D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Enterococci are important agents of nosocomial infection, ranking as the second most common organisms causing complicated urinary tract infections, bacteraemia, endocarditis, intra-abdominal and pelvic infections, wound and soft tissue infections, neonatal sepsis, and, rarely, meningitis. Infections by enterococci have traditionally been treated with cell wall active agents (e.g., penicillin or ampicillin) in combination with an aminoglycoside (streptomycin/gentamicin); however, emergence of High Level Aminoglycoside Resistance (HLAR), ß lactam antibiotics resistance and vancomycin resistance by some strains has led to failure of synergistic effects of combination therapy. Aim: To characterise enterococci up to the species level and study their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Materials and Methods: The present study was a crosssectional study in which a total of 14114 clinical specimens, obtained during the period from September 2018 to August 2020 in this cross-sectional study, were tested to identify and speciate enterococcal isolates using standard microbiological methodology. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics (percentage and proportion). Results: During the study period of two years, 146 enterococci were recovered from 14114 different clinical samples, accounting for an infection rate of 1.03%. Among 146 enterococcal isolates, 116 (79.5%) were obtained from urine, 13 (8.9%) from blood, 10 (6.8%) from pus, 4 (2.7%) from wound swab and 3 (2.1%) from catheter tip. The predominant isolates were E. faecalis (82.2%) followed by E. faecium (15.8%), E.durans (1.3%) and E.gallinarum (0.7%). On studying the antibiotic susceptibility pattern, most of enterococcal isolates were predominantly resistant to ampicillin and ciprofloxacin (73.9% in both) and least resistant to linezolid (3.4%). Conclusion: Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were the predominant species in present study and majority of the isolates was sensitive to linezolid (96.6%). Therefore, it is necessary to implement infection control measures like antimicrobial stewardship especially restricting the use of antibiotics to minimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Influenza is an important cause of viral hospital-acquired infection involving patients, healthcare workers (HCW), and visitors. The frequency of asymptomatic influenza among HCW with possible subsequent transmission is poorly described. The objective is to determine the cumulative incidence of asymptomatic, paucisymptomatic, and symptomatic influenza among HCW. Method A multicenter prospective cohort study was done in 5 French university hospitals, including 289 HCW during the 2016–2017 influenza season. HCW had 3 physical examinations (time [T] 0, before epidemic onset; T.1, before epidemic peak; T.2, T.3, after epidemic peak). A blood sample was taken each time for influenza serology and a nasal swab was collected at T1 and T2 for influenza detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive influenza was defined as either a positive influenza PCR, and/or virus-specific seroconversion against influenza A, the only circulating virus, with no vaccination record during follow-up. Symptoms were self-reported daily between T1 and T2. Cumulative incidence of influenza was stratified by clinical presentation per 100 HCW. Results Of the 289 HCW included, 278 (96%) completed the entire follow-up. Overall, 62 HCW had evidence of influenza of whom 46.8% were asymptomatic, 41.9% were paucisymptomatic, and 11.3% were symptomatic. Cumulative influenza incidence was 22.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.4%–27.2%). Cumulative incidence of asymptomatic influenza was 5.8% (95% CI: 3.3%–9.2%), 13.7% (95% CI: 9.9%–18.2%) for paucisymptomatic influenza, and 2.9% (95% CI: 1.3%–5.5%) for symptomatic influenza. Conclusions Asymptomatic and paucisymptomatic influenza were frequent among HCW, representing 47% and 42% of the influenza burden, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of systematic implementation of infection control measures among HCW regardless of respiratory symptoms from preventing nosocomial transmission of influenza. Clinical Trials Registration NCT02868658. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This is a prospective study with the purpose of presenting strategies to reduce the risk of Nosocomial infections in pediatric intensive care at Universitary Hospital Center "Mother Teresa", Tirana, during the period October 2019 - March 2020. Method. The study included 280 patients (0-14 years old) hospitalized in Pediatric Intensive Care, and were monitored every day from the moment of admission to the exit. Results. During the period October 2019 - March 2020, 10 (3%) patients out of 280 (97%) children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care, resulted with nosocomial respiratory tract infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 40% of cases is the most common cause of nosocomial infections in Intensive Care Pediatrics. The average hospital stay for patients without nosocomial respiratory tract infection was 3.6 days, while those with nosocomial respiratory tract infection was 18.8 days (p < 0.01), regarding to nosocomial urinary tract infections, 13 (4.6%) patients out of 280 (95.4%) patients resulted positive. Escherichia Coli in 38% of cases is the most common cause of nosocomial infections in Intensive Care Pediatrics. Comparison of average of urinary catheters duration in patients with urinary tract infection 3.1 days and them without urinary tract infection 1.5 days (p < 0.01). Conclusıons. Medical and nursing staff play an important role in the dynamic tracking of hospitalized children in intensive pediatric care. Hand washing with bactericidal solutions, use of aseptic techniques during patient manipulation, continuous bacteriological control of the environment, etc., is the strategy for prevention of infections in pediatric intensive care units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary infections typically worsen outcomes of patients recovering from septic shock. Neutrophil [polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs)] migration to secondarily inoculated sites may play a key role in inhibiting progression from local bacterial inoculation to secondary infection. Mitochondrial N-formyl peptide (mtFP) occupancy of formyl peptide receptor-1 (FPR1) has been shown to suppress PMN chemotaxis. Therefore, we studied the association between circulating mtFPs and the development of secondary infection in patients with septic shock. We collected clinical data and plasma samples from patients with septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit for longer than 72 h. Impacts of circulating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit-6 (ND6) upon clinical outcomes were analyzed. Next, the role of ND6 in PMN chemotaxis was investigated using isolated human PMNs. Studying plasma samples from 97 patients with septic shock, we found that circulating ND6 levels at admission were independently and highly associated with the development of secondary infection (odds ratio = 30.317, 95% CI: 2.904 to 316.407, P = 0.004) and increased 90-d mortality (odds ratio = 1.572, 95% CI: 1.002 to 2.465, P = 0.049). In ex vivo experiments, ND6 pretreatment suppressed FPR1-mediated PMN chemotactic responses to bacterial peptides in the presence of multiple cytokines and chemokines, despite increased nondirectional PMN movements. Circulating mtFPs appear to contribute to the development of secondary infection and increased mortality in patients with septic shock who survive their early hyperinflammatory phase. The increased susceptibility to secondary infection is probably partly mediated by the suppression of FPR1-mediated PMN chemotaxis to secondary infected sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to evaluate risk factors of nosocomial influenza (NI) in an university hospital during the 2015/2016 influenza season. All hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness associated with laboratory confirmation by polymerase chain reaction were included in a prospective observational study. We identified 44 cases (19%) of NI among the 233 cases of influenza: 38/178 (21%) in adults and 6/55 (11%) in children. Among adults, hospitalization in a double or multi-occupancy room was independently associated with NI (adjusted Odds Ratio, 3.42; 95% CI, 1.29–9.08; p = 0.013). The results of the study underline the importance of single room to prevent NI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The Erwiniaceae are a family of gram-negative, aerobic coliforms which are pathogenic to a number of plants. Recently described within this family are the Pantoea, strains of which have been associated with infection in immunocompromised children and post-surgical meningitis but also colonisation of a healthy human subject's gastrointestinal tract, as well as a variety of agricultural diseases. In 2015, a further clade of this family was established as the genus Mixta.In this case report, we describe infection of the pleural space and lung parenchyma with members of Mixta in a term neonate following an anastomic leak post-primary repair of congenital trache-oesophageal fistula, causing a respiratory and cardiovascular deterioration. Mixta were identified by MALDI-TOF. The child made a full recovery with use of intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam.The Mixta genus must be added to a list of opportunistic pathogens responsible for infection following perforation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Understanding the effectiveness of infection control methods in reducing and preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in healthcare settings is of high importance. We sequenced SARS-CoV-2 genomes for patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) across multiple geographically distinct UK hospitals, obtaining 173 high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genomes. We integrated patient movement and staff location data into the analysis of viral genome data to understand spatial and temporal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We identified eight patient contact clusters (PCC) with significantly increased similarity in genomic variants compared to non-clustered samples. Incorporation of HCW location further increased the number of individuals within PCCs and identified additional links in SARS-CoV-2 transmission pathways. Patients within PCCs carried viruses more genetically identical to HCWs in the same ward location. SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing integrated with patient and HCW movement data increases identification of outbreak clusters. This dynamic approach can support infection control management strategies within the healthcare setting.

Antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic bacteria are an increasing problem in public health, especially in the healthcare environment, where nosocomial infection microorganisms find their niche. Among these bacteria, the genus Acinetobacter which belongs to the ESKAPE pathogenic group harbors different multi-drug resistant (MDR) species that cause human nosocomial infections. Although A. baumannii has always attracted more interest, the close-related species A. pittii is the object of more study due to the increase in its isolation and MDR strains. In this work, we present the genomic analysis of five clinically isolated A. pittii strains from a Spanish hospital, with special attention to their genetic resistance determinants and plasmid structures. All the strains harbored different genes related to β-lactam resistance, as well as different MDR efflux pumps. We also found and described, for the first time in this species, point mutations that seem linked with colistin resistance, which highlights the relevance of this comparative analysis among the pathogenic species isolates.

Background: Understanding the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile is important for the development and assessment of infection prevention and control practices, as well as surveillance methods and interpretation of diagnostic testing results. Objective: Our objective was to longitudinally evaluate C. difficile shedding in neonatal foals and mares admitted to a referral hospital neonatal intensive care unit. Animals Foals admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit, along with their dams. Methods: Rectal swabs were collected from mares and foals at admission, and then approximately every 3 days, when possible. Selective culture for C. difficile was performed and isolates were characterized by toxin gene PCR and ribotyping. Results: Clostridium difficile was isolated from 103/409 (25%) samples; 65/208 (31%) from foals and 38/201 (19%) from mares. Cumulatively, C. difficile was isolated from at least 1 sample from 50/113 (44%) foals and 30/97 (31%) mares. No association was found between hospitalization day and isolation of C. difficile (P =.13). Twenty‐three different ribotypes were identified, with ribotype 078 predominating. Fifteen foals had 2 positive samples during hospitalization. In only 6/15 (40%) foals was the same strain identified both times (5 ribotype 078 and 1 ribotype 012). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Clostridium difficile is an important pathogen in adult horses and foals, and our findings highlight the complexity surrounding the epidemiology of this opportunistic pathogen. It can be found commonly, transiently, and cluster within a facility in the absence of identifiable disease occurrences or clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Critical care workers were considered to be at high risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection from patients during the first wave of the pandemic. Staff symptoms, previous swab testing, and antibody prevalence were correlated with patient admissions to investigate this assumption. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A large critical care department in a tertiary-care teaching hospital in London, United Kingdom. SUBJECTS: Staff working in critical care. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Participants completed a questionnaire and provided a serum sample for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibody testing over a 3-day period in April 2020. We compared the timing of symptoms in staff to the coronavirus disease 2019 patient admissions to critical care. We also identified factors associated with antibody detection. Of 625 staff, 384 (61.4%) reported previous symptoms and 124 (19.8%) had sent a swab for testing. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection had been confirmed in 37 of those swabbed (29.8%). Overall, 21% (131/625) had detectable severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 antibody, of whom 9.9% (13/131) had been asymptomatic. The peak onset of symptoms among staff occurred 2 weeks before the peak in coronavirus disease 2019 patient admissions. Staff who worked in multiple departments across the hospital were more likely to be seropositive. Staff with a symptomatic household contact were also more likely to be seropositive at 31.3%, compared with 16.2% in those without (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Staff who developed coronavirus disease 2019 were less likely to have caught it from their patients in critical care. Other staff, other areas of the hospital, and the wider community are more likely sources of infection. These findings indicate that personal protective equipment was effective at preventing transmission from patients. However, staff also need to maintain protective measures away from the bedside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Healthcare personnel are at risk for nosocomial acquisition of COVID-19. • We evaluated the exposure history of hospital personnel with COVID-19. • Twenty-five percent of personnel with COVID-19 were exposed to an infected patient or co-worker. • Exposure to infected co-workers occurred in nonpatient care settings. • Fourteen percent of personnel with COVID-19 were exposed in the community. In our facility, 25% of personnel with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a higher-risk exposure to an infected patient or co-worker and 14% reported a higher-risk exposure in the community. All higher-risk exposures to infected patients occurred on non-COVID-19 units, often when there was a delay in diagnosis because COVID-19 was not initially suspected. Higher-risk exposures to co-workers with COVID-19 often involved lapses in compliance with masking in nonpatient care areas such as nursing stations and staff work or break rooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Switzerland each year, influenza leads to between 112,000 and 275,000 medical consultations. Data on nosocomial influenza infection are limited.Aim: To describe nosocomial cases of seasonal influenza in south-western Switzerland.Methods: This study was conducted during two seasonal influenza epidemics from 2016 to 2018 in 27 acute care public hospitals in south-western Switzerland. During these two time-periods, every patient hospitalized for >72 h who was positively screened by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or antigen detection for influenza was included in the survey. Characteristics of patients included age, sex, and comorbidities. Included patients were followed up until discharge or death. Complications and administration of antineuraminidases and/or antibiotics were registered.Findings: The median influenza vaccine coverage of healthcare workers was 40%. In all, 836 patients were included (98% with type A influenza virus in 2016-2017; 77% with type B virus in 2017-2018). Most patients (81%) had an unknown vaccine status. Overall, the incidence of nosocomial influenza was 0.5 per 100 admissions (0.35 per 1000 patient-days). The most frequent comorbidities were diabetes (20%), chronic respiratory diseases (19%), and malnutrition (17%). Fever (77%) and cough (66%) were the most frequent symptoms. Seventy-one percent of patients received antineuraminidases, 28% received antibiotics. Infectious complications such as pneumonia were reported in 9%. Overall, the all-cause mortality was 6%.Conclusion: The occurrence of nosocomial influenza underlines the importance of vaccinating patients and healthcare workers, rapidly recognizing community- or hospital-acquired cases, and applying adequate additional measures to prevent dissemination, including the timely administration of antineuraminidases to avoid antibiotic use (and misuse). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is a common pathogen associated with hospital and community-onset infections. This study aimed to compare the clinical and microbiological characteristics of nosocomial, healthcare-associated (HCA), and community-acquired (CA) K. pneumoniae infections. Methods: Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records and analyzed retrospectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production were determined for all identified strains. Carbapenemase and ESBL genes were amplified by PCR. Genotyping of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) and ESBL-producing strains was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results: Of 379 K. pneumoniae infections, 98 (25.9%) were nosocomial, 195 (51.5%) were healthcare-associated, and 86 (22.6%) were community-acquired. Hematological malignancy (OR = 4.467), and hypertension (OR = 2.08) and cerebral vascular disease (OR = 2.486) were associated with nosocomial and HCA infections respectively, when compared to CA infections. Overall, the incidence of antimicrobial resistance for the majority of agents tested was similar between nosocomial and HCA infections (P > 0.05) and both groups had a higher incidence than CA infections (P < 0.05). Moreover, 95.1% (78/82) of CRKP strains were isolated from the nosocomial and HCA groups. The blaKPC was the most prevalent carbapenemase gene among CRKP strains (80.5%, 66/82). ESBL-producing strains were prevalent among nosocomial (40.8%), HCA (35.9%) and CA groups (24.4%). The blaCTX-M-9-group and blaCTX-M-1-group genes were predominant in nosocomial (65.0%) and CA strains (66.7%), respectively. PFGE results showed ESBL-producing and CRKP strains were genetically diverse. Identical PFGE profiles were observed among HCA and nosocomial strains. Conclusions: Nosocomial and HCA K. pneumoniae infections presented similar clinical features and antimicrobial resistance, and both two types of infections were different to CA infections. CRKP and ESBL-producing strains were disseminated mainly in HCA and nosocomial groups, and showed a clonal diversity. The cross transmission of CRKP was existed among HCA and nosocomial patients. This finding suggests that similar empirical therapy should be considered for patients with nosocomial and HCA K. pneumoniae infections and bacterial resistance surveillance of these infections is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: According to the Centers for Disease Control's 2015 Hospital Acquired Infection Hospital Prevalence Survey, 1 in 31 hospital patients was infected with at least one nosocomial pathogen while being treated for unrelated issues. Many studies associate antibiotic administration with nosocomial infection occurrence. However, to our knowledge, there is little to no direct evidence of antibiotic administration selecting for nosocomial opportunistic pathogens. Aim: This study aims to confirm gut microbiota shifts in an animal model of antibiotic treatment to determine whether antibiotic use favors pathogenic bacteria. Methodology: We utilized next-generation sequencing and in-house metagenomic assembly and taxonomic assignment pipelines on the fecal microbiota of a urinary tract infection mouse model with and without antibiotic treatment. Results: Antibiotic therapy decreased the number of detectable species of bacteria by at least 20-fold. Furthermore, the gut microbiota of antibiotic treated mice had a significant increase of opportunistic pathogens that have been implicated in nosocomial infections, like Acinetobacter calcoaceticus/baumannii complex, Chlamydia abortus, Bacteroides fragilis, and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Moreover, antibiotic treatment selected for antibiotic resistant gene enriched subpopulations for many of these opportunistic pathogens. Conclusions: Oral antibiotic therapy may select for common opportunistic pathogens responsible for nosocomial infections. In this study opportunistic pathogens present after antibiotic therapy harbored more antibiotic resistant genes than populations of opportunistic pathogens before treatment. Our results demonstrate the effects of antibiotic therapy on induced dysbiosis and expansion of opportunistic pathogen populations and antibiotic resistant subpopulations of those pathogens. Follow-up studies with larger samples sizes and potentially controlled clinical investigations should be performed to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause deadly healthcare-associated outbreaks. In a major London teaching hospital, 66 of 435 (15%) COVID-19 inpatient cases between 2 March and 12 April 2020 were definitely or probably hospital-acquired, through varied transmission routes. The case fatality was 36%. Nosocomial infection rates fell following comprehensive infection prevention and control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is often more severe and life-threatening than community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The role of Streptococcus pneumoniae in CAP is well-understood, but its role in HAP is unclear. The objective of this study was to summarize the available literature on the prevalence of S. pneumoniae in HAP episodes. We searched MEDLINE for peer-reviewed articles on the microbiology of HAP in individuals aged ≥18 years, published between 2008 and 2018. We calculated pooled estimates of the prevalence of S. pneumoniae in episodes of HAP using a random-effects, inverse-variance-weighted meta-analysis. Forty-seven of 1908 articles met the inclusion criteria. Bacterial specimen isolation techniques for microbiologically defined HAP episodes included bronchoalveolar lavage, protective specimen brush, tracheobronchial aspirate and sputum, as well as blood culture. Culture was performed in all studies; five studies also used urine antigen detection (5/47; 10.6%). S. pneumoniae was identified in 5.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8-6.6%) of microbiologically defined HAP episodes (N = 20), with 5.4% (95% CI: 4.3-6.7%, N = 29) in ventilator-associated HAP and 6.0% (95% CI: 4.1-8.8%, N = 6) in non-ventilator-associated HAP. S. pneumoniae was identified in 5.3% (95% CI: 4.5-6.3%) of HAP occurring in the intensive care unit (ICU, N = 41) and in 5.6% (95% CI: 3.3-9.5%, N = 5) outside the ICU. A higher proportion of early-onset HAP (10.3%; 95% CI: 8.3-12.8%, N = 16) identified S. pneumoniae as compared with late-onset HAP (3.3%; 95% CI: 2.5-4.4%, N = 16). In conclusion, S. pneumoniae was identified by culture in 5.1% of microbiologically defined HAP episodes. The importance of HAP as part of the disease burden caused by S. pneumoniae merits further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nosocomial infections are diseases acquired within 48 hours or more of hospital admission or within 30 days of discharge. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding nosocomial infection and their prevention among health care workers. To determine the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice regarding nosocomial infection and their prevention among health care workers. To find out association between the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding nosocomial infection and their prevention among health care workers. The research design selected for the study was descriptive research design and a total 100 health care staff were selected as study sample tool was used for data collection. Self-introduction was given and purpose of gathering the information and nature of study was explained before taking information through non probability convenient sampling technique. A self- structured questionnaire, consent was signed by participants. The result revealed that the most of the health care staff 76(76%) had excellent knowledge regarding nosocomial infection and their prevention less than half, 43(43%) had positive attitude regarding nosocomial infection and their prevention. On the contrary, 74(74%) had excellent practice regarding nosocomial infection and their prevention. On applying the spearman correlation test, relationship between knowledge and attitude was found to be significant at p<0.05. Hence, researchers concluded that the present study was undertaken to identify the level of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding nosocomial infection and prevention among health care staff in selected hospitals of Punjab. The finding showed that majority of the participants had excellent knowledge and practice. There were gaps in relationship between knowledge and practice and attitude which is found to be not significant at p<0.05. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nosocomial pathogens are known to exacerbate morbidity and mortality in contemporary critical healthcare. Hospital fomites, which include inanimate surfaces, have been identified as "breeding grounds" for pathogens that cause nosocomial infections. This systematic review aimed to deliver incisive insights on nosocomial pathogens in intensive care units (ICUs) and the role of fomites as potential reservoirs for their transmission., Method: An extensive exploration of electronic databases, including PubMed and Scopus, from 1990 to 2023, was carried out between 25 th and 29 th May 2023, per standard PRISMA guidelines. Information were extracted from articles that reported on fomites in the ICU. Studies that did not quantitatively report the fomite contamination, and those that exclusively took samples from patients in the ICU were excluded from the analysis., Results: About 40% of the total samples collected on fomites from all the studies yielded microbial growth, with species of Staphylococcus being the most predominant. Other prevalent microbes were Acinetobacter baumannii , Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Candida spp., Enterococcus sp., and Enterobacter sp. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) had the highest proportion of contaminated fomites. Among known fomites, the sphygmomanometer exhibited a 100% detection rate of nosocomial pathogens. This included E. aerogenes , Staphylococcus aureus , coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS), E. coli , and K. pneumoniae. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli , and MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa were commonly isolated on fomites in the ICUs., Conclusion: Many fomites that are readily used in patient care in the ICU harbour nosocomial pathogens. The most common fomite appeared to be mobile phones, sphygmomanometers, and stethoscopes, with Staphylococcus being the most common contaminant. Consequently, the need for rigorous disinfection and sterilization protocols on fomites in the ICU cannot be overemphasized. Additionally, heightened awareness on the subject among health professionals is crucial to mitigating the risk and burden of nosocomial infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a bacterium widely distributed in the environment. Listeriosis is a severe disease associated with high hospitalisation and mortality rates. In April 2019, listeriosis was diagnosed in two hospital patients in Finland. We conducted a descriptive study to identify the source of the infection and defined a case as a person with a laboratory-confirmed Lm serogroup IIa sequence type (ST) 37. Six cases with Lm ST 37 were notified to the Finnish Infectious Diseases Registry between 2015 and 2019. Patient interviews and hospital menus were used to target traceback investigation of the implicated foods. In 2021 and 2022, similar Lm ST 37 was detected from samples of a ready-to-eat plant-based food product including fava beans. Inspections by the manufacturer and the local food control authority indicated that the food products were contaminated with Lm after pasteurisation. Our investigation highlights the importance that companies producing plant-based food are subject to similar controls as those producing food of animal origin. Hospital menus can be a useful source of information that is not dependent on patient recall.

Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K. pneumoniae ) cultures from a hospital-wide outbreak in the UK, which lasted for over 12 months, were sequenced. We sought to sequence and genetically characterise the outbreak strain. Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) was performed on 65 K. pneumoniae isolates saved from the outbreak. All isolates were sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION flowcell: 10 isolates, including the isolate with the earliest collection date in 2017, were additionally sequenced on the NovaSeq 6000 platform to build high-accuracy nanopore-illumina assemblies. Among the sequenced strains, 60 were typed as ST628. 96.6% ( n = 58/60) ST628 strains harboured a large ~247-kb FIB(K) plasmid carrying up to 11 antimicrobial resistance genes, including the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) gene, bla CTX-M-15 . Clonality between the outbreak isolates was confirmed using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing. The outbreak strains were phylogenetically related to clinical ST628 strains identified in 2012, 6 years prior to the outbreak. A rare ESBL K. pneumoniae was detected across multiple independent wards during the protracted nosocomial outbreak. Surveillance of this strain is recommended to prevent future nosocomial outbreaks.bla CTX-M-15 was detected across multiple independent wards during the protracted nosocomial outbreak. Surveillance of this strain is recommended to prevent future nosocomial outbreaks.

Background: Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. These infections are diverse, but the majority are lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), surgical site infection (SSI), bloodstream infection (BSI), and urinary tract infection (UTI). For most sub-Saharan African countries, studies revealing the burden and impact of HAI are scarce, and few systematic reviews and meta-analysis have been attempted. We sought to fill this gap by reporting recent trends in HAI in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with attention to key patient populations, geographic variation, and associated mortality., Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a literature search of six electronic databases (Web of Science, Pubmed, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) to identify studies assessing the prevalence of HAI in SSA countries. Studies published between 01 January 2014 and 31 December 2023 were included. We applied no language or publication restrictions. Record screening and data extractions were independently conducted by teams of two or more reviewers. Using the R software (version 4.3.1) meta and metafor packages, we calculated the pooled prevalence estimates from random-effect meta-analysis, and further explored sources of heterogeneity through subgroup analyses and meta-regression. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42023433271., Findings: Forty-one relevant studies were identified for analysis, consisting of 15 from West Africa (n = 2107), 12 from Southern Africa (n = 2963), 11 from East Africa (n = 2142), and 3 from Central Africa (n = 124). A total of 59.4% of the patient population were associated with paediatric admissions. The pooled prevalence of HAI was estimated at 12.9% (95% CI: 8.9-17.4; n = 7336; number of included estimates [k] = 41, p < 0.001). By subregions, the pooled current prevalence of HAI in the West Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa and Central Africa were estimated at 15.5% (95% CI: 8.3-24.4; n = 2107; k = 15), 6.5% (95% CI: 3.3-10.7; n = 2963; k = 12), 19.7% (95% CI: 10.8-30.5; n = 2142; k = 11) and 10.3% (95% CI: 1.1-27.0; n = 124; k = 3) of the patient populations respectively. We estimated mortality resulting from HAI in SSA at 22.2% (95% CI: 14.2-31.4; n = 1118; k = 9)., Interpretation: Our estimates reveal a high burden of HAI in SSA with significant heterogeneity between regions. Variations in HAI distribution highlight the need for infection prevention and surveillance strategies specifically tailored to enhance prevention and management with special focus on West and East Africa, as part of the broader global control effort., Funding: No funding was received for this study., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024 The Authors.)