Comprehensive Infection Control Research Articles

Analyzing the Prevalence and Patterns of Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens Causing Surgical Site Infections

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) remain a critical healthcare challenge, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. SSIs represent the third most common nosocomial infection globally with an incidence of 19-20%, while their prevalence in Pakistan was significantly higher, ranging up to 33.6%. The emergence of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) organisms has worsened this issue. Objective: To determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens responsible for SSIs and analyze their antibiotic susceptibility patterns over the past decade. Methods: A systematic review was conducted adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Studies published between 2006 and 2023 were included. Data on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms associated with SSIs were extracted and analyzed through several databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Sci-hub and Science Direct) using Boolean logic “AND” and “OR”, and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH Terms) and keywords. A total of 70 articles were retrieved from which 16 articles were considered eligible after applying detailed inclusion/exclusion criteria and removing the duplicates and irrelevant articles. Results: The study identified Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter spp. as predominant MDR pathogens. A significant increase in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains was observed over the study period. Gram-negative bacteria exhibited a higher resistance rate (66.8%) compared to Gram-positive organisms (51.1%). Conclusions: The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens underscores the urgent need for comprehensive infection prevention and control measures to address the burden of SSIs. Targeted interventions, antimicrobial stewardship, and continued surveillance were essential to combat this growing challenge.

Critical measures for the prevention and control of respiratory infectious diseases in the workplace: a South African facilities management perspective

PurposeThis study aims to comprehensively examine the respiratory infection prevention and control measures used in South African workplaces, particularly in the context of facilities management (FM), during the 2020–2022 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe present research involved pre-crafted semi-structured interviews conducted by University of the Witwatersrand students with FM heads in Johannesburg, South Africa. Recurrent themes were generated using NVIVO software and analysed using frequencies, word counts and word clouds.FindingsThis study identified 119 measures and placed these into two broad categories. Twelve critical measures were found. These measures were further validated by five FM experts, separate from FM heads, who cross-referenced them with WHO guidelines, enhancing the credibility of the findings. Subsequently, challenges with implementing these measures were explored.Practical implicationsThe findings have direct relevance to the work of FM professionals, as they suggest that applying timely and comprehensive infection prevention and control measures can help employees to safely continue to work or return to the workplace during any future epidemic outbreaks.Originality/valueThus far, limited studies have explored critical measures used to prevent and control COVID-19 in the workplaces of developing countries during the 2020–2022 pandemic.

Dissemination of Urinary Escherichia coli Phylogroup B2 in Provincial and Community Hospitals in Uthai Thani, Central Thailand.

Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes a variety of clinical infections in humans, including diarrhea, sepsis, and urinary tract infection. This bacterium is a common multidrug-resistant threat in community and hospital settings worldwide. This study examined the antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic relationship based on Clermont phylotyping and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR of 84 E. coli urinary isolates from provincial and community hospitals in Thailand. All isolates were susceptible to nitrofurantoin, and almost all isolates were susceptible to carbapenem, fosfomycin, and amikacin. High resistance rates to fluoroquinolone, ampicillin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were observed. Clermont phylogroup B2 was predominant (n = 58). Subtyping of the B2 phylogroup revealed diverse subgroups, of which subgroup V (n = 11), VII (n = 9), III (n = 6), and II (n = 6) were most prevalent. ERIC-PCR showed that the strains of the B2 subgroups III and V were spread between provincial and community hospitals and between hospital wards. This evidence suggests the need for comprehensive infection control monitoring, with strong active surveillance at all hospital levels.

Exploring bacterial profiles and antibiotic susceptibility patterns in urinary tract infection cases at Idlib university hospital, Syria

The main objective of this study was to identify, analyze, and evaluate the bacteriological profile and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) among patients at Idlib University Hospital in Northwest Syria. By isolating and characterizing the uropathogens, the study aimed to gain insights into their current antimicrobial susceptibilities. This information is crucial in order to combat the increasing antibiotic resistance and provide effective treatment options for UTIs, which are prevalent both in the community and hospital settings.This observational research took place at Idlib University Hospital in Northwest Syria spanning from June 2022 to December 2023. Our study involved 320 patients exhibiting symptoms of UTI (68.4% females and 31.6% males). Urine samples were cultured to identify the microorganisms responsible for UTI. Biochemical tests were employed to identify the isolated bacteria, while the antimicrobial susceptibility was determined through disk diffusion susceptibility testing. Our study found to be the leading cause of UTIs, accounting for 58.4% of cases, followed by spp. Gram-negative bacteria comprised 85% of isolated strains. The 13–65 age group showed the highest UTI susceptibility (41.3%). High resistance was observed to ampicillin/sulbactam, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and co-trimoxazole. Conversely, minimal resistance was noted against Meropenem, Imipenem, Gentamicin, and Levofloxacin.This research highlights the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infections within the hospital under study. Hence, there is an imperative to enhance the efficiency of comprehensive infection control initiatives to effectively handle and regulate hospital-acquired infections caused by highly resistant microorganisms.

COVID-19 infections among health care workers at a university hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection among health care workers (HCWs) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A prospective cross-sectional study of HCWs confirmed to have COVID-19 infection from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022. A total of 746 HCWs were diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients' age ranged from 22 to 60 years with a mean±standard deviation of 37.4±8.7 years. The infection was community-acquired in 584 (78.3%) HCWs. The vast majority (82.6%) of the infected HCWs had no comorbidities. Nurses (400/746 or 53.6%) represented the largest professional group, followed by physicians (128/746 or 17.2%), administrative staff (125/746 or 16.8%), respiratory therapists (54/746 or 7.2%), and physiotherapists (39/746 or 5.2%). Symptoms included fever (64.1%), cough (55.6%), sore throat (44.6%), headache (22.9%), runny nose (19.6%), shortness of breath (19.0%), fatigue (12.7%), body aches (11.4%), diarrhea (10.9%), vomiting (4.4%), and abdominal pain (2.8%). Most (647 or 86.7%) patients were managed as outpatients. Four (0.5%) HCWs died. HCWs face a dual risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, both from community exposure and within the hospital setting. Comprehensive infection control strategies are needed to protect HCWs both inside and outside the hospital environment.

Multidrug-resistant Organism and Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns, before, during, and after the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in the Dr. M. Djamil Central General Hospital, Padang, Indonesia

Abstract Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This study aimed to investigate the MDRO incidence and antibiotic sensitivity trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic at Dr. M. Djamil Central General Hospital in Padang, Indonesia. Methods: A total of 5539 clinical samples were collected and analyzed using the VITEK2 system to identify MDRO types. The study periods were defined as before (prepandemic), during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The incidence of MDROs increased significantly during and after the pandemic, with 1.64 and 1.42 times higher rates compared to the prepandemic period, respectively. Specific MDRO types that showed increased prevalence included Escherichia coli-producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (Eco-ESBL), carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), carbapenem-resistant E. coli (CREC), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Antibiotic sensitivity decreased during and after the pandemic for K. pneumoniae-producing ESBL s, CRKP, and CRAB, as well as for CREC and CRPA during the pandemic. In contrast, antibiotic sensitivity increased for Eco-ESBL and MRSA during and after the pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly contributed to the increased incidence of MDROs and decreased antibiotic effectiveness against these pathogens in the study setting. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive infection control measures and antimicrobial stewardship programs to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on MDRO epidemiology.

Evaluation of Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia Bloodstream Infections in a Tertiary Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery Intensive Care Unit in Turkey

Background: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia poses a significant challenge as a drug-resistant opportunistic bacterium, particularly in ICU settings. However, its impact on pediatric ICU patients, especially those undergoing cardiovascular surgery, are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the factors behind S. maltophilia bloodstream infections (BSI) in our tertiary pediatric cardiovascular surgery ICU by evaluating the 2-year data. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed data of 11 (mean age 20.3±17.6 months) and 18 cases (mean age 22.4±18.5 months) diagnosed with S. maltophilia BSI out of 635 and 685 children who underwent cardiovascular surgery from March 2021 to February 2022, and March 2022 to February 2023, respectively. Factors including age, gender, cardiac pathologies, surgical risk scores, duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics were compared. Results: The incidence of S. maltophilia BSI increased by 50.5% in 2022-2023 compared to the previous year. While no significant differences were noted in age, gender, or surgical frequency, notable distinctions emerged in ECMO and mechanical ventilation durations, ICU length of stay, and broad-spectrum antibiotic usage (p values<0.05). Conclusion: Prolonged ECMO and mechanical ventilation, along with extended ICU stays and broad-spectrum antibiotic administration following highrisk cardiac surgeries, emerged as significant contributors to S. maltophilia BSI in our ICU. This underscores the necessity for a comprehensive approach encompassing infection control protocols, prudent antimicrobial utilization, and strategies to minimize invasive procedures. Such a multifaceted approach is paramount in mitigating the prevalence of S. maltophilia BSI, especially in high-risk ICU environments.

Systematic Review of the Epidemiology, disease severity and preventive measures of Mpox disease: A public health guideline for densely-populated countries

Background Research on Mpox is essential to protect public health, develop effective interventions, and enhance global preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks. Owing to the scarcity of any specific treatment for Mpox disease, public health guidelines are important for patient care and management. Therefore, this systematic review suggests a public health policy guidelines to control Mpox diseases, especially in densely populated countries. Methods In this systematic review study, the databases and search engines PubMed, Scopus, BanglaJol, WHO, and Google Scholar were searched, and related literature was retrieved for further investigation. Articles describing monkeypox epidemiology, clinical symptoms, and preventive strategies, and published in English language were the core inclusion criteria; articles published in other languages were excluded. All records in the literature were managed through Mendeley (version 1.19.4) reference manager and summarized for further investigation. Results Mpox severity is prevalent in America and Europe. Male (96.3%) and young adults aged 18-44 years (mean: 34 years) were the most vulnerable population due to the virus. Among the patients, rash and fever were the most frequent symptoms, with cough, vomiting, anogenital pain and/or bleeding, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, and genital edema being the least prevalent symptoms in less than 5% of the patients. As there is no specific treatment for the disease, infection control in densely populated countries require early detection, isolation of infected individuals, strict infection control measures, mass vaccination campaigns, education, public awareness campaigns, and continued investment in research. Conclusions This study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive infection control strategies, including early detection, strict isolation protocols, mass vaccination initiatives, and ongoing research investment given the absence of specific treatment options for the disease.

QAPI 113 - A Comprehensive infection control response to a norovirus outbreak on an adult inpatient hematologic oncology and clinical trials unit

QAPI 113 - A Comprehensive infection control response to a norovirus outbreak on an adult inpatient hematologic oncology and clinical trials unit

Genetic relatedness, antibiotic resistance, and virulence of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from health care and food sources in Wuhan, China

To investigate genetic relatedness and antibiotic resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae from retail meat samples, clinical source samples, and hospital environmental samples in Wuhan, China. Hypermucoviscosity and biofilm formation of K. pneumoniae were assessed by string test and crystal violet staining. MICs of 18 antimicrobials were determined by broth microdilution. PCR detected 14 antibiotic resistance genes. Genetic relatedness and clonal dissemination were analyzed by PFGE. Among 5,730 samples, 46 were tested positive for K pneumoniae, with higher rates observed in meat (23.4%) than in clinical samples (0.6%) and hospital environmental samples (8.0%). Meat-derived isolates showed high resistance to tetracycline (36.4%, 4/11), sulfonamide (27.3%, 3/11), and gentamicin (27.3%, 3/11), whereas clinical isolates exhibited significant resistance to ampicillin-sulbactam (32.3%, 10/31). Multidrug resistance was observed in 17.4% (8/46) of the isolates, particularly in hospital environmental samples (3/4). Biofilm production was observed in 88.1% (37/42) of K pneumoniae. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed patient-to-patient K pneumoniae transmission, transmission between patients and hospital environment, as well as cross-contamination between markets. The findings underscore the importance of comprehensive surveillance, infection control, and judicious antibiotic use in mitigating the impact of K pneumoniae on public health, especially in the food chain and health care settings.

Antibiotic management programme in a tertiary intensive care unit: effects of a carbapenem-restricted period on clinical and laboratory parameters and costs of infections

Carbapenems are antibiotics used for serious infections. The consumption of carbapenems has increased worldwide due to increasing microbial resistance. To investigate the effects of a carbapenem-restricted antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) on changes in the resistance profiles of infectious agents, the amount of antibiotics used, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), mortality, and costs. Patients hospitalized in ICU between July 1st, 2020 and May 1st, 2021 were divided into two periods: the carbapenem-non-restricted period (CNRP); and the carbapenem-restricted period (CRP) in which alternative antibiotics to carbapenems were preferred during infection. The defined daily dose (DDD) per 100 patient-day methodology was used to calculate the antibiotic consumption. Of the 572 patients included in the study, 62.2% were male, and mean age was 70.5 years. In the blood culture the most frequently Gram-negative agent was Acinetobacter baumannii (25%). A.baumannii bloodstream infections with multidrug-resistant and extensively drug resistant micro-organisms were significantly different between the two periods (CNRP: 95.6% (N= 22), CRP: 66.6% (N= 8); P= 0.04). There was a gradual decrease in the incidence density and rate of nosocomial infection (P= 0.06), and a significant decrease in meropenem consumption between the two periods (CNRP vs CRP: 21.19 vs 6.37 DDD per 100 patient-days respectively; P= 0.007). ASP yielded US$8,600 of antibiotic cost savings and a total of 14% patient cost savings (P < 0.05) per patient. Combining an effective ASP with a comprehensive infection control programme may mitigate the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

Awareness on the Waste Management Practices and Causes for Increased Urban Waste Generation among the General Public in Western Province, Sri Lanka

he upsurge in waste generation and improper management of waste possess serious issues to individuals‘ health and the environment. The administration of waste holds a crucial part in waste organization and proper waste management practices are essential to control the increase of urban waste and associated hazards. The present study aimed to assess the awareness on causes for increased urban waste and the practices of the general public on waste management. A descriptive cross-sectional study in Western Province, Sri Lanka was conducted among males and females within the age group of 20 to 60. 150 individuals were recruited using the quota sampling method and a self-administered questionnaire was distributed in English, Sinhala, and Tamil languages. Additionally, using SPSS software, the results were statistically analyzed. As per the data that was analyzed, 51.3% of the respondents were between the ages of 20 and 30. Most of the participants, 87.3% were aware of the increase in urban waste, and 88.6% stated the management of waste can hold a positive impact on suitable development. However, 40.6% have stated industrial waste as the major source associated with the surging urban waste indicating the unawareness of household waste as the primary source. Furthermore, though 84.6% divide inorganic and organic waste, according to 64% of participants, e-waste is not discarded using proper channels. Thus, there is an increased risk of health implications as e-waste chemical constituents could be hazardous to both human health and the environment. In the opinion of 89.3%, further training on waste management should be carried out while 52% of the respondents have declared not attaining any practices on waste management. Hence, an increase in the urban waste can be visible as the participants were inexperienced and unfamiliar with efficient waste disposal and management methods. The evidence that is currently available from this study suggests that there is a need to enhance community awareness, encourage training, and change people's attitudes regarding waste. A comprehensive infection control program combined with safe disposal of waste is recommended to achieve sustainable and economically viable waste management. &#x0D; Keywords: Urban, Waste management, e-waste, Training

Improving compliance with personal protective equipment among anaesthetists through behaviour-changing interventions during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic.

Since 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seen many changes in our daily infection prevention behaviours so as to reduce healthcare-associated transmission of COVID-19 in patients and healthcare workers. In the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, there was much emphasis on compliant personal protective equipment utilization in the operating theatres (OTs) for COVID-19-positive patients. However, during this period, there was a lack of international validated protocols on the appropriate handling and subsequent storage of personal protective equipment in the context of aerosol-generating procedures in OTs for asymptomatic antigen rapid test (ART)-negative patients. Given the potential for transmission even with a negative ART due to the incubation period, our team developed a checklist of eye protection (e.g. goggles/face shield) and N95 mask handling and storage in non-isolation OTs for these patients. We sought to improve the compliance of best practices from 20% to 80% amongst junior anaesthetists in Singapore General Hospital so as to prevent infection transmission and cross-contamination in the OT through education and behaviour-changing interventions. This quality improvement project took place over 19 weeks from June to October 2020 by our team of anaesthetists and nurse clinicians in the non-isolation OT setting. To analyse the problem, we performed a root cause analysis to understand attitudes and beliefs driving their behaviour. The top 80% of cited root causes for non-compliance then guided prioritization of resources for subsequent behaviour-changing interventions. Using the comprehensive infection control checklist, we conducted several plan-do-study-act cycles while implementing this new checklist amongst junior anaesthetists. A total of 227 assessments of junior anaesthetists were made in the care of asymptomatic ART-negative patients. Compliance with correctly handling goggles post-intubation started out as 33.3% in Week 1, which improved to 78.5% by Week 19. Compliance with goggle storage and face shield disposal started out at 13.6% in Week 1 and increased to 78.6% by Week 19. We attributed this improvement to education and behaviour-changing interventions. This quality improvement project focusing on improving compliance with personal protective equipment utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic in the management of asymptomatic ART-negative patients in non-isolation OTs demonstrated the importance of interventions of education, persuasion, modelling, and training in effecting and sustaining organizational behaviour change in physicians and other healthcare personnel.

Phenotypic Detection of Carbapenemase and AmpC-β-Lactamase Production among Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. Isolated from Clinical Specimens.

Introduction: Data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are sparse across numerous African countries, as microbiological analyses are not routinely conducted and surveillance data are not collected. Accordingly, clinical samples are not routinely tested for carbapenem-resistant bacteria and, therefore, the general understanding of their prevalence in the region remains limited. Methods: Between January 2020 and June 2022, we collected extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) isolates from five hospitals in Burkina Faso. After an initial culture on ESBL-selective media, the species were identified using API20E and isolates were tested against 13 antimicrobial agents using the disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar. ESBL production was confirmed via a double-disc synergy test. Production of carbapenemases and AmpC-β-lactamases and phenotypic co-resistance were determined. Results: Among the 473 ESBL-PE, 356 were ESBL-E. coli (ESBL-Ec) and 117 were Klebsiella spp. (ESBL-K). Of these isolates, 5.3% were carbapenemase and 5.3% were AmpC-β-lactamase-positive. Three types of carbapenemases were identified: 19 NDM, 3 OXA-48-like and 1 VIM. Two isolates produced both NDM and OXA-48-like carbapenemases. Carbapenemase producers were detected at all levels of healthcare. Co-resistance rates were up to 85% for aminoglycosides, 90% for sulfonamides, 95% for fluoroquinolones and 25% for chloramphenicol. Fosfomycin resistance was 6% for ESBL-Ec and 49% for ESBL-K (49%). Conclusions: Some of the ESBL-Ec and ESBL-K co-produced carbapenemases and/or AmpC-β-lactamases at all healthcare levels and in various sample types with high co-resistance rates to non-betalactams. Carbapenem resistance is no longer rare, calling for testing in routine diagnostics, a comprehensive resistance surveillance system and infection control within healthcare.

Infection control strategies for healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in German hospitals: A cross-sectional study in march–april 2021

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCW) are at risk of getting infected with COVID-19 at work. To prevent such incidents and provide a safe environment in hospitals, comprehensive infection control strategies are necessary. We aimed to collect information on COVID-19 infection control strategies regarding personal protective equipment (PPE), regulations during breaks for HCW and dissemination of pandemic-related information. MethodsWe invited infection control practitioners from 987 randomly selected German hospitals in March–April 2021 to participate in our cross-sectional online survey. We categorized the hospital based on bed capacity (≤499 beds = small; ≥500 beds = large). Fisher's exact test was performed and p < 0.05 defined as statistically significant. Findings100 participants completed the questionnaire. Small hospitals were more directive about requiring FFP2 respirators (63%), whereas larger hospitals more often gave their HCW a choice between these and medical masks (67%). For the care of COVID-19 and suspected COVID-19 cases, >90% of the participants recommended the use of gloves. Notably, gloves were recommended beyond COVID-19 in 30% of the hospitals. During meal breaks various strategies were followed. ConclusionRecommendations for PPE varied across hospital sizes, which could be due to different assessments of necessity and safety. Regulations during breaks varied strongly which illustrates the need for clear official guidelines.

Impact of intensified prevention measures on the rate of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections among mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased rates of hospital-acquired infections. During the early months of the pandemic, we observed high rates of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HA-BSIs) among COVID-19 patients, prompting the implementation of intensified prevention measures. To assess the prevalence of HA-BSI among mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients, identify risk factors, and evaluate the effect of prevention measures. We conducted a retrospective matched case-control study in adult medical step-up units between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. We matched mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients with ventilated non-COVID-19 patients based on age group and length of stay before ventilation. In response to the high rates of HA-BSI among COVID-19 patients, a comprehensive infection control intervention was implemented. A total of 136 COVID-19 patients were matched with 136 non-COVID-19 patients. No significant differences were observed in pre-hospitalization characteristics. The central venous catheter utilization ratio was higher in COVID-19 patients (83.6%) versus 35.6% in the control group (p < 0.001). During pre-intervention, 35.2% (32/91) of COVID-19 patients developed HA-BSI, compared to 17.8% (13/73) in the control group (p < 0.001). Following the intervention, no significant difference was observed between the groups (17.8% (8/45) versus 15.9% (10 /63), p = 0.79). In a multivariate analysis, HA-BSI was associated with low body mass index (OR 0.9 (95% CI 0.9-1.0), p = 0.015)) and presence of temporary dialysis catheter (OR 2.7 (95% CI 1.0-7.3), p = 0.05)). Mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients were at higher risk for developing HA-BSI compared to non-COVID-19 patients. Intensified prevention measures were associated with decreased rates of HA-BSI.

Epidemiology and infection control of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a German tertiary neonatal intensive and intermediate care unit: A retrospective study (2013-2020).

In preterm and term infants who require intermediate or intensive care Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection can lead to significant morbidity. In this study MRSA colonization and infection were assessed in a mixed tertiary neonatal intensive and intermediate care unit in Germany over an 8-year period (2013–2020). We investigated patient-related factors, associated with nosocomial MRSA acquisition, and we discuss our infection control concept for MRSA. Of 3488 patients treated during the study period, 24 were MRSA positive patients, corresponding to 26 patient hospital stays. The incidence was 0.7 MRSA patients per 100 patients. The incidence density was 0.4 MRSA patient hospital stays per 1000 patient days. Twelve patients (50%) acquired MRSA in the hospital. One patient developed a hospital acquired MRSA bloodstream infection 9 days after birth (i.e., 0.03% of all patients on the ward during the study period). A total of 122 patients had to be screened to detect one MRSA positive patient. In a logistic regression model, the use of 3rd generation intravenous cephalosporin (cefotaxim) was associated with nosocomial MRSA acquisition compared with matched control patients who did not acquire MRSA. In sum, the burden of MRSA colonization and infection in the ward was low during the study period. A comprehensive infection control concept that included microbiologic colonization screening, prospective infection surveillance together with isolation and emphasis on basic hygiene measures is essential to handle MRSA in this specialized setting.

Exploration on risk management of infection prevention and control in COVID-19 makeshift hospitals

In the current stage of prevention and control of the Omicron variant of the pandemic, makeshift hospitals played a key role in isolating and treating mild and asymptomatic patient, which helped to completely and quickly block the spread of the epidemic in the society. In order to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 in makeshift hospital, prevent occupational exposure and nosocomial infections, it is necessary for all levels to actively identify risk sources, carry the risk assessment, implement comprehensive infection control risk treat, and supervise in a timely manner.

Assessment of infection prevention and control readiness for Ebola virus and other diseases outbreaks in a humanitarian crisis setting: a cross-sectional study of health facilities in six high-risk States of South Sudan.

Introductionthe study was conducted to assess the readiness and capacity of the core components of infection prevention and control and water, sanitation and hygiene in health facilities to effectively contain potential outbreaks of Ebola virus and other diseases in South Sudan.Methodsit is a descriptive cross-sectional study which was conducted in health facilities in six high-risk States of the country from September 2020 to December 2021. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with Microsoft Excel software.Resultsone hundred and fifty-one (151) health facilities with a total bed capacity of 3089 were enrolled into the study. Overall, the least prepared infection prevention and control, water and sanitation core components in ascending order were the coordination committee structure (13.19%), guidelines and SOPs (21.85%), vector control (22.02%), staff management (30.63%), and training received (33.64%). The best prepared components in descending order were integrated disease surveillance and response capacity (69.83%), medical waste management system (57.12%) and infrastructure compliance (54.69%).Conclusionthe findings of this study which is comparable to those of other studies in similar settings validates the perception that Infection Prevention and Control/Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (IPC/WASH) capacity and readiness is inadequate in South Sudan. To scale up these core components, we recommend development and implementation of a comprehensive and long-term infection prevention and control strategic plan as part of the country’s broader health sector recovery planning.

Evaluation of Nurses' Awareness of Preventive Measures for Infection Control at Primary Health Care Centers in Al-Ramadi City

Objective: To assess nurses' awareness working in the primary health care field towards preventive measures for infection control in primary health care centers in Ramadi city. Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted during the period from 10 April to 15 August 2021. The instruments was constructed by the researcher to reach the aims of the study using a non-probability sampling: purposive sample consist of (60) nurses working in the field of primary health care. A two-part questionnaire was used in the study, the first part contains information about the demographic data of nurses in healthcare centers and the second part contains selected questions about their awareness and knowledge regarding infection control procedures. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test and correlational statistics) using SPSS software. Results: The study found that the majority of the study sample (70 percent) were male, (50 percent) were in the age groups (30-39 years), (53.3 percent) were in the preparatory nursing, (50 percent) were about (16-20) years of the employee, and (76.7 percent) did not have a special training course, indicating that most nurses working in the healthcare field have a low level of infection control practice. The study concluded that nurses' awareness of preventive measures for infection control was at a low level. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the majority of nurses working in primary health care centers had a poor level of awareness toward infection control. Recommendation: In order to ensure compliance with infection control measures by nurses working in basic health care, the current study advocated the establishment and execution of a comprehensive infection control program in primary health care centers. Keyword: Awareness, Preventive measures, Infection control, Primary healthcare centers.