GMS Hygiene and Infection Control

Immunosuppression and critical illnesses in combination with ecological imbalance open the door for novel opportunistic fungal infections, as in case of Candida (C). auris . C. auris has emerged globally as a multidrug-resistant yeast, causing infections and outbreaks in health care facilities. This narrative review discusses the properties of the yeast, the development of the epidemiological situation, the nosocomial spread and causes for nosocomial outbreaks triggered by C. auris in the hospital environment, and summarizes international recommendations for infection control, supplemented by suggestions on diagnostic, screening and antibiotic stewardship...

To prevent surgical site infections (SSIs), a three-step model is proposed, which integrates perioperative measures, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives.

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AIM: To evaluate general shortcomings and faculty-specific pitfalls as well as to improve antibiotic prescription quality (ABQ) in non-ICU wards, we performed a prospective cluster trial. METHODS: An infectious-disease (ID) consulting service performed a prospective investigation consisting of three 12-week phases with point prevalence evaluation conducted once per week (=36 evaluations in total) at seven non-ICU wards, followed by assessment of sustainability (weeks 37-48)...

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of becoming infected with M. tuberculosis complex (Mtbc). OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of Mtbc transmission by children under the age of 15 years to HCW. METHODS: Medline, Google Scholar and Cochrane library were searched to select primary studies in which a child was the presumed index case and exposed HCW were screened for latent TB infection (LTBI). RESULTS: Of 4,702 abstracts, 15 original case reports covering 16 children with TB were identified...

The consensus-based guideline "SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and (early) rehabilitation" for Germany has two sections: In the first part, the guideline addresses infection protection-related procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second part, it provides practice recommendations for rehabilitation after COVID-19. The specific recommendations for rehabilitation after COVID-19 as issued by 13 German medical societies and two patient-representative organizations are presented together with general background information for their development...

AIMS: Excess mortality during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been studied in many countries. Accounting for population aging has important implications for excess mortality estimates. We show the importance of adjustment for age trends in a small-scale mortality analysis as well as the importance of analysing different pandemic phases for mortality in an urban population. METHODS: Population data for Frankfurt/Main for 2016-2021 were obtained from the Municipal Office of Statistics, City of Frankfurt/Main...

AIM: Antibiotics are often prescribed for the treatment of various infections and prophylactic purposes in dental practice. Their improper use can cause microbial resistance to antibiotics, which poses a world-wide threat. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of dentists and dentistry students about antibiotic prescription practices for prophylaxis and the treatment of dental infections in pediatric patients. METHODS: A questionnaire was e-mailed to 2,100 dentists and 300 senior dentistry students...

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 has created a significant challenge to healthcare systems, since the disease has spread rapidly, outweighing hospital capacity and exposing Health Care Workers (HCWs) to the risk of infection. The main objective of this study shows the HCW's self-reported use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), symptoms, and exposure to revealed and suspected people during the pandemic, as well as the implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines that effectively limit the spread of the infection among healthcare personnel...

This position paper, developed by an interdisciplinary expert group of neonatologists, paediatric infectious disease physicians, clinical pharmacists and specialists for the prevention and control of nosocomial infections, describes the "Good handling practice of medicines parenterally administered to patients on NICUs". It takes equal account of patient safety and the specialties of neonatal intensive care regarding feasibility and proportionality. The overall concept is perceived as a "learning system", in which open communication within the health-care team relating to medication errors and critical incidents enables continuous development and improvement to ensure patient safety...

The objective is to provide a comprehensive overview of the rapidly developing field of the current state of research on in vivo use of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to aid infection prevention and control, including naso-pharyngeal, alveolar, topical, and systemic HOCl applications. Also, examples are provided of dedicated applications in COVID-19. A brief background of HOCl's biological and chemical specifics and its physiological role in the innate immune system is provided to understand the effect of in vivo applications in the context of the body's own physiological defense mechanisms...

The approval of ethanol by the Biocidal Products Regulation has been under evaluation since 2007 due to controversial opinions on the risk assessment. Because of this critical situation, 2022 a memorandum was published to verify whether the use of ethanol for hand antisepsis poses any hazard. On the basis of the memorandum a toxicological evaluation of ethanol-based hand rubs is given.

BACKGROUND: Cat fleas ( Ctenocephalides felis ) are the most common ectoparasites of domestic cats and dogs worldwide. They can parasitize humans in many regions of the globe. Hospital infestation with fleas has not been reported in Iran, and the number of reported cases in the world is very low. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report and describe a hospital infestation with cat fleas in a number of health-care service personnel and nurses, which led to the development of skin lesions and severe itching...

OBJECTIVE: The risk of peripheral venous catheter (PVC) infections in inpatients is often underestimated, even if it is lower than that for central venous catheters. Guidelines for the prevention of PVC-associated infections describe the evidence-based management of PVCs. The aims of this study were the development of standardized methods for compliance assessment regarding PVC management and the evaluation of self-reported knowledge and implementations among healthcare providers regarding PVC care...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the acceptance of Covid-19 vaccine among the Turkish adult population. METHODS: A total of 2023 persons participated in this cross-sectional study between October 2020 and January 2021. The questionnaire, which was delivered via social media, was filled out by the participants over "Google Forms". RESULTS: Questionnaire results showed that 68.7% of the participants might agree to vaccinated against COVID-19...

INTRODUCTION: There is a risk of transmission of viruses and microbial pathogens during routine health care procedures due to improper injection, infusion, and medication-vial practices. Unsafe practices lead to outbreaks of infection resulting in unacceptable and devastating events in patients. The present study was undertaken to assess the compliance of nurses with safe injection and infusion practices in our hospital and to identify staff education requirements in relation to the safe-injection and infusion practices policy...

INTRODUCTION: Nursing-home residents are among the highest risk group in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. At the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the majority of all deaths from or with SARS-CoV-2 occurred in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), so that maximum protective measures were mandated for these facilities. This study analyzed the impact of the new virus variants and the vaccination campaign on disease severity and mortality among nursing home residents and staff through 2022 as a basis for determining which protective measures remain necessary and appropriate...

AIM: In this community trial, the objective was to evaluate the incidence of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases in two similar communities in three distinct phases: 1 (before the intervention), 2 (during the intervention), and 3 (after the intervention). METHODS: The test community received the oral antiseptic intervention (experimental), while the control community did not. The official information agency ("Statewise System for Data Analysis") provided the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases...

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to assess the determinants of the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccination among the Iranian population. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 1,056 individuals of the general population living in Hamadan County were studied from April to June 2021. Using a proportional stratified sampling method, subjects were selected from those covered by 34 comprehensive health service centers and health bases. Then, the subjects were selected by simple random sampling...

As an important element in the regional containment of the COVID-19 pandemic a PCR testing laboratory with a cooperative character was founded in spring 2021 to screen for SARS-CoV-2 in the Nuremberg region, Germany. The aim was to detect asymptomatic infections in day care facilities for children, schools, and companies. The laboratory used an established RT-PCR protocol and analyzed approximately 18,500 pools of up to 25 pooled samples each from gargles or swabs ("lollipops") from up to 135 facilities between July 2021 and June 2022...