GMS Hygiene and Infection Control最新文献

{"title":"Active surveillance cultures for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms in the intensive care unit: is it necessary to conduct them weekly?","authors":"Lorena Lima, Elaine Alves, Bianca Santos, Adriana Assumpção, Priscila Oliveira, Priscilla Monteiro, Julia Mascarenhas, Clara Rizzo, Sérgio Morgado, Luiz Mascarenhas","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000645","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000645","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) pose a major threat to public health due to the limited treatment options and their frequent association with healthcare-associated infections. Active surveillance culture (ASC), a component of infection prevention strategies, remains controversial. This study evaluated the effectiveness of ASC performed weekly versus only upon ICU admission and discharge for detecting MDR-GNB.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In a prospective study, two monitoring strategies were compared over a period of 18 months in six intensive care units. Phase 1 involved conducting ASC weekly, while Phase 2 entailed conducting ASC exclusively at the time of ICU admission and discharge.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 233 MDR-GNB infections were documented: 130 (11.38/1,000 patient-days) in Phase 1 and 103 (8.47/1,000 patient-days) in Phase 2. This reflects a statistically significant decrease in infection rates in Phase 2 (IRR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.04-1.74). No significant differences were observed in species-specific infection rates between the two phases.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Reducing ASC frequency from weekly to only ICU admission and discharge did not increase MDR-GNB infection rates. The implementation of comprehensive infection prevention and control measures proved sufficient for the management of bacterial infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc36"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103860/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of nosocomial infections in intensive care units and the role of the infection prevention and control team in implementing protective measures - a case study of a university hospital in Morocco.","authors":"Mounir Arai, Mohamed Ouhadous, Sabah Salih, Halima Lajane, Rachid Gouifrane, Omar Abidi, Khalid Khaleq","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000644","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000644","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Despite their small number of beds, intensive care units are major reservoirs of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRO) and experience a high frequency of nosocomial infections. This study aims to estimate their prevalence, identify risk factors, determine the microorganisms responsible, and highlight the preventive measures taken to control these risks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of the prevalence of nosocomial infections in all intensive care units in three university hospital centers, including all patients hospitalized for at least 24 hours.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 50 patients included, 30% had a nosocomial infection, the most common of which was pneumonia. Of the 18 bacteria species isolated in 15 patients, 66.7% were MDRO. The most frequently isolated species was <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> (44.4%), with a resistance rate of 100% against imepenem.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The survey identified the frequency, risk factors and microorganisms responsible for nosocomial infections. This approach helped to guide preventive measures and prioritize efforts, making it a pragmatic and appropriate solution for enhancing the efforts against these infections in contexts where resources are limited.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc35"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103861/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Suspected community-acquisition of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRhvKp) in Germany: a case report and implications for infection control.","authors":"Nora Helke Leder, Oana Joean, Micha Banz, Claudia Stein, Frank Kipp, Jürgen Rödel, Sabine Trommer","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000646","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000646","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (hvKp) has emerged as a disease threat due to a higher morbidity and mortality associated with specific virulence genes. The acquisition of carbapenem-resistance (CRhvKp) in some strains limits treatment options, posing a serious clinical challenge. While healthcare-associated transmissions have been reported, the epidemiological dynamics and infection prevention implications of CRhvKp remain insufficiently elucidated. In Germany, routine diagnostics for Gram-negative pathogens rarely include specific identification of hvKp or systematic detection of its virulence markers, and there is no mandatory notification of CRhvKp cases.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We established a two-step screening approach for the routine diagnostic detection of hvKp, combining loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with confimatory whole-genome sequencing (WGS). This workflow was applied to all carbapenemase producing <i>K</i>. <i>pneumoniae</i> and to clinical isolates considered at increased risk for hvKp.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We report the case of a 1973-born male patient with a history of Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis who was admitted due to acute liver failure and ascites triggered by infection. The patient had no recent travel history but had been recently admitted to local hospitals in Thuringia, Germany. Ascitic fluid obtained by paracentesis appeared putrid and yielded an ESBL-producing and fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli. In addition, a lower urinary tract infection due to CRhvKp was identified. The CRhvKp infection was deemed community-acquired, with the route of acquisition remaining unknown. The isolate belonged to ST147 and carried the <i>bla</i> _NDM-5 and <i>bla</i> _OXA-48 carbapenemase genes. The patient was successfully treated with cefiderocol (Fetcroja, Shionogi & Co. Ltd.) over the course of 14 days. Standard infection prevention precautions for patients with carbapenem-resistant <i>Enterobacterales</i> were applied. No intra-hospital transmission of this strain was detected in our routine WGS-based surveillance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CRhvKp can occur in patients without establishes epidemiological or clinical risk factors, suggesting a broader reservoir than currently assumed. Further research regarding prevalence, transmissibility, environmental persistence, and colonization dynamics of CRhvKp strains are urgently needed to determine their implications for infection prevention and control in hospitals in Germany.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc37"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103859/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Requirements for the precision and reproducibility in the efficacy testing of chemical disinfection procedures.","authors":"Kira-Marie Roesch, Marvin Rausch, Felix Droop, Martin Exner, Carola Ilschner, Axel Kramer, Thomas Selhorst, Miranda Suchomel, Nico T Mutters, Jürgen Gebel","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000642","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000642","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Assessing the efficacy of chemical disinfectants requires precise and reproducible test procedures. In Germany, the Commission for Infection Prevention and Hygiene in Healthcare and Nursing (KRINKO) at the Robert Koch Institute, the federal government public health institute, recommends that two test reports from independent accredited laboratories, accompanied by expert opinions, to assess the efficacy of disinfectants for use in settings which harbor a special risk for acquiring infections. This requirement, also endorsed by the Association of Applied Hygiene (VAH) for the certification of disinfectants, is based on the inherent statistical variance of microbiological testing methods.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This paper presents the analysis of data from four VAH-organized ring trials to underline the statistical relevance of the two-test stipulation. Specifically, two quantitative suspension tests were evaluated, one testing efficacy of a test product against &lt;i&gt;Staphylococcus aureus&lt;/i&gt; according to EN 13727 and one testing efficacy against &lt;i&gt;Candida albicans&lt;/i&gt; according to EN 13624. In addition, two phase 2 step 2 tests to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of test products against &lt;i&gt;Enterococcus hirae&lt;/i&gt; using the quantitative test on non-porous surfaces without mechanical action according to EN 17387 and mycobactericidal efficacy against &lt;i&gt;Mycobacterium terrae&lt;/i&gt; using the quantitative carrier test for instruments according to EN 14563 were analyzed. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to assess interlaboratory variations and a Monte-Carlo simulation study was conducted to evaluate the impact of including results from a second laboratory on the reliability of results.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The ANOVA revealed a significant interlaboratory variation. In addition, descriptive analysis indicated substantial intralaboratory variability across trials. The simulation analysis indicates that requiring matching results from two laboratories provides a more conservative and consistent assessment of efficacy. The most marked effects occurred at intermediate concentration-time ratios, where the implementation of the two-laboratory stipulation resulted in a 69-89% reduction in the number of efficacy classifications, thereby significantly mitigating the risk of overly optimistic conclusions. Within the clearly effective or ineffective ranges, however, the differences between the two approaches (one-laboratory rule vs. two-laboratory rule) were minimal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;The study demonstrates considerable interlaboratory variability and illustrates that including results from a second independent laboratory can reduce inconsistencies in efficacy assessments. These findings support the rationale behind requiring two independent test reports. The analysis underlines the importance of ring trials as a key element of quality assurance and method validation in disinfect","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc33"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103718/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"International guidelines for the management of healthcare workers living with HIV: a systematic comparative review.","authors":"Roland Diel, Albert Nienhaus","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000643","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000643","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Despite strong evidence that sustained HIV viral suppression eliminates transmission risk (\"undetectable equals untransmittable\", U=U), national approaches to managing healthcare workers (HCWs) living with HIV remain heterogeneous. Because such cases are rare but ethically and legally sensitive, clear guidance is needed to ensure consistent patient safety standards while avoiding unnecessary restrictions and stigma.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A systematic comparative review of international guidance on the management of HCWs living with HIV was performed. A broad PubMed search identified peer-reviewed guideline-type publications, supplemented by a targeted manual search of official websites of public health authorities, occupational health agencies, and advisory bodies across European Union (EU) countries, Anglo-American countries (UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia), and Japan. Identified documents were extracted and compared using a predefined framework: viral load threshold, definition of suppression, monitoring frequency (initial and after stable suppression), handling of viral load \"blips,\" reinstatement to exposure-prone procedures (EPPs), and oversight structure. Information on the need for patient notification and look-back procedures was also recorded.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The PubMed search yielded 2,851 records, but only three peer-reviewed recommendations met the inclusion criteria: the updated guidance of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), USA; the recommendation of the German Association for the Control of Viral Diseases (DVV) and Society for Virology (GfV), Germany, and the consensus of the Japan Society for Occupational Health's Research Group on Occupational Health for Health Care Workers. The manual search identified additional national guidance in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and several EU member states (including Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and Spain). Three major regulatory patterns emerged. First, multiple countries employ viral-load-based clearance for exposure-prone procedures (EPPs), most commonly using &lt;200 copies/mL (UK, USA, Australia, Spain), while Germany applies the most stringent threshold (=50 copies/mL) with detailed \"blip\" rules and quarterly monitoring. Second, some jurisdictions adopt non-numerical, autonomy-oriented frameworks: the Netherlands relies on the treating physician's responsibility under U=U without mandatory panels or reporting, while Denmark uses a universal infection-control approach that does not operationalize HIV status for practice restrictions. Japan similarly lacks numeric thresholds and formal oversight, delegating decisions locally while citing UK/US models as references. Third, Switzerland represents a conservative, procedure-heavy model without explicit thresholds, emphasizing external committee involvement and discretionary decision-making. Many other EU states show regulatory s","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc34"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103717/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk of HIV transmission by healthcare workers - a systematic review.","authors":"Roland Diel, Rene Gottschalk, Albert Nienhaus","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000641","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000641","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Occupational HIV infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) has declined markedly in high-income countries as a result of improved infection prevention and control, safety-engineered devices, and the widespread availability of antiretroviral post-exposure prophylaxis. However, the risk of HIV transmission from infected HCWs to patients remains incompletely defined.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;We conducted a systematic review of published studies reporting either documented HIV transmission events or the absence of transmission (look-back investigations) from HIV-infected HCWs to patients. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched for relevant publications up to September 2025. For look-back studies with zero observed transmissions, exact binomial CIs were calculated. Pre-specified sensitivity analyses were performed to quantify statistical uncertainty arising from incomplete follow-up.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Of 222 records identified, 23 studies from five countries met the inclusion criteria. Direct provider-to-patient HIV transmission was documented from four source HCWs, three of whom performed exposure-prone procedures, resulting in a total of eight infected patients. The Florida dental cluster accounted for five molecularly confirmed transmissions among 1,100 tested exposed patients, corresponding to an estimated transmission probability of 0.45% (95% exact Clopper-Pearson confidence interval [CI], 0.15-1.06%), equivalent to approximately one transmission per 676 to 95 treated patients. Another single-case transmission investigation reported a lower estimated risk, with an upper confidence bound below 0.6% (approximately one transmission per 177 procedures). Two additional probable transmission events were reported without systematic testing of other exposed patients.Sixteen look-back studies comprising 32,899 potentially exposed patients, of whom 12,924 (39.3%) underwent HIV testing, identified no HCW-to-patient transmission. In the main analyses, two-sided exact 95% CIs yielded upper transmission risk estimates ranging from 0.16% to 8.60%, largely driven by the number of patients tested. To address incomplete follow-up and major methodological biases, sensitivity analyses assuming one undetected transmission among all exposed patients were performed. Under these deliberately conservative assumptions, upper confidence limits ranged from 0.07% to 6.17%, with the majority of studies remaining below 0.5%, corresponding to fewer than one transmission per 200 exposed patients.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;With the exception of a very small number of documented provider-to-patient transmission events, the available evidence indicates that even under pessimistic assumptions the maximum plausible risk of HCW-to-patient HIV transmission remains very low. These findings support the development of clear, evidence-based national guidelines for the management of HCWs ","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc32"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103719/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Subcutaneous phaeohypomycosis clinically presenting as bursitis.","authors":"Anbuselvan Sivaranjani, Thanka Johnson, Ajitha Rajalingam, Natarajan Suresh","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000639","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000639","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Phaeohyphomycosis is a spectrum of infections caused by dematiaceous pigmented fungi.</p><p><strong>Case report: </strong>A 57 year old man with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus presented with a well circumscribed swelling of the posterior aspect of the left elbow. Clinical work up was done and a provisional diagnosis of tuberculous bursitis was made. Excision of the lesion was done. Histopathological examination showed a fungal abscess with features of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc30"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103528/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of enteric parasites in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms attending a tertiary care center in Central Kerala.","authors":"Keerthy Bose, Joana Magdaline","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000640","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000640","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intestinal parasitic infections are distributed throughout the world, but with greater prevalence in low socio-economic communities in the tropics and subtropics. Parasitic infections can manifest as an asymptomatic carrier state, gastrointestinal symptoms, or surgical problems. Few studies have been conducted on the prevalence of these infections in Kerala. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the proportion of enteric parasites in stool samples of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms attending a tertiary care center in Central Kerala.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 280 stool samples from patients at the Government Medical College center were included in study. In the Department of Microbiology, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was detected by microscopic examination of stool specimens. Stool samples were subjected to the formol-ether concentration technique (FECT), followed by modified hot Ziehl-Neelsen staining and fluorescent staining. The results were recorded, and data were presented as frequency and distribution.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 280 patients, parasitic infection was present in 2.86% (n=8). Overall, helminthic infections (66.67%) were more common than protozoal infections (33.33%). The most prevalent parasites were <i>Ascaris</i> <i>lumbricoides</i> (0.71%) and <i>Strongyloides stercoralis</i> (0.71%). The other parasites present were <i>Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, Enterobius vermicularis</i> and <i>Trichuris trichiura</i>. The association between presence of immunosuppressive conditions and presence of parasites in stool was found to be statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the importance of including stool concentration methods as part of routine diagnostic tests for parasites. The significant association between immunosuppresion and the presence of intestinal parasites should be borne in mind.. Awareness about the importance of personal hygiene, safe water supply, and health education should be given to target populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc31"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103523/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comment on a published new method in virucidal testing - T-25 method.","authors":"Ingeborg Schwebke, Johannes Blümel, Nils-Olaf Hübner, Janis A Müller, Holger F Rabenau, Eike Steinmann, Jochen Steinmann, Ingrid Rapp, Miranda Suchomel, Sven Reiche, Maren Eggers","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000638","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000638","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc29"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103526/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of HIV among healthcare workers in the post-HAART era - a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Roland Diel, Albert Nienhaus","doi":"10.3205/dgkh000634","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000634","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at potential risk of HIV infection through occupational exposure. However, with the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), universal precautions, and post-exposure prophylaxis, the global risk profile has changed.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study synthesized data on HIV prevalence among HCWs worldwide to assess current epidemiological patterns and to evaluate regional heterogeneity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for studies reporting serological evidence of HIV infection among HCWs published between 1996 and September 2025, corresponding to the post-HAART era. Data were extracted on study design, sample size, and the number of HIV-positive cases. Prevalence estimates were compared with internal control groups or with national background prevalence data obtained from UNAIDS. Methodological quality was assessed using the Westermann score. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled HIV prevalence by WHO region.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 220 studies identified, 14 from 12 countries met inclusion criteria. Across 7,705 HCWs tested, the overall pooled HIV prevalence was 0.68% (95% CI 0.19-2.46) with extreme heterogeneity (I²=94.3%, τ²=5.003). Whilst the pooled prevalence among HCWs in Sub-Saharan Africa was 7.1% (95 % CI 3.3-12.7), all other regions-Europe, Latin America, and the Eastern Mediterranean-showed pooled prevalences of 0.0% (95% CI 0.0-3.7), with no HIV-positive HCWs detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>HIV infection among HCWs is now exceedingly rare worldwide, with elevated prevalence confined to high-endemic African regions as a regional dichotomy. The findings indicate that HIV infection in HCWs is primarily driven by community transmission rather than occupational exposure and highlight the success of infection-control policies and ART expansion in eliminating workplace transmission. Sustained surveillance and equitable access to protective equipment and post-exposure prophylaxis remain essential to preserve this major occupational-health achievement.</p>","PeriodicalId":12738,"journal":{"name":"GMS Hygiene and Infection Control","volume":"21 ","pages":"Doc25"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13103531/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}