K. Tiwari, Samruddhi Patil, Aparna Naik, A. Shetty, K. Walia, C. Rodrigues
{"title":"Patient risk factor stratification is essential for the hospital antibiogram","authors":"K. Tiwari, Samruddhi Patil, Aparna Naik, A. Shetty, K. Walia, C. Rodrigues","doi":"10.3396/IJIC.V17.20089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/IJIC.V17.20089","url":null,"abstract":"Empiric antimicrobial therapy in hospitalized patients is guided by an institution’s cumulative antibiogram, which may not be adequate in giving information on decision-making for optimal treatment in different patient populations. Adding patient risk factors can make it more useful for clinicians in guiding empiric therapy and for antimicrobial stewardship. Cumulative data were obtained for blood culture and urine isolates from the laboratory information system of a tertiary care hospital for 6 months (January to June 2019). Further stratification of organism types and resistance rates on the basis of patient risk factors (Patient Types 1, 2, and 3) was performed and analyzed. Salmonella spp. was seen in community-acquired ward patients (Types 1 and 2). Streptococcus pneumoniae was seen in Type 1 patients, and Acinetobacter spp. was seen in Type 3 patients. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing gram-negative infection rates were higher in community patients than in hospital patients. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae rates were high in Type 3 hospitalized patients. Cumulative blood methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rates were 43% but stratification showed it only in Type 2 and Type 3 ICU patients with 0% in ward patients. Stratified antibiograms based on patient risk factors are valuable for antimicrobial stewardship and help to optimize empiric therapy and increase the understanding of antimicrobial resistance trends.","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"5 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72587411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Roy J. Pelzer, E. Magdeleyns, P. Savelkoul, L. V. Alphen, W. Zwet
{"title":"Reuse of disposable gowns for COVID-19 personal protective equipment purposes in times of scarcity: results of an experimental study with hydrogen peroxide vaporization","authors":"Roy J. Pelzer, E. Magdeleyns, P. Savelkoul, L. V. Alphen, W. Zwet","doi":"10.3396/IJIC.V17.21090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/IJIC.V17.21090","url":null,"abstract":"During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many health organizations faced shortages of personal protective equipment for their personnel. In case of extreme urgency, re-using disposable materials might offer a temporary solution. Hydrogen peroxide vaporization (HPV) has been used for disinfection of patient rooms for more than a decade. We investigated HPV as a method for disinfecting disposable gowns. After HPV, gowns proved to be free of bacteria and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) RNA while their functionality and water-repellency remained intact. We conclude that, in case of emergency and lack of available alternatives, HPV is a suitable and relatively inexpensive method for one-time reuse of disposable gowns.","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"121 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77264678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gregory P. Murphy, C. Garry, Susan van Baarsel, Tina Coleman, Ben Shovlin, Ciara Fogarty, Conor Williams, Patricia Lang, C. Casey, Lenora Leonard, Natalia Ovryakh, P. Murphy, P. Breen, S. Linnane
{"title":"COVID-19 seroprevalence in primary and secondary healthcare workers (HCWs)","authors":"Gregory P. Murphy, C. Garry, Susan van Baarsel, Tina Coleman, Ben Shovlin, Ciara Fogarty, Conor Williams, Patricia Lang, C. Casey, Lenora Leonard, Natalia Ovryakh, P. Murphy, P. Breen, S. Linnane","doi":"10.3396/ijic.v17.21784","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v17.21784","url":null,"abstract":"Professional anxiety existed early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with challenging infection prevention and control support. The aims of this study were to compare epidemiological features of healthcare workers (HCWs) within primary and secondary care with their serological evidence of infection. A prospective observational cohort of 1,916 HCWs completed a questionnaire, and their sera were assayed for detectable antibody to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleoprotein in the first wave of the pandemic. Datasets were compared between the two sub-cohorts in primary and secondary care and between the combined seropositive and seronegative cohorts. Curiosity of antibody status was high. Detectable antibody was 7% in the primary care and 5% in the secondary care workers at a time of 1.7% in the general community. Inappropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) was more common in primary care, and detectable antibody was twice as prevalent in HCWs who felt they did not have appropriate PPE. Contact tracing was perceived to be inadequate although it was more commonly performed in the seropositive cohort suggesting appropriate prioritisation. Both temperature and symptom checking alerts and work exclusion were significantly more prevalent in the seropositive cohort. The seroprevalence data support increased risk for HCWs, the importance of appropriate PPE and the usefulness of the daily temperature and symptom checks, particularly in primary care.","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"114 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77651482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hepatitis B virus infection and its prevention among the general Ghanaian population: Using the public health model of prevention approach","authors":"V. E. Senoo-Dogbey","doi":"10.3396/ijic.v17.21872","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v17.21872","url":null,"abstract":"As a follow-up to the recently published Letter to the Editor in this journal titled ‘Hepatitis B infection and its prevention among healthcare workers in Ghana: More action required’ (1), I present in this current Letter as a discussion on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its prevention among the general Ghanaian population.","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"74 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75076951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. M. M. de Oliveira, G. A. Wagner, V. L. Gattás, Larissa de Souza Arruda, M. Taminato
{"title":"Pharmacovigilance quality system for vaccine monitoring (COVID-19) using quality indicators: a scoping review","authors":"M. M. M. de Oliveira, G. A. Wagner, V. L. Gattás, Larissa de Souza Arruda, M. Taminato","doi":"10.3396/ijic.v17.21250","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v17.21250","url":null,"abstract":"This scoping review responds to the appeal of the scientific community for collaboration between different entities for pharmacovigilance and active surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. The objective is to identify, systematically evaluate, and synthesize the best scientific evidence available on the indicators used in pharmacovigilance systems. Our results demonstrate that approximately 50% of the 25 studies used in this review have been carried out in the past 5 years. Of these, only four used the pharmacovigilance indicators proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Eighty-seven pharmacovigilance indicators were identified, of which seven (8.0%) related to signal detection. While the WHO advocates signal detection as routine pharmacovigilance, in special situations – such as accelerated clinical studies where adverse events are not yet well known – other indicators related to signal detection appear to be good options for maintaining quality pharmacovigilance and active surveillance in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the less robust pharmacovigilance systems in low-income countries will necessitate greater involvement of health professionals from public and private sectors, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and the general public, to ensure information security and detection of signals for the COVID-19 vaccine.","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89513990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spatial and temporal distribution of faecal indicators and multidrug resistant bacteria in a multiple-use freshwater lake: the case of Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia","authors":"D. Daka, Hunachew Beyene, Simachew Dires","doi":"10.3396/ijic.v17.20428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v17.20428","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Aquatic environments close to cities are frequently used as sources for water and at the same time overloaded with a variety of pollutants either through direct or indirect discharges of untreated wastes and sewage. This condition is also worsened by the indiscriminate disposal of untreated wastes and sewage vigorously into used water. Sewage contaminated waters are known to carry microorganisms, some of which are pathogenic to humans. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the extent of temporal and spatial levels of microbial pollution and sources of pollution in Lake Hawassa. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Lake Hawassa, which was sampled twice during 2017. A total of 26 samples of lake water were collected from 14 stations using a boat. Entry points of incoming streams, waste receiving sites, and areas upstream of anthropogenic impact, recreational and bathing sites were considered. Microbiological characterisation was performed using selective media and basic biochemical tests. Antibiotic sensitivity was tested with different antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer agar disk diffusion method. Result: All samples were positive for pathogenic bacteria, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Enterobacteriaceae were the most common bacteria identified from the samples, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Proteus spp and Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. The predominant bacteria found in the samples include E. coli, which constituted 22/26 (84.6%) of the total samples, followed by Salmonella and Shigella spp. All bacterial isolates were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin. The Salmonella spp were sensitive only to norfloxacin and gentamicin. Conclusion: A spatial variation with the occurrence of bacterial isolates has been observed. High concentrations and many different species were found in areas of human activities and in areas receiving direct pollutants from the city. This study revealed that multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria are found in Lake Hawassa. There is a possibility of outbreak of diseases associated with the isolated antibiotic-resistant pathogens for which the antibiotic resistance genes are transportable within aquatic bacterial communities. We recommend that the city administration take care of the municipal wastewater or effluents from healthcare facilities that enter the lake. It is also recommended that the government take steps to control anthropogenic activities near the water body.","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89625360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ivan W. Gowe, D. Crist, Brittany Kiteley, Caitlin Owens, Adrienne Giddens
{"title":"Development and operation of an indoor mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic","authors":"Ivan W. Gowe, D. Crist, Brittany Kiteley, Caitlin Owens, Adrienne Giddens","doi":"10.3396/ijic.v17.21590","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v17.21590","url":null,"abstract":"During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many public response activities were conducted outdoors to reduce the risk of transmission. This was in adherence to existing infection prevention recommendations. We report the development and safe, efficient operation of a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic during a time when guidelines for indoor clinics were limited.","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84023960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Infection, infection control, and disinfectants in a challenging infection era","authors":"P. Bowler","doi":"10.3396/ijic.v17.21564","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v17.21564","url":null,"abstract":"Health care-associated infections inflict a huge clinical and economic burden on public health worldwide. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics continues to escalate, and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives have yet to make a major impact. Additionally, the ability of bacteria to evade environmental threats by living within a self-produced protective biofilm and/or producing resistant spores further challenges effective infection control. The current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has also amplified the burden significantly. Amidst a particularly challenging infection era, the demand for meticulous infection control and prevention practices is paramount, a key component of which is the use of appropriate disinfectants that can combat a wide variety of microbial pathogens, including diverse forms of viruses and bacteria, particularly highly tolerant spore-forming and biofilm-forming microorganisms. This review addresses the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used disinfectants such as alcohols, hypochlorite, and quaternary ammonium compounds, together with oxidizing agents such as chlorine dioxide and peracetic acid, which are gaining increasing acceptance in routine infection control practices today. Given the increasing requirements for rapid-acting disinfectants that are effective against the toughest of microorganisms (e.g. spores and biofilm), are environmentally friendly, and remain active under diverse environmental conditions, emerging oxidizing agents warrant further consideration, particularly chlorine dioxide, which offers most requirements for an ideal disinfectant, including retention of activity over a broad pH range. Given the critical importance of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship in public health and health care facilities today, consideration of chlorine dioxide as a safe, selective, highly effective, and environmentally friendly disinfectant is warranted.","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84302395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jean Paul Mvukiyehe, Eugene Tuyishime, Anne Ndindwanimana, Jennifer Rickard, Olivier Manzi, Gregory R Madden, Marcel E Durieux, Paulin R Banguti
{"title":"Improving hand hygiene measures in low-resourced intensive care units: experience at the Kigali University Teaching Hospital in Rwanda.","authors":"Jean Paul Mvukiyehe, Eugene Tuyishime, Anne Ndindwanimana, Jennifer Rickard, Olivier Manzi, Gregory R Madden, Marcel E Durieux, Paulin R Banguti","doi":"10.3396/ijic.v17.20585","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v17.20585","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Proper hand hygiene (HH) practices have been shown to reduce healthcare-acquired infections. Several potential challenges in low-income countries might limit the feasibility of effective HH, including preexisting knowledge gaps and staffing.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>We sought to evaluate the feasibility of the implementation of effective HH practice at a teaching hospital in Rwanda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a prospective quality improvement project in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Kigali University Teaching Hospital. We collected data before and after an intervention focused on HH adherence as defined by the World Health Organization '5 Moments for Hand Hygiene' and assuring availability of HH supplies. Pre-intervention data were collected throughout July 2019, and HH measures were implemented in August 2019. Post-implementation data were collected following a 3-month wash-in.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 902 HH observations were performed to assess pre-intervention adherence and 903 observations post-intervention adherence. Overall, HH adherence increased from 25% (222 of 902 moments) before intervention to 75% (677 of 903 moments) after intervention (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Improvement was seen among all health professionals (nurses: 19-74%, residents: 23-74%, consultants: 29-76%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Effective HH measures are feasible in an ICU in a low-income country. Ensuring availability of supplies and training appears key to effective HH practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"17 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10237047/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9939892","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}
P. Pidal, E. Cona, C. Torrejon, C. Airola, Javier Cifuentes, Sergio Ambiado, Annette Navarrete, E. Chacón, Iris Valderrama, Velimir Mihalic, Fabian Aravena, David Gomez, I. Araya, L. Arata
{"title":"Characterization of an outbreak due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a neonatal intensive care unit","authors":"P. Pidal, E. Cona, C. Torrejon, C. Airola, Javier Cifuentes, Sergio Ambiado, Annette Navarrete, E. Chacón, Iris Valderrama, Velimir Mihalic, Fabian Aravena, David Gomez, I. Araya, L. Arata","doi":"10.3396/ijic.v17.20916","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v17.20916","url":null,"abstract":"Background: The epidemiological–microbiological characteristics and effective intervention measures in an outbreak due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a neonatal intensive care unit are described. Materials and methods: Cases from June 22, 2018 to February 11, 2019 were analyzed. Microbiological analysis of intestinal carriage of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae and environmental samples was conducted. Strain relationships were studied by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results: A 35-week outbreak affecting 41 patients, with eight infected, 33 colonized, and two deceased patients occurred. Two stages of the outbreak were observed with differences in the frequency of intestinal carriage of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae. The same genetic subtype was seen in patient strains and was different from strains isolated from the environment. Deficiencies in contact precautions, hand hygiene, and handling of breast milk were observed. Conclusions: A monoclonal outbreak by ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae that occurred in two phases and the different control measures in each of the stages is described. Effective control measures are mainly based on improving compliance with standard precautions and contact precautions, and other complementary measures are described such as proper handling of breast milk, periodic carriage studies, and the generation of three patient cohorts.","PeriodicalId":13991,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infection Control","volume":"47 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88784403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}