Journal of Hospital Infection最新文献

{"title":"Impact of a measles outbreak on a UK children's emergency department and the public health response: a retrospective observational study","authors":"C. Harris ,&nbsp;C. Bird ,&nbsp;M. Saavedra-Campos ,&nbsp;C. Chatt ,&nbsp;E. Booth ,&nbsp;W. Proto ,&nbsp;M. Patel","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Measles outbreaks create a significant burden for healthcare facilities. We describe the impact of a large outbreak between October 2023 and June 2024 on Birmingham Children's Hospital Emergency Department (ED) in terms of cases and contact-tracing workload.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To describe the impact of the outbreak in terms of case demographics, ED attendances, hospital admissions and post-exposure preventative measures.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Confirmed cases were defined as individuals presenting to hospital and with laboratory confirmation (measles PCR positive). Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data from public health case management systems and hospital records were analysed.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>A total of 366 patients attending ED were tested for measles. Of 161 confirmed cases, 40 (25%) were aged &lt;1 year. Of 122 cases eligible for vaccination, 105 (86%) had no MMR vaccination. 32% (52/162) of confirmed cases attended ED more than once in the 21 days before being tested. Forty-six cases (29%) were admitted to hospital. Contacts were identified for 95 confirmed cases and 2397 exposure letters were sent. Thirteen confirmed cases had a symptom onset seven to 21 days after receiving an exposure letter.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The outbreak led to significant pressure on the children's hospital ED in terms of case burden and contact tracing, with the potential for nosocomial spread. Future outbreak response should focus on prompt implementation of infection prevention and control measures; clear and timely messaging around symptoms for both families and clinicians; streamlined notifications; accelerated development of measles point-of-care testing; access to pop-up vaccination in the community; and better integrated working between public health teams and frontline clinicians.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":"165 ","pages":"Pages 41-47"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144849658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Operational considerations for the running of an NHS faecal microbiota transplant service","authors":"B.H. Mullish ,&nbsp;A. Javed ,&nbsp;R. Ghani ,&nbsp;F. Davies ,&nbsp;A. Ghazy ,&nbsp;N. Ranganathan ,&nbsp;J.L. Alexander ,&nbsp;L.A. Roberts ,&nbsp;D. Chrysostomou ,&nbsp;M.R. Thursz ,&nbsp;J.R. Marchesi ,&nbsp;M. Gilchrist ,&nbsp;H.R.T. Williams","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.022","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":"164 ","pages":"Pages 105-110"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144823247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cluster of Aspergillus spp. colonizations in a critical care unit in England highlights need for a multi-disciplinary and multi-modal approach, management of healthcare ventilation, and clinical surveillance.","authors":"E Heinsbroek, S Kapadia, D Sanchez, E Rossouw, V Bywater, P Singh, M Hunter, K Juggernauth, E Mills, K Staniforth, P Figgis, G Bennett","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.06.022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.06.022","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144818329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Characterization of a nosocomial outbreak caused by VIM-1 Klebsiella michiganensis using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy” [J Hosp Infect 162 (2025) 9–16]","authors":"D. Rodriguez-Temporal ,&nbsp;M. Sánchez-Cueto ,&nbsp;S. Buenestado-Serrano ,&nbsp;M. Blázquez-Sánchez ,&nbsp;E. Cercenado ,&nbsp;M. Gutiérrez-Pareja ,&nbsp;A. Molero-Salinas ,&nbsp;E. López-Camacho ,&nbsp;P. Muñoz ,&nbsp;D. García de Viedma ,&nbsp;L. Pérez-Lago ,&nbsp;B. Rodríguez-Sánchez","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.010","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":"163 ","pages":"Page 56"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144748590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Viable viruses in airborne particles detected during cough by participants with acute respiratory viral infections","authors":"G.T.P. Tay ,&nbsp;S. Niazi ,&nbsp;C. He ,&nbsp;L. Morawska ,&nbsp;S.C. Bell ,&nbsp;K. Spann ,&nbsp;Z. Ristovski","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the survival of airborne viruses in exhaled particles produced during voluntary coughing by participants infected with respiratory viruses.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We utilized a novel technique, recruiting patients with diverse respiratory infections and performing real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) and culture analyses. Respiratory particles were aged in an airborne state to reach equilibrium with ambient relative humidity following cough in 13 participants who presented to hospital with PCR-positive respiratory viral infections.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Nasopharyngeal swab rt-PCR identified the following single infections; five influenza A virus (IAV), three respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), one rhinovirus, one parainfluenza virus (PIV)-3, and one PIV-4. Two co-infections were identified: one RSV/IAV and one RSV/human coronavirus HCoV-HKU1. Virus was identified by rt-PCR in cough particles collected from nine of 13 (69%) participants, with viable virus recovered from seven of 13 (54%) participants (IAV (one), RSV (four), PIV-3 (one), HCoV-HKU1 (one)). RSV-infected participants shed more respiratory particles than influenza participants, with a median of 1.07 × 10⁴ ± 19.9 × 10³ particles/L (<em>P</em>=0.044).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our study demonstrates the detection of diverse and viable respiratory viruses, including new insights of PIV and RSV infection in aged cough particles, and highlights the risk of transmission through the air.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":"164 ","pages":"Pages 18-26"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144769372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The IPC professional as a change agent","authors":"M.L. Ling","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a change agent, the infection prevention (IP) professional has the privilege to work with partners and stakeholders in ensuring safety in healthcare settings. Being an effective change agent requires sharpening of skills besides tapping on tools, and it can be helped further with help from mentors. As competency increases, the IP professional is better positioned to face emerging challenges in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":"164 ","pages":"Pages 111-113"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144769364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial-treated fabric scrubs can prevent pathogen proliferation on scrubs","authors":"C. Westlake ,&nbsp;K.M. Young ,&nbsp;B. Cassingham ,&nbsp;L. Forsythe","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Approximately 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur annually in US hospitals. The clothing of healthcare providers routinely becomes contaminated while caring for patients, and may serve as a pathogen source for transmission to patients. Previous studies indicated that antimicrobial-treated textiles/clothing demonstrated activity against pathogens; however, studies were limited by sample size, work setting and the lack of blinding.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To determine the efficacy of antimicrobial-treated fabric scrubs worn by registered nurses (RNs) and patient care technicians (PCTs) on medical/surgical wards to decrease the pathogen acquisition of scrubs, relationships between patient factors and pathogen acquisition, and satisfaction/adverse events by scrub type.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A double-blinded, three-arm, randomized, controlled trial with a crossover design was conducted with 127 subjects (post-hoc power=0.994) on medical/surgical wards in a full service, 248-bed, non-profit hospital. Subjects were RNs and PCTs providing patient care over three consecutive 12-h shifts. Two experimental scrubs [red-#1 (treated with zinc pyrithione alone) and blue-#2 (treated with zinc pyrithione plus hydrophilic fluorocarbon resin)] were evaluated against untreated control scrubs (black-#3).</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Pathogen acquisition did not differ between swab locations, while pathogen proliferation was significantly lower for the blue-#2 scrubs compared with the red-#1 (<em>P</em>&lt;0.001) and black-#3 (<em>P</em>&lt;0.001) scrubs. There were no significant relationships between patient interactions, infections, care activities/characteristics and pathogen acquisition. One product-related adverse event was reported (red-#1 scrubs, headache). Scrub satisfaction was high.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Scrubs treated with zinc pyrithione plus hydrophilic fluorocarbon resin demonstrated lower pathogen proliferation compared with scrubs treated with zinc pyrithione alone or control scrubs. Introducing such scrubs in the healthcare setting may reduce the transmission of pathogens from the clothing of healthcare workers to patients and the environment, and reduce HAI rates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":"165 ","pages":"Pages 57-63"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144765801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hygiene issues in urinal bottle use in Danish nursing homes without bedpan washers: a qualitative interview study with healthcare assistants and assistant nurses caring for residents with and without catheters","authors":"N.M. Agger ,&nbsp;S.T. Mohr ,&nbsp;M.K. Pedersen","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.06.021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.06.021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Three decades ago, Danish nursing homes began transforming to create more home-like environments, eliminating bedpans to deinstitutionalize care facilities. This led to the closure of auxiliary rooms, including sluice rooms. However, the continued use of urinal bottles without adequate cleaning facilities has increased hygiene concerns and health risks. This disparity between the home-like atmosphere and insufficient sanitation infrastructure poses challenges to delivering safe care.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study aimed to explore the practices, challenges, and perceptions of nursing home staff regarding the handling of urinal bottles.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Qualitative, semi-structured individual interviews with nursing home staff were employed, to gain insights into their daily handling of urinal bottles. Participants (<em>N</em> = 8) were recruited from four nursing homes in one Danish municipality.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Results revealed that staff employed various cleaning methods and lacked clear guidance from specific protocols. Instead, cleaning methods often relied on personal routines. Protective equipment is vital for safeguarding staff, residents, and colleagues against pathogens; however, staff reported difficulties in determining appropriate equipment for different situations. Many practices were based on individual beliefs about proper workflows, highlighting the need for clear guidelines.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In Danish nursing homes, the lack of standardized procedures and appropriate cleaning equipment results in unhygienic handling of urinal bottles. Staff often fail to recognize these as infection risks, despite clear links to urinary tract infections and the vulnerability of residents. This study highlights the urgent need for national guidelines, improved infrastructure, and a shift toward safe, sustainable, and evidence-based cleaning practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":"165 ","pages":"Pages 81-88"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144719066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring hygiene practices in gynaecological ultrasound: a new approach","authors":"C. Duret ,&nbsp;S. Chevalier ,&nbsp;S. Martin ,&nbsp;R. Kosi Tuavuwa ,&nbsp;O. Chanay","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.07.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Ultrasound is essential in gynaecology and obstetrics, but inadequate hygiene practices can pose infection risks. Though infections directly linked to ultrasound are rare, poor disinfection facilitates microbial transmission. This study evaluates hygiene practices and contamination during ultrasound consultations to improve infection control using a new audit methodology.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To assess hygiene practices during gynaecology ultrasound consultations using a new audit approach; to evaluate microbial contamination post-consultation; and to correlate practices with contamination levels to optimize protocols.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Hygiene-related consumables used during consultations were recorded and compared to targets based on current guidelines. Microbiological samples were taken from probes and surfaces after consultations. A survey assessed healthcare professionals' knowledge and perceptions. Personalized training was conducted after initial audits, followed by a control audit.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Initial audits showed major gaps in hygiene, especially regarding hand hygiene and probe disinfection. Indicators of usage were &lt;100%. After targeted training, they exceeded 120% of objectives. Initial contamination was high (median cfu: 15 on probes, 29 on surfaces), especially on abdominal probes. Post training, contamination significantly decreased (Kruskal–Wallis, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Detected flora included Gram-positive cocci and pathogens such as <em>Enterobacter hormaechei</em>, <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, and <em>Pseudomonas spp.</em></div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This innovative audit tool effectively assesses hygiene without observer bias and serves as a reliable indicator of good practice. Combined with the survey, it provides objective data. Targeted training improved compliance. Rigorous disinfection of all ultrasound components (including unused probes) between patients remains essential to minimize infection risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":"164 ","pages":"Pages 72-80"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144719143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A narrative review with grounded theory to evaluate the evidence for cleaning the filter body of point-of-use tap water filters","authors":"M. Clark ,&nbsp;R. Beattie ,&nbsp;T. Inkster","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.06.017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhin.2025.06.017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Point-of-use filters are installed at tap/shower outlets in hospitals in response to either water-related outbreaks/incidents where water-borne pathogens (e.g. <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>) have been isolated in a patient or in the water supply, or as a prophylactic measure in areas of high risk where immunocompromised patients are being treated (e.g. intensive care or neonatal units).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This narrative review considers the evidence base for external cleaning of the body of these filters, and utilizes a unique approach by combining grounded theory with standard narrative review techniques. This was felt necessary and appropriate in order to extract relevant data from a limited evidence base.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>No studies met the criteria for inclusion in the narrative review process; however, the inclusion of grounded theory provided evidence of five key themes in the literature: retrograde contamination; cleaning; maintenance/training; system contamination; and flushing/sampling.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These themes provide a narrative structure where the evidence for each theme is discussed. Axial coding explores the evidence for links between these themes. Behavioural implications are raised, as is evidence of flaws in current studies, such as the significant risk of confounding due to a complex range of variables in the clinical setting. This approach has collated and defined the risks and likely factors related to filter body contamination, and provided clear questions regarding cleaning which must be answered through further scientific study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":"164 ","pages":"Pages 43-50"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144719144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}