Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control最新文献

{"title":"Effect of catheter dwell time on the risk of central line-associated bloodstream infections in central venous catheters and peripherally inserted central catheters.","authors":"Vassiliki Pitiriga, Elsa Campos, John Bakalis, Konstantinos Sagris, George Georgiadis, George Saroglou, Athanasios Tsakris","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01590-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01590-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Understanding the impact of catheter dwell time on the risk of central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) is crucial to developing effective infection prevention strategies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between catheter dwell time and the risk of CLABSIs caused by multidrug-resistant and common pathogens in patients with central venous catheters (CVCs) and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analysed data from patients admitted consecutively to a tertiary care Greek hospital from 2018-2020. Events were categorized into three groups based on 10-days' intervals: group 1 (≤ 10 days), group 2 (11-20 days), and group 3 (> 21 days).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Α total of 84 patients (mean age 56.4 ± 19.6 years) were included in the study. Among them, 62 (73.8%) had CVC, while 22 (26.2%) had PICC placement. In the CVC cohort, a statistically significant difference in CLABSI rates was observed, with rates of 4.49, 5.57, and 8.54 per 1,000 catheter/days for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively (p < 0.001). Similarly, higher rates of MDROs were found in group 3, with rates of 2.93, 3.71, and 4.47 per 1,000 catheter/days for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p = 0.01). Regarding the PICC cohort, significant differences in CLABSI rates were observed among the three groups, with rates of 0.93, 2.25, and 1.67 per 1,000 catheter/days for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results emphasize the critical role of catheter selection and duration management in mitigating CLABSI risk, especially for patients with CVCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"70"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12181930/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144336250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reprocessing status of flexible bronchoscopes in 202 intensive care units in Hubei province, China: a multicentre cross-sectional study.","authors":"Yaqi Yu, Weijun Peng, Li Tan, Qi Xiao, Yixuan Wang, Chunling Guo, Juan Deng, Mengyao Jiang","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01593-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01593-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Unstandardised reprocessing procedures for flexible endoscopes can lead to infection outbreaks and threaten the lives of ICU patients. Despite recent updates to technical specification, there was a paucity of studies on the current status of flexible endoscopic reprocessing, particularly concerning flexible bronchoscopes (FB). This study aimed to assess the current practices of reprocessing FBs in ICUs in Hubei Province, China.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing convenience sampling from October 11, 2024, to December 6, 2024, in the ICUs of 216 hospitals in Hubei Province, China. A self-developed questionnaire was distributed through an online survey platform to either the person in charge of the ICU or the frontline technicians. The information regarding the reprocessing of FBs was collected, including general characteristics, personnel and training, layout and facilities, reprocessing operations, and reprocessing quality monitoring.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The content validity index of the questionnaire was 0.94. There were 202 valid questionnaires collected with a validity rate of 93.52%, including 158 ICUs in tertiary hospitals and 44 in secondary and primary hospitals. The ICUs of tertiary hospitals were better than the ICUs of secondary and primary hospitals in terms of the number of FBs available, the number of dedicated technicians, the opportunity for training, the availability of some equipment and facilities (ultrasonic cleaners, whole tube irrigators, etc.), and some reprocessing operations (FB sterilisation method and storage cabinet sterilisation frequency) (P < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There were variations in FB reprocessing practices across ICUs in hospitals of all levels in Hubei, along with some common issues. Most ICUs were standardised in personnel training, operation, and recording, and ICUs in tertiary hospitals behaved better than in secondary and primary hospitals. However, there remained a need for improvement in the layout of the reprocessing environment, equipment configuration, and quality monitoring. Future research could apply implementation science to identify barriers and propose strategies to align practice with guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"69"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12175463/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144315771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of five versus two personnel on bacterial air contamination during preparation of sterile surgical goods in the operating room: a randomised controlled trial.","authors":"Camilla Wistrand, Bo Söderquist, Ann-Sofie Sundqvist","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01589-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01589-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Surgical site infection (SSI) and antimicrobial resistance are a worldwide problem affecting patient safety. It is lacking randomised controlled trials (RCT) regarding how the number of personnel in the operating room (OR) affects the air quality. We aimed to investigate the effect the number of personnel in the OR have on bacterial air contamination during the preparation of sterile surgical goods, to identify the species and antibiotic susceptibility of the bacteria isolated, and to describe the number of SSIs together with causative microorganisms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This RCT used an intervention group in which two individuals prepared the surgical goods and a control group in which five individuals prepared the goods. Bacteria were isolated on aerobic and anaerobic plates, and bacterial growth was measured as colony forming units (CFU). All isolates were typed, and types known to cause SSI were tested for susceptibility to eight antibiotics. Data were analysed with the Mann-Whitney U test, the chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results were based on 69 open-heart surgeries and 414 plates. When sterile surgical goods were prepared with two personnel, the median CFU was 2 with an IQR of 2, compared with five personnel, the median CFU was 5, with an IQR of 5 (p < 0.001). The 272 CFU represented 45 different bacterial species, with 38 species isolated in the control group and 21 in the intervention group. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Cutibacterium acnes (82/272, 30%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (36/272, 13%). Of the 36 S. epidermidis isolates, 11 (31%) were drug-resistant, including three multidrug-resistant. One patient in the control group was infected by Staphyloccocus aureus and Staphylococcus lugdunensis, neither of which was isolated during the preparation of sterile goods. One patient in the intervention group developed an SSI caused by C. acnes, Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii, and S. epidermidis. C. acnes and S. epidermidis were isolated during the preparation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Minimising the number of personnel in the OR during preparation of sterile surgical goods is important to reduce the bacterial load.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Prospectively 15 May 2022 at FoU Sweden (275659) and retrospectively 22 October 2022 at ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT05597072).</p>","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"68"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12168327/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144301052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of educational interventions provided to patients with a central venous catheter and their informal caregivers: a systematic review.","authors":"L Foucault-Fruchard, N van der Mee, C Reinprecht, C Durand, J Cailhol, J R Zahar, S Kerneis","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01583-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01583-w","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Central venous catheters offer considerable benefits, but their presence can expose patients to serious complications. Preventing such complications is crucial, not only for individual patients, but also for hospitals and the healthcare system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;To assess the impact of educational interventions on clinical and non-clinical outcomes provided to patients with central venous catheters and/or their informal caregivers, regardless of the therapeutic indication, and to define the specific characteristics of effective educational strategies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Medline and Embase were searched, covering all publications since their inception to 13 August 2024. Articles on clinical and/or non-clinical outcomes related to the education of patients with central venous catheters and their informal caregivers were included. Studies focusing solely on the education of healthcare providers were excluded. The reference lists of included studies were hand searched for additional citations. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024577193). The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;In total, 20 articles, representing 974 patients and 875 informal caregivers, were included in the review: seven randomized trials, ten quantitative studies without randomization, and three descriptive quantitative studies. The compliance rate of 60% for the randomised trials determined using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool indicates a low risk of bias, whereas non-randomised and descriptive quantitative studies show more methodological weaknesses (40% and 45%, respectively). There was a positive trend, significant or not, for the impact of patient education on reducing complications, particularly those related to infection (85% of the studies concerned by this outcome). This was often observed (64%) in studies based on educational interventions repeated over time. Studies that showed a significant improvement in patients' knowledge and skills in terms of self-management showed beneficial results in terms of the occurrence of complications. Nurses were the most common educators (15/20), and the most frequently used tools were written materials and digital resources, often combined with other methods for greater effectiveness.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;This systematic review encourages the implementation of educational interventions for patients with central venous catheters and their informal caregivers, notably to decrease infections. Providing them with written documents and digital tools, and delivering them repeatedly over time, should be promoted. However, study heterogeneity limits definitive conclusions. Future research should standardize methodologies, involve patients in intervention design, and assess cost-effectiveness to ensure sustainable implementa","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"67"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12153143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144265102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Continuous versus intermittent cuff pressure monitoring in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.","authors":"Yanshuo Wu, Yunhao Su, Liping Zhao, Xi Wang, Kun Zhang, Yuhong Chen, Xiaokun Zhang, Peng Gao, Kangkang Shen, Chencong Li, Yanling Yin, Congcong Zhao","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01579-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01579-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"66"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12150450/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144265101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing infection control training in ICUs using the Kirkpatrick model: a prospective cohort study.","authors":"Sahar Elsheikh, Afaf Magdy, Lamiaa Asem","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01587-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01587-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a significant global health challenge, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs), where patient vulnerability is high. Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) training is critical for reducing HAIs and improving healthcare outcomes. This aims to evaluate the efficacy of an IPC training program via Kirkpatrick's four-level model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective cohort study was conducted between June and December 2024 at Shebin El Kom Fever Hospital's ICU. The study involved 106 healthcare workers (84 nurses, 22 physicians) who participated in a two-month training program combining theoretical lectures and practical sessions. Program effectiveness was assessed via Kirkpatrick's 4 levels: reaction (satisfaction surveys), learning (knowledge tests), behavior (direct observation), and results (clinical outcomes).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ninety health care workers (HCWs) whose level of satisfaction exceeded 80% across all training aspects (Level 1) were included. The knowledge assessment revealed a significant improvement in the mean test score from 76.93 to 82.29% (p = 0.0112) (Level 2). Behavioral evaluation revealed substantial improvements in infection control practices, particularly in nurses' aseptic procedures (40.00-83.54%, p < 0.001) and physicians' personal protective equipment (PPE) usage (19.05-62.50%, p = 0.0391) (Level 3). At Level 4, no significant changes were observed in HAIs, mortality rates, or hospital stay costs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>IPC training programs significantly enhance HCW knowledge and compliance with infection control practices, laying the groundwork for sustainable ICU infection control. While immediate improvements in hospital metrics were not observed, long-term monitoring is crucial to achieving full benefits. Enhanced compliance may reduce HAIs and associated costs over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"65"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12150569/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144257175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Virtual reality for education on infection prevention and control: the impact on medical students' knowledge, attitudes and practices.","authors":"Bente Schippers, Olga Coenen, Franka Luk, Mark Graner, Frans van Hoek, Nike Stikkelbroeck, Machteld Dronkers, Edmée Bowles, Alma Tostmann","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01585-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01585-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aims to analyse the impact of a newly developed infection prevention and control (IPC) Virtual Reality (VR)-module on medical students' IPC knowledge, attitudes and practices. Additionally, the impact of the module on students' and healthcare professionals' (HCPs) confidence regarding IPC decision-making and their insight into consequences of IPC decisions were analysed.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The IPC VR-module was developed using a cyclical design process consisting of a prototype, first and final version. Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding IPC were compared between two groups of medical students. The VR-module was added to the IPC program for the VR group. After completion of the program, students of both groups were asked to complete an online questionnaire. Scores were summated for each subscale of the KAP, a Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare scores between groups. Student and HCP responses to VR-specific questions were dichotomized and a chi-square test was used to compare responses to different versions of the module.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Students who completed the VR-module (n = 34) scored higher on IPC knowledge questions (score 8 / 10), than those who followed the regular program (n = 58; score 7/10; p = 0.003). For the final version, the added value of the VR-module in the program was recognized by 95% of students and 90% of HCPs. Students and HCPs who completed the final version of the VR-module agreed more often with learning objectives of the VR-module than those who completed the first version. 100% vs. 80% for the statement on insight into consequences of choices (p < 0.001) and 89% vs. 73% for the statement on confidence taking IPC decisions (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The innovative IPC VR-module positively impacted students IPC knowledge and was highly appreciated by students and HCPs. VR-specific learning objectives were achieved, especially for the final version of the VR-module, demonstrating the importance of a cyclical design process.</p>","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"64"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12145634/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144245883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid identification of a Serratia marcescens outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit by third-generation long-read nanopore sequencing.","authors":"Desiree Henares, Meritxell Cubero, Irene Martinez-de-Albeniz, Alba Arranz, Muntsa Rocafort, Pedro Brotons, Amaresh Perez-Argüello, Maria Jose Troyano, Amadeu Gene, Aleix Lluansi, Marti Iriondo-Sanz, Iolanda Jordan, Claudia Fortuny, Mireia Urrea, C Muñoz-Almagro","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01582-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01582-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Serratia marcescens is a frequent cause of outbreaks in high-risk hospital settings such as neonatal intensive care units (NICU). This study investigated a potential S. marcescens outbreak in the NICU of a reference children's hospital using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). Additionally, it assessed the performance of third-generation sequencing for the rapid and accurate identification and characterization of the outbreak's clonal strain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective study was conducted from September 8th to November 12th 2021, following a sharp increase in invasive S. marcescens infections in the NICU of University Children's Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (Barcelona, Spain). This study included all patients admitted to NICU and other hospital wards from whom S. marcescens was isolated in any sample type. Nanopore sequencing was performed on S. marcescens isolates. Genomic characterization included phylogenetic analyses and detection of antimicrobial resistance genes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-nine patients (16 NICU and 13 non-NICU patients) infected/colonized by S. marcescens were detected during the study period, accounting for a total of 61 isolates. The genomic characterization was performed on 24 isolates from 14 NICU-patients and 10 isolates from eight non-NICU patients. Phylogenetic analyses evidenced three clusters of closely related strains; cluster I (n = 22), II (n = 2) and III (n = 5). The remaining isolates (n = 5) did not cluster. Cluster I contained most isolates from NICU patients (20/24), and most isolates from NICU-patients with confirmed invasive disease (7/8). Cluster II contained two isolates from two NICU-patients, one presenting with invasive disease. The resistance gene blaSRT was found in 97% of S. marcescens isolates (33/34). All isolates exhibited the amikacin-tobramycin aac(6') resistance gene and three multi-drug efflux pumps genes; sdeY, sdeB and smfY. The tetracycline tet(41) resistance gene was found in non-clustered isolates (4/34). The first results were available less than one month after the outbreak's alarm, and complete genomic study after two months.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Two clonal strains were co-circulating in the NICU setting, with one being the major strain responsible for the outbreak. Rapid molecular characterization with nanopore sequencing confirmed the outbreak. It revealed the phylogenetic relationships among isolates and their antimicrobial potential. This approach enabled effective contextualization of the outbreak and allowed for monitoring its progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"63"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12135216/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental investigation of 10 cases of nosocomial Bacillus cereus bacteraemia between 2018 and 2023.","authors":"Elissa Maalouf, Barthélémy Tosello, Sophie Schipani, Frédérique Gouriet, Claire Nicaise, Alix Lamoureux, Farah Beih, Agnès Delaby, Véronique Roux, Remi N Charrel, Carole Eldin","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01586-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01586-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bacillus cereus can cause severe and potentially fatal bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients, including preterm neonates. When the infection is nosocomial, investigating a potential environmental source is crucial to mitigate the transmission. This study investigated the potential environmental sources of ten cases of B. cereus bacteraemia in a neonatal intensive care unit.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analysed strains from 6 temporal groups of cases involving 10 preterm neonates with bacteraemia (December-2018 to November-2023) and 28 related environmental samples. Strain typing used Multi-locus Sequence Typing (MLST) to identify sequence types (ST), followed by core-genome analysis (cgMLST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) for strains within the same ST.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 10 clinical strains belonged to 10 different STs, while environmental strains fell into 18 STs. Fourteen strains across four STs matched clinical and environmental sources and were grouped into 4 groups (G1 to G4). Two environmental strains linked to clinical cases were isolated from medical offices, and five from nurses' locker rooms. These strains were analysed by WGS (Illumina) alongside other Bacillus species. G1 and G2 corresponded to B. cereus species whereas strains of G3 and G4 were closely related to B. pacificus and B. paranthracis, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We determined that severe B. cereus infections cases in 10 preterm neonates were not linked to each other, but rather to multiple potential environmental reservoirs within the NICU, often located farther from clinical wards than expected. These areas are not subject to same hygienic standards as medical units. Our findings highlight the need for routine monitoring of hand hygiene practices along with close surveillance and systematic biocleaning that targets not only direct patient care areas but also the broader hospital environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"62"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12135446/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strengthening neonatal care through ward assistants: a Kenyan case study in enhancing infection prevention and control practices.","authors":"Michuki Maina, Nancy Odinga, Vincent Kagonya, Gloria Ngaiza, Sebastian Fuller, Onesmus Onyango, Caroline Waithira, Dorothy Oluoch, David Gathara, Peter Mwangi, Loise Mwangi, Penina Musyoka, Lucy Kinyua, Lydia Thuranira, Virginia Njoroge, Ngina Mwangi, Zainab Kioni, Mike English, Edna Mutua","doi":"10.1186/s13756-025-01575-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13756-025-01575-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a critical component of neonatal care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where healthcare settings face unique challenges. Neonates, especially preterm and low birth weight infants, are at higher risk for infections, including healthcare-associated infections. In Kenya, neonatal units struggle with limited resources, understaffing, and shortages of essential supplies, significantly impeding effective IPC practices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study employed a mixed methods approach in four public neonatal units in Kenya to assess the impact of deploying ward assistants on IPC practices. Data collection included structured and unstructured observations, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with healthcare workers and caregivers. The intervention aimed to address gaps in routine cleanliness, waste management, and adherence to IPC protocols.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The introduction of ward assistants led to noticeable improvements in overall ward cleanliness and waste disposal, highlighting the potential for enhanced infection control. Mothers' hand hygiene practices improved, driven by targeted sensitization efforts. Despite these gains, significant challenges remained. Hand hygiene adherence among healthcare providers was inconsistent, and equipment cleaning and decontamination were frequently compromised by insufficient supplies and overwhelming patient demand. The findings underscored the critical role of resources and the need for consistent supervision and training to support sustainable IPC improvements.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Deploying ward assistants in neonatal units can positively influence IPC practices, particularly in addressing environmental cleanliness and waste management. However, these benefits alone are insufficient to address systemic barriers to IPC, including resource constraints and variability in adherence among staff. To sustain these gains, robust training, consistent supervision, and adequate resourcing are imperative. Future research should explore the long-term impact of such interventions and design context-specific strategies to overcome persistent barriers, ensuring safer neonatal care in resource-limited settings.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":7950,"journal":{"name":"Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control","volume":"14 1","pages":"61"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12131407/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144207466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}