Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a geriatric acute-care ward during summer 2023: current aspects of infection control in the postpandemic period.

Aim: Management of a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in geriatric patients, taking into account the transition to the post-pandemic period.

Methods: PCR tests were conducted to identify the scale of infection during the outbreak; no new patients were admitted to the ward until the availability of the PCR results. Based on the results and individual risk assessment, three cohorts were formed and treated as recommended by the RKI.

The Impact of Clinical Factors and SARS-CoV-2 Variants on Antibody Production in Vaccinated German Healthcare Professionals Infected Either with the Delta or the Omicron Variant.

Background: The aim of the rapid introduction of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic was a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 transmission and a less frequent occurrence of severe COVID-19 courses. Thus, we evaluated COVID-19 severity in vaccinated individuals to examine variant-specific symptom characteristics and their clinical impact on the serological immune response.

Methods: A total of 185 individuals previously vaccinated against and infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.

Forecasting local hospital bed demand for COVID-19 using on-request simulations.

Accurate forecasting of hospital bed demand is crucial during infectious disease epidemics to avoid overwhelming healthcare facilities. To address this, we developed an intuitive online tool for individual hospitals to forecast COVID-19 bed demand. The tool utilizes local data, including incidence, vaccination, and bed occupancy data, at customizable geographical resolutions.

A case series of severe breakthrough infections observed in nine patients with COVID-19 in a southwestern German university hospital.

Purpose: Vaccination is the key element for protection against COVID-19. Increased vaccination breakthroughs raise the question of whether additional prevention is necessary in case of individual risk factors for a severe course with hospitalization or death despite vaccination.

Methods: Since July 13, 2021, there is an extended reporting requirement by German law.

Impact of discontinuing contact precautions and enforcement of basic hygiene measures on nosocomial vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium transmission.

Objectives: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) has emerged as a pathogen of major concern for public health. Although definitive evidence is lacking, contact precautions have been a crucial element in infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies designed to limit nosocomial VRE transmission. This study investigated the effect of discontinuing contact precautions while enforcing basic hygiene measures, including hand hygiene, environmental cleaning and antiseptic body washing, for patients with VRE in intensive care units (ICUs) on the prevention of nosocomial VRE transmission causing bacteraemia.