The gut microbiome, resistome, and mycobiome in preterm newborn infants and mouse pups: lack of lasting effects by antimicrobial therapy or probiotic prophylaxis.

Background: Enhancing our understanding of the underlying influences of medical interventions on the microbiome, resistome and mycobiome of preterm born infants holds significant potential for advancing infection prevention and treatment strategies. We conducted a prospective quasi-intervention study to better understand how antibiotics, and probiotics, and other medical factors influence the gut development of preterm infants. A controlled neonatal mice model was conducted in parallel, designed to closely reflect and predict exposures.

Geographical differences of carbapenem non-susceptible Enterobacterales and Acinetobacter spp. in Germany from 2017 to 2019.

Background: Since May 2016, infection and colonisation with carbapenem non-susceptible Acinetobacter spp. (CRA) and Enterobacterales (CRE) have to be notified to health authorities in Germany. The aim of our study was to assess the epidemiology of CRA and CRE from 2017 to 2019 in Germany, to identify risk groups and to determine geographical differences of CRA and CRE notifications.

Antimicrobial Resistance and the Spectrum of Pathogens in Dental and Oral-Maxillofacial Infections in Hospitals and Dental Practices in Germany.

Data on microbiological profiles in odontogenic infections are scarce. This study aimed to analyze the spectrum of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in clinical isolates from dental and oral-maxillofacial clinical settings in Germany. We analyzed 20,645 clinical isolates (dental practices: = 5,733; hospitals: = 14,912) from patients with odontogenic infections using data (2012-2019) from the German (ARS) system.

Bugs That Can Resist Antibiotics but Not Men: Gender-Specific Differences in Notified Infections and Colonisations in Germany, 2010-2019.

Data from surveillance networks show that men have a higher incidence rate of infections with anti-microbial-resistant (AMR) pathogens than women. We systematically analysed data of infections and colonisations with AMR pathogens under mandatory surveillance in Germany to quantify gender-specific differences. We calculated incidence-rates (IR) per 100,000 person-years for invasive infections with Methicillin-resistant (MRSA), and for infections or colonisations with carbapenem-non-susceptible spp.

[Recording of SARS-CoV-2 laboratory tests in Germany].

The collection of data on SARS-CoV‑2 tests is central to the assessment of the infection rate in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), data collected from various laboratory data recording systems are consolidated. First, this article aims to exemplify significant aspects regarding test procedures.

[Prevalence of multiresistant gram-negative bacteria in inhabitants of long-term care facilities in 2019 in Thuringia].

Background: Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDRGN) pose an emerging threat in German hospitals and in the outpatient sector. However, only few studies have investigated the prevalence of MDRGN in nonhospital settings and the associated risk factors for colonization.

Objective: In our study we determined the prevalence of MDRGN in inhabitants of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and associated risk factors for colonization in the region Weimar, Weimarer Land, and Jena.

Completeness of tuberculosis case notifications in Germany in 2013-2017: first results of an inventory study.

Background: Evaluating the completeness of tuberculosis (TB) notification data is important for monitoring of TB surveillance systems. We conducted an inventory study to calculate TB underreporting in Germany in 2013-2017.

Methods: Acquisition of two pseudonymized case-based data sources (national TB notification data and antibiotic resistance surveillance data) was followed by two-source Capture-recapture (CRC) analysis, as case-based data from a third source was unavailable.

The ongoing challenge of vancomycin-resistant and in Europe: an epidemiological analysis of bloodstream infections.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci infections are of great public health significance due to limited therapeutic options. We investigated epidemiological trends and risk factors of vancomycin resistance in enterococci isolates from patients with bloodstream infections in the EU/EEA from 2012 to 2018. Routine vancomycin susceptibility data of clinical (n = 67,022) and (n = 103,112) blood isolates from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses.

The rise in vancomycin-resistant in Germany: data from the German Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (ARS).

Background: Due to limited therapeutic options, vancomycin-resistant (VREF) is of great clinical significance. Recently, rising proportions of vancomycin resistance in enterococcal infections have been reported worldwide. This study aims to describe current epidemiological trends of VREF in German hospitals and to identify factors that are associated with an increased likelihood of vancomycin resistance in clinical isolates.

Genome-based analysis of Carbapenemase-producing isolates from German hospital patients, 2008-2014.

Background: By using whole genome sequence data we aimed at describing a population snapshot of carbapenemase-producing isolated from hospitalized patients in Germany between 2008 and 2014.

Methods: We selected a representative subset of 107 carbapenemase-producing clinical isolates possessing the four most prevalent carbapenemase types in Germany (KPC-2, KPC-3, OXA-48, NDM-1). Isolates were processed via illumina NGS.

2015/16 I-MOVE/I-MOVE+ multicentre case-control study in Europe: Moderate vaccine effectiveness estimates against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and low estimates against lineage-mismatched influenza B among children.

Background: During the 2015/16 influenza season in Europe, the cocirculating influenza viruses were A(H1N1)pdm09 and B/Victoria, which was antigenically distinct from the B/Yamagata component in the trivalent influenza vaccine.

Methods: We used the test-negative design in a multicentre case-control study in twelve European countries to measure 2015/16 influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically attended influenza-like illness (ILI) laboratory-confirmed as influenza. General practitioners swabbed a systematic sample of consulting ILI patients and a random sample of influenza-positive swabs was sequenced.

Treatment outcome in children with nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis: A retrospective follow-up study.

Introduction: Information on the long-term treatment outcome following nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lymphadenitis is very limited. We performed a study to (a) compare cure rates following different initial treatment courses, (b) describe subsequent treatment courses and their outcomes, and (c) determine the occurrence of late sequelae in immunocompetent children with NTM lymphadenitis.

Materials And Methods: In 2011, we conducted a retrospective follow-up study in 71 parents whose children had been hospitalized with NTM disease 2002-2005.

Antiviral Medications in Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza.

Background: Amantadine, oseltamivir, and zanamivir are currently available in Germany for the prevention and treatment of influenza. We review their efficacy and side-effect profiles.

Methods: This review is based on pertinent randomized and controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews retrieved by a systematic literature search, and on other relevant literature.

I-MOVE multicentre case-control study 2010/11 to 2014/15: Is there within-season waning of influenza type/subtype vaccine effectiveness with increasing time since vaccination?

Since the 2008/9 influenza season, the I-MOVE multicentre case-control study measures influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically-attended influenza-like-illness (ILI) laboratory confirmed as influenza. In 2011/12, European studies reported a decline in VE against influenza A(H3N2) within the season. Using combined I-MOVE data from 2010/11 to 2014/15 we studied the effects of time since vaccination on influenza type/subtype-specific VE.

[Influenza pandemic deaths in Germany from 1918 to 2009. Estimates based on literature and own calculations].

Background And Objective: Estimation of the number of deaths as a consequence of the influenza pandemics in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries (i.e. 1918-1919, 1957-1958, 1968-1970 and 2009) is a challenge worldwide and also in Germany.

Vaccine effectiveness in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza in primary care patients in a season of co-circulation of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, B and drifted A(H3N2), I-MOVE Multicentre Case-Control Study, Europe 2014/15.

Influenza A(H3N2), A(H1N1)pdm09 and B viruses co-circulated in Europe in 2014/15. We undertook a multicentre case-control study in eight European countries to measure 2014/15 influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically-attended influenza-like illness (ILI) laboratory-confirmed as influenza. General practitioners swabbed all or a systematic sample of ILI patients.

The European I-MOVE Multicentre 2013-2014 Case-Control Study. Homogeneous moderate influenza vaccine effectiveness against A(H1N1)pdm09 and heterogenous results by country against A(H3N2).

Background: In the first five I-MOVE (Influenza Monitoring Vaccine Effectiveness in Europe) influenza seasons vaccine effectiveness (VE) results were relatively homogenous among participating study sites. In 2013-2014, we undertook a multicentre case-control study based on sentinel practitioner surveillance networks in six European Union (EU) countries to measure 2013-2014 influenza VE against medically-attended influenza-like illness (ILI) laboratory-confirmed as influenza. Influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses co-circulated during the season.

Contact investigation for imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome, Germany.

On March 19, 2013, a patient from United Arab Emirates who had severe respiratory infection was transferred to a hospital in Germany, 11 days after symptom onset. Infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was suspected on March 21 and confirmed on March 23; the patient, who had contact with an ill camel shortly before symptom onset, died on March 26. A contact investigation was initiated to identify possible person-to-person transmission and assess infection control measures.

Differential use of antivirals for treatment of patients with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Germany.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends early antiviral treatment for patients with severe influenza illness or those at increased risk for severe illness.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of cases with laboratory-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 infection that have been treated with antivirals in Germany during the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and to investigate factors associated with the use of antivirals.

Methods: We analyzed cases with laboratory-confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 infection notified to national health authorities in Germany between week 29/2009 and week 17/2010 using multivariable logistic regression.

Under-reporting of measles: an evaluation based on data from north rhine-westphalia.

Background: Eliminating measles in Europe by 2015 is a WHO health goal. In Germany, physicians are legally required to report measles cases, yet it seems likely that reporting is less than universal. The goal of this study is to compare the number of measles cases that are reflected by data from the statutory health insurance (SHI) carriers with the number of physician-reported cases during and after a recent outbreak in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).

Influenza vaccination coverage in the 2004/05, 2005/06, and 2006/07 seasons: a secondary data analysis based on billing data of the German associations of statutory health insurance physicians.

Background: The German Standing Committee on Vaccination recommends annual vaccination for persons in high-risk groups in order to lower the disease burden associated with seasonal influenza. The stated target is 75% vaccination coverage of people over age 60 by the year 2010. We present statistics based on billing data of the German associations of statutory health insurance physicians regarding vaccination coverage for influenza in the three seasons from 2004/05 to 2006/07.

Varicella vaccination coverage of children under two years of age in Germany.

Background: Since July 2004, routine varicella vaccination is recommended by the German Standing Vaccination Committee in Germany. Health Insurance Funds started to cover vaccination costs at different time points between 2004 and 2006 in the Federal States. Nationwide representative data on vaccination coverage against varicella of children under two years of age are not available.

Incidence rate of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in immunocompetent children: a prospective nationwide surveillance study in Germany.

An increasing incidence in disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria is being reported. We investigated the burden of disease in immunocompetent German children in a prospective nationwide study from April 2003 to September 2005. Ninety-seven percent of children presented with lymphadenitis; median age was 2.