No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome in five Italian hospitals from 1st November 2019 to 29th February 2020.

Background: On 9th January 2020, China CDC reported a novel coronavirus (later named SARS-CoV-2) as the causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Identifying the first appearance of virus is of epidemiological importance to tracking and mapping the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in a country. We therefore conducted a retrospective observational study to detect SARS-CoV-2 in oropharyngeal samples collected from hospitalized patients with a Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) enrolled in the DRIVE (Development of Robust and Innovative Vaccine Effectiveness) study in five Italian hospitals (CIRI-IT BIVE hospitals network) (1st November 2019 - 29th February 2020).

Hierarchical convolutional models for automatic pneu-monia diagnosis based on X-ray images: new strategies in public health.

Conclusions: Despite some limits, our findings support the notion that deep learning methods can be used to simplify the diagnostic process and improve disease management.

Background: In order to help physicians and radiologists in diagnosing pneumonia, deep learning and other artificial intelligence methods have been described in several researches to solve this task. The main objective of the present study is to build a stacked hierarchical model by combining several models in order to increase the procedure accuracy.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) surveillance in over-65-years-old patients: the experience of a University hospital (seasons 2017-2018 and 2018-2019).

Background: Influenza is a relevant public health problem, also due to the risk of complications. The most effective measure to prevent influenza is vaccination; therefore, at present, there is consensus among European countries, regarding the need for routine seasonal influenza vaccination of elderly and individuals at increased risk of severe influenza. At the same time, influenza surveillance is necessary to understand the viruses circulating and effectiveness of vaccination strategies.

No Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Circulation in Rome (Italy) during the Pre-Pandemic Period: Results of a Retrospective Surveillance.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 outbreak recorded over the previous months could be characterized as a pandemic. The first known Italian SARS-CoV-2 positive case was reported on 21 February. In some countries, cases of suspected "COVID-19-like pneumonia" had been reported earlier than those officially accepted by health authorities.

Predicting needlestick and sharps injuries in nursing students: Development of the SNNIP scale.

Aim: To develop an instrument to investigate knowledge and predictive factors of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) in nursing students during clinical placements.

Design: Instrument development and cross-sectional study for psychometric testing.

Methods: A self-administered instrument including demographic data, injury epidemiology and predictive factors of NSIs was developed between October 2018-January 2019.

Legionellosis in health care facilities: state of the art in control and prevention in Italy.

Background: Nosocomial water systems may be contaminated by Legionella spp; therefore, health care facilities represent a potential health risk for patients and health care staff. Active, well-planned clinical and environmental surveillance in hospitals is the most important instrument of prevention.

Aims And Methods: The aim of the present article was to outline the state of the art in legionellosis control and prevention among Italian health care facilities by reporting some experiences in the field.

Surveillance of healthcare acquired infections by "alert microorganisms": preliminary results.

Background: We evaluated the trend of four years (2015 - 2018) of "alert organisms" surveillance carried out at the 450 bed teaching hospital S. Andrea in Rome.

Methods: All patients with an "Alert organism" isolation were screened.

Optimising migraine treatment: from drug-drug interactions to personalized medicine.

Migraine is the most disabling and expensive chronic disorders, the etiology of which is still not fully known. The neuronal systems, (glutammatergic, dopaminergic, serotoninergic and GABA-ergic) whose functionality is partly attributable to genetically determined factors, has been suggested to play an important role. The treatment of acute attacks and the prophylactic management of chronic forms include the use of different category of drugs, and it is demonstrated that not each subject has the same clinical answer to them.

Official controls regarding artisanal ice cream shops: public health policies and consumer protection in the Italian and European legislative frameworks.

Ice cream is a widely enjoyed food that is especially popular during summer. To ensure it is safe and ready-to-eat for consumers, legislation imposes a series of obligations for food business operators, and for competent authorities that have to carry out official controls, including official sampling. This article reviews the general and specific requirements applicable to the premises where ice cream is produced, concerning aspects related to health notification obligations and to implementing and maintaining procedures based on the principles of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system.