Consumption of alcohol-based hand rub in French nursing homes: results from a nationwide survey, 2018-2019.

This study assessed the hand hygiene performance in French nursing homes using the consumption of alcohol-based hand rubs (AHRs) as a surrogate. Nursing homes from the 17 French regions were contacted to collect their AHR consumption and occupancy in 2018 and 2019. A total of 1290 nursing homes from 15 French regions participated in the survey.

How do the general population behave with facemasks to prevent COVID-19 in the community? A multi-site observational study.

Objective: The appropriate use of facemasks, recommended or mandated by authorities, is critical to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community. We aim to evaluate frequency and quality of facemask use in general populations.

Methods: A multi-site observational study was carried out from June to July 2020 in the west of France.

Emergency ward ultrasound: clinical audit on disinfection practices during routine and sterile examinations.

Context: In the emergency ward, where the use of ultrasound is common (including for sterile procedures), ward equipment is constantly exposed to high risks of microbiological contamination. There are no clear guidelines for disinfection control practices in emergency departments, and it is not known how emergency ward doctors follow good hygiene practices.

Method: A multi-centre audit was conducted in 16 emergency services from Northern France regional hospitals, in form of a questionnaire.

The effectiveness of trunk training on trunk control, sitting and standing balance and mobility post-stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of trunk training on trunk control, sitting and standing balance and mobility.

Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cochrane Library, Rehab+ and ScienceDirect were searched until January 2019.

Review Methods: Randomized controlled trials were included if they investigated the effect of trunk exercises on balance and gait after stroke.

Prospective evaluation of the management of urinary tract infections in 134 French nursing homes.

Objective: Prospective assessment of the management of urinary tract infections (UTI) in the nursing homes of the Hauts-de-France region.

Patients And Methods: A 50-question form had to be filled in for up to five consecutive residents treated for UTI in each nursing home. If necessary, diagnoses were reclassified according to the 2014 French Infectious Diseases Society guidelines.

Dynamic investigation of nutrient consumption and injection strategy in microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) by means of large-scale experiments.

Microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) depends on the in situ microbial activity to release trapped oil in reservoirs. In practice, undesired consumption is a universal phenomenon but cannot be observed effectively in small-scale physical simulations due to the scale effect. The present paper investigates the dynamics of oil recovery, biomass and nutrient consumption in a series of flooding experiments in a dedicated large-scale sand-pack column.

Optimization of water quality monitoring network in a large river by combining measurements, a numerical model and matter-element analyses.

A monitoring network that resolves the spatial and temporal variations of the water quality is essential in the sustainable management of water resources and pollution control. Due to cost concerns, it is important to optimize the monitoring locations so to use the least number of stations required to obtain the most comprehensive monitoring. The optimal design of monitoring networks is commonly based on the limited data available from existing measuring stations.

Optimizing the operation of the Qingshitan Reservoir in the Lijiang River for multiple human interests and quasi-natural flow maintenance.

For reservoir operation, maintaining a quasi-natural flow regime can benefit river ecosystems, but may sacrifice human interests. This study took the Qingshitan Reservoir in the Lijiang River as a case, and developed an optimization model to explore a trade-off solution between social-economic interests and nature flow maintenance on a monthly base. The objective function considered irrigation, cruise navigation and water supply aspects.

[Infections complicating femoral nerve catheter for postoperative analgesia: about two cases].

The process of inserting a perineural catheter on femoral region for a regional anesthesia is quite common amongst hospital practices. The resulting infectious complications, although rare, remain potentially serious. For instance, many cases of severe sepsis were described in medical literature.

[Prevention of whooping-cough cross transmission in maternity hospital].

Introduction: Reports of pertussis have been increasing since 2008 in North of France. A large part of reported cases involved healthcare workers (HCWs) in nurseries and maternity hospitals. The objective of this study was to determine HCWs' knowledge regarding pertussis and its cross-transmission in the maternity hospitals in North of France.

Investigation of a large outbreak of Clostridium difficile PCR-ribotype 027 infections in northern France, 2006-2007 and associated clusters in 2008-2009.

In 2006 and 2007, a large outbreak of Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) with PCR-ribotype 027 was identified in northern France. Overall, 38 healthcare facilities notified 529 CDIs over a 22-month period, including 281 laboratory-confirmed CDI 027 and 248 non-confirmed CDI 027 cases (incidence rate per 10,000 elective bed days: 1.63, range: 0.

[Update on Clostridium difficile infections].

Purpose: Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic gram positive, spore-forming bacterium which is responsible for 15-25% of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and for more than 95% of pseudomembranous colitis (PMC). This paper will review the main knowledge on C. difficile-associated infections and their recent evolution.

[Evaluation of practices involving a cross infection risk in anaesthesia].

Objective: The practice of anaesthesiology has the potential for transmitting a number of infectious agents to the patient. In France, several recent cases have been identified, so that a wide survey on anaesthesiology practice has been enhanced.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire, based on the recommendations of the French Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (Sfar), was send to 8,771 anaesthesiologists and intensive care practitioners and to 2,070 nurses practicing anaesthesiology.

VEB-1 Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii, France.

VEB-1 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii was responsible for an outbreak in hospitals in France. A national alert was triggered in September 2003 when 4 hospitals reported clusters of A. baumannii infection with similar susceptibility profiles.

Investigation of a nosocomial outbreak of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase VEB-1-producing isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii in a hospital setting.

A nosocomial outbreak of epidemiologically related VEB-1 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii occurred in 33 patients in an intensive care unit. A case-control study identified previous treatment with third-generation cephalosporins as the only risk factor for A. baumannii acquisition.

[Clostridium difficile bacteremia].

Background: Extra-digestive manifestations of Clostridium difficile infection are very uncommon. Exceptional cases of C. difficile bacteremia or severe sepsis have been described in intensive care patients, demonstrating the capacity of this agent to generate generalized infection.

Birth weight prediction by three-dimensional ultrasonography: fractional limb volume.

Objective: To introduce fractional limb volume as a new ultrasonographic parameter, validate reliability of fractional limb volume measurements, develop new birth weight prediction models, and examine their practical utility for estimating fetal weight during late pregnancy.

Methods: Healthy late-third-trimester fetuses were prospectively scanned by two- and three-dimensional ultrasonography within 4 days of delivery. Volume data sets were subsequently used to extract several standard ultrasonographic measurements.

Fetal iliac angle measurements by three-dimensional sonography.

Objective: To determine the technical reliability of fetal iliac angle measurements by three-dimensional sonography as a prenatal marker for Down syndrome.

Methods: Three-dimensional multiplanar views of the fetal pelvis were used to standardize iliac angle measurements from 35 normal second-trimester pregnancies. Measurement reliability for a single examiner and between two different examiners were analyzed by intraclass correlation.

[Lung infection by Mycobacterium szulgai].

Background: Mycobacterium szulgai is an uncommon atypical mycobacterium human pathogen.

Case Report: The clinical manifestations and radiographic findings in a 31-year-old woman were strongly suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis. The mode of transmission could not be determined.