Transferring inpatients between wards drives large nosocomial COVID-19 outbreaks, Wales, 2020-22: a matched case-control study using routine and enhanced surveillance data.

Background: The role of the hospital environment in the spread of COVID-19 is unclear.

Aim: To measure associations between ward characteristics and outbreak size to inform mitigations.

Methods: Wards with large (case wards) and small (control wards) outbreaks in three acute hospitals were compared.

Cross-sectional household transmission study of Cryptosporidium shows that C. hominis infections are a key risk factor for spread.

Background: Infection with the Cryptosporidium parasite causes over 4000 cases of diagnosed illness (cryptosporidiosis) in England and Wales each year. The incidence of sporadic disease has not been sufficiently established, and how frequently this arises from contact with other infected people is not well documented. This project aimed to explore potential transmission in the home and attempt to identify asymptomatic infections, which might play a role in transmission.

Cross-sectional investigation of household transmission of in England and Wales: the epiCrypt study protocol.

Introduction: Infection with the parasite causes over 4000 cases of diagnosed illness (cryptosporidiosis) in England and Wales each year. Risk factors are often estimated from outbreak investigations, and in the UK include ingestion of contaminated water and food, farm/animal contact and person-to-person spread in institutions. However, reported outbreaks only represent about 10% of cases and the transmission routes for sporadic disease may not be the same.

Exposures associated with infection with Cryptosporidium in industrialised countries: a systematic review protocol.

Background: Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite of humans and other animals worldwide and is one of the greatest contributors to human diarrhoeal illness. Transmission can occur indirectly via contaminated food or water, or directly via contact with animals or other infected people. Risk exposures are often identified from outbreak investigations, but a subset of cases remains unexplained, and sources for sporadic disease and pathways to infection are still unclear.

Association between post-craniotomy Propionibacterium acnes infection and dural implants: a case-control study.

Background: In 2011, 15 deep-seated Propionibacterium acnes infections were identified in patients following craniotomies in a hospital in the UK.

Aim: To describe the outbreak and report findings from the investigation undertaken in order to identify the source and risk factors and inform control measures.

Methods: Data were obtained from hospital clinical records and included patient and surgical variables.