What we learned from the infection control and what we need in the future: A quantitative and qualitative study on hospital infection prevention and control practitioners (HIPCPs) in Tianjin, China.

Background: In December 2022, the epidemic prevention and control policy was upgraded, and China entered a different stage of epidemic control. This study aims to identify implications for better infection control and health care supply during the epidemic.

Methods: A longitudinal quantitative and qualitative study was performed based on 2 comprehensive questionnaire surveys among 497 hospital infection prevention and control practitioners (HIPCPs) before and during the epidemic peak in Tianjin, China.

Comparison of channel sampling methods and brush heads in surveillance culture of endoscope reprocessing: A propensity score matching and paired study.

Background: Endoscopy-related infections have caused multiple outbreaks. The importance of surveillance culture is gradually recognized, but sampling techniques are not consistent in many guidelines. It is unclear whether the Flush-Brush-Flush sampling method (FBFSM) is more sensitive than the conventional flush sampling method (CFSM) and whether different sampling brushes have different effects.

Investigating SARS-CoV-2 persistent contamination in different indoor environments.

Environmental contamination caused by COVID-19 patients could be a medium of transmission. Previous reports of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental surfaces were about short-term contamination. This study investigated SARS-CoV-2 RNA existence in room-temperature and low-temperature environments long after exposure (>28 days).

Aerosol transmission, an indispensable route of COVID-19 spread: case study of a department-store cluster.

Patients with COVID-19 have revealed a massive outbreak around the world, leading to widespread concerns in global scope. Figuring out the transmission route of COVID-19 is necessary to control further spread. We analyzed the data of 43 patients in Baodi Department Store (China) to supplement the transmission route and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in a cluster outbreak.

The global COVID-19 pandemic at a crossroads: relevant countermeasures and ways ahead.

Background: Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China at the beginning of December 2019, there have been over 11,200,000 confirmed cases in the world as of the 3 July 2020, affecting over 213 countries and regions with nearly 530,000 deaths. The pandemic has been sweeping all continents, North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and South Asia among others at an alarming rapidity. Here, we provide an estimate of the scale of the pandemic spread under different scenarios of variation in key influencing parameters with a hybrid model.

Short-term effects of meteorological factors, air pollution, and sunspot on childhood hand, foot, and mouth disease in Tianjin, China: a new time series regression, 2014-2018.

This study is aimed at defining the relationship between a set of environmental factors and childhood HFMD and then at estimating the related effect. The 16 environmental factors included meteorological, air pollution, and sunspot. A traditional TSR modified by using susceptible-infectious-recovery models and distribution lag nonlinear model was applied to estimate the short-term effects of daily environmental factors on children HFMD occurrence in 2014-2018 with adjustment of potential confounding factors.

The importance of sampling technique and rinse water for assessing flexible gastrointestinal endoscope reprocessing: A 3-year study covering 59 centers.

Background: Various guidelines recommend several sampling techniques to verify endoscope reprocessing, but a comparative study of the efficiency for recovering microorganisms was rare. Our goal was to compare different sampling techniques for the postreprocessing endoscope to assess residual bacterial contamination and analysis of the critical factors affecting the endoscope reprocessing failure.

Methods: From 2016 to 2018, 3 techniques, the conventional flushing sampling method, flush-brush-flush sampling method (FBFSM), and pump-assisted sampling method (PASM), were compared covering all 59 endoscope units in Tianjin, China.

Three key factors influencing the bacterial contamination of dental unit waterlines: a 6-year survey from 2012 to 2017.

Background: The contaminated output water from dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) is a potential risk to both patients and dental personnel who are frequently exposed to this water or aerosols.

Aim: The purpose was to evaluate the contamination level and prevalence of bacteria in the output water of DUWLs, and to identify key factors to provide technical support for formulating relevant policies.

Methods: We developed a special sampling connector designed for collecting dental handpiece output water and a measurement device to assess retraction of a dental chair unit (DCU).

Microbiologic assessment of flexible gastrointestinal endoscope reprocessing using a pump-assisted sampling technique: an investigation involving all endoscopy units in Tianjin, China.

Background: Microbiologic surveillance of flexible gastrointestinal endoscopes is recommended in several guidelines as the primary means of identifying reprocessing failures. This study aimed to evaluate the contamination level and prevalence of bacteria of post-reprocessing endoscopes and to access whether using a pump-assisted sampling method (PASM) improves the sensitivity of culture.

Methods: All 59 endoscopy units in Tianjin, China, were investigated.

Evaluation of bacterial contamination of dental unit waterlines and use of a newly designed measurement device to assess retraction of a dental chair unit.

Introduction: Dental unit waterline (DUWL) output water is delivered through instruments of a dental chair unit (DCU) to irrigate and cool teeth. However, these waterlines can be heavily contaminated with bacteria.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to assess retraction and investigate the contamination level and prevalence of bacteria in DUWL output water.