Hospital hygiene in Italy: the GISIO-SItI survey.

Background: In Italy there are no rules concerning the establishment of a hospital hygiene structure in hospitals and other healthcare settings, and the hospital organization plans vary widely. The aim of the survey, carried out by the Italian Study Group of Hospital Hygiene of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive medicine and Public health, was to evaluate the presence in the hospital organization plan of a structure referred to as Hospital hygiene, or including in its denomination the words "hygiene" or "hospital hygiene", the activities carried out, the relation to other areas, like patient safety, the type and quantity of professionals involved, the strengths and the critical aspects.

Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to Healthcare Trusts representing all Italian Regions through the members of the above Study Group.

Human papillomavirus 9-valent vaccine for cancer prevention: a systematic review of the available evidence.

In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new human papillomavirus 9-valent vaccine (9vHPV), targeting nine HPV types: HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, which are also targeted by the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (qHPV), plus five additional high cancer risk HPV types (HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58). The aim of the current study was to systematically retrieve, qualitatively and quantitatively pool, as well as critically appraise all available evidence on 9vHPV from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We conducted a systematic review of the literature on 9vHPV efficacy, immunogenicity and safety, as well as a systematic search of registered, completed, and ongoing RCTs.

[Re-organization of health services in Italy and the role of medical directors of hospitals and local health units].

Health authorities, medical directors and managers are called to face increasing and inter-related challenges regarding the ongoing financial crisis, aging of the population and the need to acquire innovative medical technologies. These challenges need to be tackled in order to ensure sustainability of the healthcare systems and appropriateness and quality of healthcare services. In Italy, the role of medical directors has progressively evolved over the years and now requires strengthened managerial skills and additional professional expertise and skills to plan, implement and evaluate the new systems of government.

Influenza and immunization: a quantitative study of media coverage in the season of the «Fluad case».

Background: Seasonal influenza generates serious health and economic losses. In the last influenza season, the report of three deaths originally blamed on the Fluad vaccine drew widespread attention from the media and is likely to have had a major negative impact on vaccine uptake.

Objective: We quantitatively analyzed media coverage on influenza and immunization-related topics on all published issues of the Italian newspaper ranking first in circulation, over one year.

Reducing external drainage-related cerebrospinal fluid infections through implementation of a multidisciplinary protocol: experience in a paediatric hospital.

Objective: To assess the frequency of external cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain-related CNS infections before and after implementation of a protocol for their prevention.

Design: Quasi-experimental study, with comparison of incidence before and after the implementation of the intervention.

Setting And Participants: Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, Italy.

Antibiotic resistance as a major public health concern: epidemiology and economic impact.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is mainly sustained by the improper use of antibiotics and has become a global public health concern both in the field of human and animal health. Italy has the highest prevalence of AMR among European countries, in particular carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, which reached 34.3% in 2013.

[Human Papillomavirus infection and vaccination: knowledge and attitudes of Italian general practitioners].

Objective: To assess General Pratictioner's (GPs) knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection and prevention.

Design And Participants: A semi-structured survey was conducted from November to December 2013 among Italian GPs. Descriptive and univariate analyses were carried out.

Changed epidemiology of ICU acquired bloodstream infections over 12 years in an Italian teaching hospital.

Background: We compared the etiology of 203 ICU-acquired laboratory confirmed bloodstream infections (LC-BSI) prospectively collected between January 2000-December 2007 (first period) with 83 LC-BSI recorded between January 2010-December 2012 (second period), after the diffusion in 2008 of K. pneumoniae expressing carbapenem-resistance due to K. pneumoniae carbapenemases production (KPC-CR-Kp).

Legionella control in the water system of antiquated hospital buildings by shock and continuous hyperchlorination: 5 years experience.

Background: To control the presence of Legionella in an old hospital water system, an integrated strategy of water disinfection-filtration was implemented in the university hospital Umberto I in Rome.

Methods: Due to antiquated buildings, hospital water system design and hospital extension (38 buildings), shock hyperchlorination (sodium hypochlorite, 20-50 ppm of free chlorine at distal points for 1-2 h) followed by continuous hyperchlorination (0.5-1.

Vancomycin resistant enterococci healthcare associated infections.

Background: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are among the most common healthcare associated multidrug-resistant organisms. Purpose of the article was to review recent data regarding the epidemiology, clinical issues and infection control of this organisms.

Methods: A PubMed-MEDLINE search was carried out.