Association of institutional masking policies with healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections in Swiss acute care hospitals during the BA.4/5 wave (CH-SUR study): a retrospective observational study.

Background: In the initial phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, masking has been widely accepted in healthcare institutions to mitigate the risk of healthcare-associated infection. Evidence, however, is still scant and the role of masks in preventing healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 acquisition remains unclear.We investigated the association of variation in institutional mask policies with healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections in acute care hospitals in Switzerland during the BA.

Epidemiology of bloodstream infections caused by extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Switzerland, 2015-2022: secular trends and association with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The association between the COVID-19 pandemic and the incidence of invasive infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms remains a topic of debate.

Aim: To analyse the national incidence rates of bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by Escherichia coli (EC) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) with extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance (ESCR) in two distinct regions in Switzerland, each exhibiting varying antimicrobial resistance patterns and that were impacted differently by the pandemic.

Methods: Data was analysed from positive blood cultures prospectively collected by the nationwide surveillance system (ANRESIS) from January 1, 2015, to August 31, 2022.

Impact of hormonal therapy on HIV-1 immune markers in cis women and gender minorities.

Background: Although sex hormones are recognized to induce immune variations, the effect of hormonal therapy use on immunity is only poorly understood. Here, we quantified how hormonal therapy use affects HIV-1 immune markers in cis women (CW) and trans women and non-binary people (TNBP) with HIV.

Methods: We considered CD4, CD8 and lymphocyte measurements from cis men (CM), CW and TNBP in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Treatment effect of remdesivir on the mortality of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Switzerland across different patient groups: a tree-based model analysis.

Aims Of The Study: Remdesivir has shown benefits against COVID-19. However, it remains unclear whether, to what extent, and among whom remdesivir can reduce COVID-19-related mortality. We explored whether the treatment response to remdesivir differed by patient characteristics.

Influence of environmental temperature and heatwaves on surgical site infection after hip and knee arthroplasty: a nationwide study.

Background: Previous studies reported higher incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) after procedures performed in summer or with high temperatures. However, no study used detailed climate data to assess this risk after hip and knee arthroplasty, and no study specifically investigated the role of heatwaves.

Aim: To assess the impact of higher environmental temperatures and heatwaves on SSI rates after hip and knee arthroplasty.

Hospital outcomes of community-acquired COVID-19 versus influenza: Insights from the Swiss hospital-based surveillance of influenza and COVID-19.

BackgroundSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease has frequently been compared with seasonal influenza, but this comparison is based on little empirical data.AimThis study compares in-hospital outcomes for patients with community-acquired COVID-19 and patients with community-acquired influenza in Switzerland.MethodsThis retrospective multi-centre cohort study includes patients > 18 years admitted for COVID-19 or influenza A/B infection determined by RT-PCR.

Serological testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in clinical practice: A comparative diagnostic accuracy study.

Background: Serological tests are a powerful tool in the monitoring of infectious diseases and the detection of host immunity. However, manufacturers often provide diagnostic accuracy data generated through biased studies, and the performance in clinical practice is essentially unclear.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of various serological testing strategies for (a) identification of patients with previous coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and (b) prediction of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in real-life clinical settings.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of positive blood cultures in Swiss intensive care units: a nationwide surveillance study.

Background: Evidence about the impact of the pandemic of COVID-19 on the incidence rates of blood cultures contaminations and bloodstream infections in intensive care units (ICUs) remains scant. The objective of this study was to investigate the nationwide epidemiology of positive blood cultures drawn in ICUs during the first two pandemic waves of COVID-19 in Switzerland.

Methods: We analyzed data on positive blood cultures among ICU patients, prospectively collected through a nationwide surveillance system (ANRESIS), from March 30, 2020, to May 31, 2021, a 14-month timeframe that included a first wave of COVID-19, which affected the French and Italian-speaking regions, an interim period (summer 2020) and a second wave that affected the entire country.

Increasing morbidity and mortality of candidemia over one decade in a Swiss university hospital.

Background: The epidemiology of candidemia is evolving with raising concern about the emergence of intrinsically resistant non-albicans Candida species and acquisition of antifungal resistance. In addition to microbiological surveys, epidemiological studies including clinical data are needed to assess the impact of candidemia on morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To assess the clinical and microbiological trends of candidemia in a Swiss university hospital.

Distribution of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in ICU-bloodstream infections during hospitalization: a nationwide surveillance study.

Changing microorganism distributions and decreasing antibiotic susceptibility over the duration of hospitalization have been described for the colonization or infection of selected organ systems. Few data are available on bacteremias in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. We conducted a nationwide study on bloodstream infection (BSI) using data from the Swiss Centre for Antibiotic Resistance (ANRESIS).

Radiological CT Patterns and Distribution of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillus, Non-Aspergillus, Cryptococcus and Pneumocystis Jirovecii Mold Infections - A Multicenter Study.

Purpose:  Clinical signs and symptoms related to invasive fungal disease are nonspecific and need to be followed up by appropriate diagnostic procedures. The goal of this study was to analyze CT imaging patterns in invasive fungal infections and their correlation with the immune status and clinical outcome.

Materials And Methods:  We performed a retrospective multicenter study including 85 consecutive patients with invasive pulmonary fungal infection (2011-2014).

Prevalence and significance of bacterial contamination of autologous stem cell products.

There is limited and conflicting information on the prevalence of contamination of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cell products (HPCPs), and their optimal management remains unclear. The authors reviewed the microbial surveillance data of HPCPs collected between January 2002 and December 2019 for autologous transplantation at the study institution to determine the prevalence of microbial contamination and the potential infectious complications among recipients. Among 3935 HPCPs, 25 (0.

Cohort profile: SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 hospitalised patients in Switzerland.

Background: SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, which emerged in China in late 2019, rapidly spread across the world with several million victims in 213 countries. Switzerland was severely hit by the virus, with 43,000 confirmed cases as of 1 September 2020.

Aim: In cooperation with the Federal Office of Public Health, we set up a surveillance database in February 2020 to monitor hospitalised patients with COVID-19, in addition to their mandatory reporting system.

Accuracy of serological testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies: First results of a large mixed-method evaluation study.

Background: Serological immunoassays that can identify protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 are needed to adapt quarantine measures, assess vaccination responses, and evaluate donor plasma. To date, however, the utility of such immunoassays remains unclear. In a mixed-design evaluation study, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of serological immunoassays that are based on various SARS-CoV-2 proteins and assessed the neutralizing activity of antibodies in patient sera.

Risk factors for candidemia: a prospective matched case-control study.

Background: Candidemia is an opportunistic infection associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients hospitalized both inside and outside intensive care units (ICUs). Identification of patients at risk is crucial to ensure prompt antifungal therapy. We sought to assess risk factors for candidemia and death, both outside and inside ICUs.

Evaluation of Mass Spectrometry-Based Detection of Panfungal Serum Disaccharide for Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections: Results from a Collaborative Study Involving Six European Clinical Centers.

A mass spectrometry (MS) method that detects a serum disaccharide (DS) (MS-DS) was recently described for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections (IFI). We carried out a European collaborative study to evaluate this assay. Patients with the following IFI were selected according to the availability of sera obtained at about the time that IFI was documented: invasive candidiasis (IC;  = 26 patients), invasive aspergillosis (IA;  = 19), and mucormycosis (MM;  = 23).

Correction to: Catheter retention as a consequence rather than a cause of unfavorable outcome in candidemia.

In the original publication the members of the FUNGINOS network were provided in such a way that they could not be indexed as collaborators on PubMed.

Fluconazole non-susceptible breakthrough candidemia after prolonged low-dose prophylaxis: a prospective FUNGINOS study.

Objectives: Breakthrough candidemia (BTC) on fluconazole was associated with non-susceptible Candida spp. and increased mortality. This nationwide FUNGINOS study analyzed clinical and mycological BTC characteristics.

Changing Epidemiology of Invasive Mold Infections in Patients Receiving Azole Prophylaxis.

Breakthrough invasive mold infections (IMIs) that occur during posaconazole or voriconazole prophylaxis are rare complications for which epidemiological data are lacking. This retrospective analysis comparing 24 microbiologically documented breakthrough with 66 nonbreakthrough IMIs shows a shift towards non-Aspergillus molds with a significantly increased proportion of rare multidrug-resistant molds.