Burden of noninfluenza respiratory viral infections in adults admitted to hospital: analysis of a multiyear Canadian surveillance cohort from 2 centres.

Background: Data on the outcomes of noninfluenza respiratory virus (NIRV) infections among hospitalized adults are lacking. We aimed to study the burden, severity and outcomes of NIRV infections in this population.

Methods: We analyzed pooled patient data from 2 hospital-based respiratory virus surveillance cohorts in 2 regions of Canada during 3 consecutive seasons (2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18; = 2119).

The effect of sucrose addition at dosage stage on the foam attributes of a bottle-fermented English sparkling wine.

Background: Approximately two-thirds of wine produced in the UK is bottle-fermented sparkling wine. Effervescence and foamability are key features used to assess English sparkling wine (ESW) quality. A critical, yet understudied, area of research is the potential for dosage to influence foam behaviour via associated changes in wine viscosity.

Small-signal analysis of microring resonator modulators.

We derive the frequency-dependent modulation transfer functions for microring resonator modulators, using a small-signal analysis. Modulation efficiencies are obtained in terms of familiar optical cavity parameters, which provide an intuitive understanding of device performance. The results are in good agreement with experimental data, and are used to compare operating characteristics between resonance-modulated and coupling-modulated microresonators.

Epidemiology and outcome of pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Canadian hospitals.

Background: MRSA remains a leading cause of hospital-acquired (HAP) and healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP). We describe the epidemiology and outcome of MRSA pneumonia in Canadian hospitals, and identify factors contributing to mortality.

Methods: Prospective surveillance for MRSA pneumonia in adults was done for one year (2011) in 11 Canadian hospitals.

Barriers and bridges to infection prevention and control: results of a qualitative case study of a Netherlands' surgical unit.

Objectives: The objectives of the study are to observe the overall work environment including infection prevention and control (IP&C) practices on the target surgical unit; to analyse the policies and procedures in the hospital and unit environments; to analyse the barriers and bridges to IP&C that practitioners identify in visual narratives of their unit environment and to collect monthly specific IP&C-related anonymised data.

Design: In this qualitative case study analysis, a socio-ecological approach on health systems informed the research design and provided a framework to better understand the complexity of implementing effective IP&C.

Setting: The study was conducted on a surgical unit at a Netherlands' hospital that reported successful reductions in the prevalence of targeted multidrug-resistant organisms.

A point prevalence survey of health care-associated infections in Canadian pediatric inpatients.

Background: Health care-associated infections (HAIs) cause considerable morbidity and mortality to hospitalized patients. The objective of this point prevalence study was to assess the burden of HAIs in the Canadian pediatric population, updating results reported from a similar study conducted in 2002.

Methods: A point prevalence survey of pediatric inpatients was conducted in February 2009 in 30 pediatric or combined adult/pediatric hospitals.

Hypervirulent Clostridium difficile strains in hospitalized patients, Canada.

To determine the incidence rate of infections with North American pulsed-field types 7 and 8 (NAP7/NAP8) strains of Clostrodium difficile, ribotype 078, and toxinotype V strains, we examined data collected for the Canadian Nosocomial Infections Surveillance Program (CNISP) CDI surveillance project during 2004-2008. Incidence of human infections increased from 0.5% in 2004/2005 to 1.

Molecular characterization of moxifloxacin resistance from Canadian Clostridium difficile clinical isolates.

Fluoroquinolone resistance in Clostridium difficile has been implicated in recent outbreaks of C. difficile infection. The purpose of this report was to characterize the molecular mechanism conferring resistance to moxifloxacin among C.

Acinetobacter baumannii in casualties returning from Afghanistan.

Military personnel returning from Afghanistan and entering Canadian hospitals may be infected with multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The Public Health Agency of Canada, in conjunction with the Canadian Forces, have developed an alert to inform hospitals of the potential for importation of Acinetobacter baumannii, and the appropriate precautionary measures that should be taken to prevent secondary spread within hospitals.

Ralstonia pickettii bacteremia associated with pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy in a Canadian hospital.

We describe 2 pediatric patients with Ralstonia pickettii bacteremia associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy. Investigation revealed a common environmental source--the ECMO temperature-control units. We created guidelines for disinfecting these units that do not void the manufacturer's warranty and have prevented additional cases of bacteremia due to this organism.

A point prevalence survey of health care-associated infections in pediatric populations in major Canadian acute care hospitals.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of pediatric health care-associated infections (HAI) in Canadian acute care hospitals.

Methods: A point-prevalence study conducted in February 2002 in 25 hospitals across Canada. Information on HAI, utilization of antimicrobial agents and invasive devices, isolation precautions, and microbial etiology was collected.

Histoplasmosis cluster, golf course, Canada.

We report a cluster of 4 cases of acute histoplasmosis (1 culture proven and 3 with positive serology, of which 2 were symptomatic) associated with exposure to soil during a golf course renovation. Patients in western Canada with compatible symptoms should be tested for histoplasmosis, regardless of their travel or exposure history.

Pediatric poststernotomy mediastinitis.

Background: Mediastinitis results in significant morbidity in pediatric cardiac patients. It is not clear whether delayed sternal closure is a risk factor for these infections. Management of mediastinitis remains controversial.

Nitrogen composition in urban runoff--implications for stormwater management.

A study was conducted to characterise the composition of nitrogen in urban stormwater in Melbourne, Australia, during baseflows and storm events, and to compare the results with international data. Nitrogen in Melbourne stormwater was predominantly dissolved (approximately 80%), with ammonia the least-abundant form (approximately 11%). Concentrations of nitrogen species did not vary significantly between baseflow and storms, although the proportion of nitrogen in particulate form was higher during storm events (p = 0.