Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in educational institutions, August to December 2020, Germany.

This study aims at providing estimates on the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 in schools and day-care centres. We calculated secondary attack rates (SARs) using individual-level data from state-wide mandatory notification of index cases in educational institutions, followed by contact tracing and PCR-testing of high-risk contacts. From August to December 2020, every sixth of overall 784 independent index cases was associated with secondary cases in educational institutions.

[Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence and dependency on country of origin of refugees in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany in 2015].

Background: Hepatitis C, a liver disease transmitted by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), can result in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to WHO estimates for 2015, approximately 71 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HCV, representing 1% of the world population. Worldwide migration movements lead to immigration from HCV high- to low-prevalence countries.

Risk factors related to a hospital-associated cluster of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 027 infections in Germany During 2007.

In 2007, Clostridium difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotype 027 emerged in Germany. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study to identify specific risk factors for infection with this strain. Logistic regression analysis involving 15 case patients and 31 control patients revealed that exposure to fluoroquinolones (matched odds ratio, 36.