Community antibiotic consumption in the European Union/European economic area: late-pandemic rebound and seasonality analysis.

Background: A rebound in antibiotic consumption has been observed in the European community at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we evaluate the extent of this increase, when it exactly occurred, and how the seasonality in antibiotic use changed during the late-pandemic period.

Methods: Data on community antibiotic consumption were available from the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network for 28 European countries between 2015 and 2022.

Improving antibiotic prescribing quality in out-of-hours primary care: a mixed-methods study using participatory action research.

Background: During out-of-hours (OOH) primary care, GPs overprescribe antibiotics for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Many interventions have been shown to improve antibiotic prescribing quality, but their implementation in practice remains difficult. Participatory action research (PAR) aims to explore, implement and evaluate change in practice with an active involvement of local stakeholders, while generating knowledge through experience.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community antibiotic consumption in the EU/European Economic Area: a changepoint analysis.

Objectives: A decrease in community antibiotic consumption in Europe has been observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The magnitude of this decrease, how fast after the outbreak it occurred, whether it was sustained during the pandemic and whether the seasonal variation in antibiotic consumption was affected, have not yet been evaluated in detail.

Methods: Data on community antibiotic consumption were available from the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network for 28 EU/European Economic Area (EEA) countries between 2010 and 2021.

Serotype 19A and 6C Account for One-Third of Pneumococcal Carriage Among Belgian Day-Care Children Four Years After a Shift to a Lower-Valent PCV.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) effectively reduce infection and asymptomatic carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine serotypes. In 2016, Belgium replaced its infant PCV13 program by a 4-year period of PCV10. Concomitantly, S.

Radiologic Features in Cochlear Implant Candidates: A Prospective Study Comparing Candidates Carrying the p.Pro51Ser Mutation in Coagulation Factor C Homology With Noncarriers.

Background: DFNA9 is a form of autosomal progressive sensorineural hearing loss, caused by more than 30 variants in the COCH gene. p.Pro51Ser (p.

Assessing the impact of the Global Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance (Global-PPS) on hospital antimicrobial stewardship programmes: results of a worldwide survey.

Background: The Global Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance (Global-PPS) provides a methodology to support hospitals worldwide in collecting antimicrobial use data. We aim to evaluate the impact of the Global-PPS on local antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes and assess health care professionals' educational needs and barriers for implementing AMS.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was disseminated within the Global-PPS network.

Impact of changing reimbursement criteria on the use of fluoroquinolones in Belgium.

Objectives: The criteria for the reimbursement of fluoroquinolones changed in Belgium on 1 May 2018. This study aims to quantify the difference in fluoroquinolone use after this change, and to assess the timing and persistence of this effect, both in terms of total reimbursed fluoroquinolone use and its relative proportion.

Methods: Longitudinal reimbursement data on fluoroquinolone use in the Belgian community from January 2017 to November 2018 were analysed to identify a change in reimbursed fluoroquinolone use expressed in DDD per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID), using a set of non-linear mixed models including change-points.

Pacemaker guided screening for severe sleep apnea, a possible option for patients with atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea is often underdiagnosed in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients although it is an important risk factor. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess which techniques cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) and Holter monitors use to screen for sleep apnea (SA), and to evaluate if these are suitable for AF patients from a diagnostic accuracy perspective.

Methods: The search was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-guidelines.