Impact of surgical-site infection on health utility values: a meta-analysis.

Background: Surgical-site infections (SSIs) are recognized as negatively affecting patient quality of life. No meta-analysis of SSI utility values is available in the literature to inform estimates of this burden and investment decisions in prevention.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database was performed in April 2022 in accordance with PROSPERO registration CRD 42021262633.

Comparing national point prevalence surveys of healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial prescribing: a methodological approach to adjust for differences in case-mix.

Background: National point prevalence surveys (PPS) of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) and antimicrobial prescribing in hospitals were conducted in 2011 and 2016 in Scotland. When comparing results of PPS, it is important to adjust for any differences in patient case-mix that may confound the comparison.

Aim: To describe the methodology used to compare prevalence for the two surveys and illustrate the importance of taking case-mix (patient and hospital stay characteristics) into account.

A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of 6-Step vs 3-Step Hand Hygiene Technique in Acute Hospital Care in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the microbiologic effectiveness of the World Health Organization's 6-step and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 3-step hand hygiene techniques using alcohol-based handrub. DESIGN A parallel group randomized controlled trial. SETTING An acute care inner-city teaching hospital (Glasgow).

Non-susceptibility of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus in the UK: temporal trends in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Objectives: To monitor and compare trends in the non-susceptibility of bloodstream isolates of pathogens to key antibiotics in the constituent countries of the UK between 2010 and 2014.

Methods: Routinely generated antibiotic susceptibility test results for bloodstream isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas spp., Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were collected from hospital microbiology laboratories in each country.

Nasal swab screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus--how well does it perform? A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detections identified by nasal swabbing using agar culture in comparison with multiple body site testing using agar and nutrient broth culture.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Patients: Adult patients admitted to 36 general specialty wards of 2 large hospitals in Scotland.