Evaluation of the influenza-like illness case definition and the acute respiratory infection case definition in the diagnosis of influenza and COVID-19 in healthcare personnel.

Background: To evaluate the influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) case definitions in the diagnosis of COVID-19 and influenza in healthcare personnel (HCP).

Methods: We followed a cohort of 5752 HCP from November 2022 to May 2023. Symptomatic HCP were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza by real-time PCR and/or rapid antigen detection test.

Comparison of morbidity and absenteeism due to COVID-19 and seasonal influenza in a large cohort of health care personnel in the 2022 to 2023 season.

Background: To compare the morbidity and work absenteeism associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and influenza among health care personnel (HCP) in 2022 to 2023.

Methods: We followed 5,752 hospital-based HCP in Greece from November 14, 2022 through May 28, 2023. Symptomatic HCP was tested for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza by real-time polymerase chain reaction and/or rapid antigen detection test.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 booster vaccination, morbidity and absenteeism among healthcare personnel during the 2022-2023 season dominated by Omicron BA.5 and BA.2 subvariants.

Aim: We assessed the vaccination effectiveness (VE) of a COVID-19 booster vaccine dose and the association between morbidity and absenteeism with COVID-19 booster vaccine receipt among healthcare personnel (HCP) in 2022-2023 in Greece.

Methods: We followed 5752 HCP from November 14, 2022 through May 28, 2023 for episodes of absenteeism. Absenteeism for non-infectious causes, pregnancy leave, or annual leave was not recorded.

Effectiveness of a Self-Decontaminating Coating Containing Usnic Acid in Reducing Environmental Microbial Load in Tertiary-Care Hospitals.

Surfaces have been implicated in the transmission of pathogens in hospitals. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an usnic-acid-containing self-decontaminating coating in reducing microbial surface contamination in tertiary-care hospitals. Samples were collected from surfaces 9 days before coating application, and 3, 10, and 21 days after its application (phases 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively).

Validation of Sequential ROX-Index Score Beyond 12 Hours in Predicting Treatment Failure and Mortality in COVID-19 Patients Receiving Oxygen via High-Flow Nasal Cannula.

Background: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is an oxygen delivery method shown to reduce the risk of intubation and mortality in patients with type 1 respiratory failure. The ROX-index score can predict HFNC failure. This study aims to evaluate sequential ROX-index assessments as predictors of HFNC failure and mortality.

Timing of last COVID-19 vaccine dose and SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in fully (boosted) vaccinated healthcare personnel.

Aim: To estimate the incidence, timing and severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated healthcare personnel (HCP).

Methods: In total, 6496 fully vaccinated HCP were analysed prospectively from 15 November 2021 to 17 April 2022. Full coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination was defined as a complete primary vaccination series followed by a booster dose at least 6 months later.

Association between COVID-19 vaccination status, time elapsed since the last vaccine dose, morbidity, and absenteeism among healthcare personnel: A prospective, multicenter study.

Aim: We assessed the impact of COVID-19 vaccination status and time elapsed since the last vaccine dose on morbidity and absenteeism among healthcare personnel (HCP) in the context of a mandatory vaccination policy.

Methods: We followed 7592 HCP from November 15, 2021 through April 17, 2022. Full COVID-19 vaccination was defined as a primary vaccination series plus a booster dose at least six months later.

Predictive score for patients with carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales colonization upon admission in a tertiary care hospital in an endemic area.

Objectives: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) comprise important nosocomial pathogens worldwide. Colonized patients are the source of further dissemination in healthcare settings. Considering that timely detection of CPE carriers is pivotal but universal screening is unfeasible, we aimed to develop and validate a prediction score to detect patients harbouring CPE on hospital admission.

Onodera's prognostic nutritional index: Comparison of its role in the severity and outcomes of patients with COVID‑19 during the periods of alpha, delta and omicron variant predominance.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a severe public health threat worldwide, affecting the function of multiple organs in affected individuals, in addition to respiratory function. Several strains of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been circulating worldwide since it first arose, with some of these having the ability to escape from natural or vaccine-mediated immunity. The Onodera's prognostic nutritional index (OPNI), which is derived from the peripheral lymphocyte count and serum albumin, has been reported to be significantly associated with a poor survival rate and post-operative complications in patients with various diseases and in some studies on patients with COVID-19.

Protection of vaccination versus hybrid immunity against infection with COVID-19 Omicron variants among Health-Care Workers.

Background Aim: The Omicron COVID-19 variants BA.1* and BA.2* evade immune system leading to increased transmissibility and breakthrough infections.

Vaccination Hesitancy among Health-Care-Workers in Academic Hospitals Is Associated with a 12-Fold Increase in the Risk of COVID-19 Infection: A Nine-Month Greek Cohort Study.

Health-Care-Workers (HCWs) are considered at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We sought to compare rates and severity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs conducting a retrospective cohort study in two tertiary Academic Hospitals, namely Laiko and Attikon, in Athens, Greece. Vaccinated by BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and unvaccinated HCWs were included and data were collected between 1 January 2021 and 15 September 2021.

COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduces morbidity and absenteeism among healthcare personnel: A prospective multicenter study.

Aim: Healthcare personnel (HCP) are prioritized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination to protect them and non-disruptive provision of healthcare services. We assessed the impact of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on morbidity and absenteeism among HCP.

Methods: We studied 7445 HCP in five tertiary-care hospitals in Greece from November 15, 2020 through April 18, 2021.

Containing Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in an endemic setting.

Background: Carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (CP-Kp) has been established as important nosocomial pathogen in most tertiary care hospitals in Greece. The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of an enhanced infection control program on the containment of CP-Kp in a haematology unit where the incidence of CP-Kp infections was high.

Failure of central venous catheter insertion and care bundles in a high central line-associated bloodstream infection rate, high bed occupancy hospital.

Background: Our hospital has several characteristics different from the settings in which the central venous catheter (CVC) care bundle has been implemented so far, that is, care bundles or protocols are not systematically used, and the prevalence of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) is high, as is bed occupancy rate. We examined the effectiveness of CVC care bundles.

Methods: Modified CVC bundles were implemented across all settings of our hospital.

Antibacterial activity of different honeys against pathogenic bacteria.

To study the antimicrobial activity of honey, 60 samples of various botanical origin were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against 16 clinical pathogens and their respective reference strains. The microbiological quality of honeys and the antibiotic susceptibility of the various isolates were also examined. The bioassay applied for determining the antimicrobial effect employs the well-agar diffusion method and the estimation of minimum active dilution which produces a 1mm diameter inhibition zone.