Publications by authors named "Kuster S"

Objectives: To compare the plaque reducing efficacy of oil pulling with sesame oil compared to distilled water in a randomized, controlled, examiner-blinded parallel group study.

Materials And Methods: Forty probands without advanced periodontal disease of the University Hospital for Restorative Dentistry and Periodontology, Medical University of Innsbruck (Austria) were randomized allocated to test- (sesame oil) or control group (distilled water) and asked to pull daily in the morning for eight weeks with their allotted fluid for 15 min. Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI) and gingival bleeding index were assessed at baseline and after four and eight weeks.

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The widely distributed MutS gene family functions in recombination, DNA repair, and protein translation. Multiple evolutionary processes have expanded this gene family in plants relative to other eukaryotes. Here, we investigate the origins and functions of these plant-specific genes.

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Purpose: As healthcare workers (HCW) have been disproportionally affected by COVID-19, its post-acute sequelae (PASC) in HCW can impact healthcare systems. We assessed the burden and course of PASC in HCW over a 30-month period.

Methods: In a prospective multicentre HCW cohort in Switzerland, PASC surveys were conducted in 03/2021, 09/2021, 06/2022, 04/2023, and 10/2023.

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Article Synopsis
  • - An outbreak of a specific drug-resistant bacteria (OXA-23-producing Acinetobacter baumannii) occurred in ICU patients who also had COVID-19.
  • - The bacteria likely spread through contaminated surfaces, possibly from a shared positioning pillow used between patients.
  • - The rapid transmission may have been driven by healthcare workers' gloves and gowns becoming contaminated with respiratory secretions during patient care.
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  • The study investigated the prevalence and risk factors for gut colonization by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in healthcare workers in Northeastern Switzerland.
  • Approximately 1,209 employees participated, revealing a 5.4% prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and 0.1% for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE); no vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were found.
  • Key risk factors for ESBL-E colonization included non-European ethnicity, travel to high-risk countries, systemic antibiotic use, antibiotic eye drops, and monthly sushi consumption, while alcohol consumption was negatively associated.
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The gene family is distributed across the tree of life and is involved in recombination, DNA repair, and protein translation. Multiple evolutionary processes have expanded the set of genes in plants relative to other eukaryotes. Here, we investigate the origins and functions of these plant-specific genes.

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Importance: Preoperative skin antisepsis is an established procedure to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs). The choice of antiseptic agent, povidone iodine or chlorhexidine gluconate, remains debated.

Objective: To determine whether povidone iodine in alcohol is noninferior to chlorhexidine gluconate in alcohol to prevent SSIs after cardiac or abdominal surgery.

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Background: There is debate about the causes of the recent birth rate decline in high-income countries worldwide. During the pandemic, concern about the effects on reproductive health has caused vaccine hesitancy. We investigated the association of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection with involuntary childlessness.

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Aims Of The Study: We aimed to assess the extent of SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity elicited by previous infections and/or vaccination among healthcare workers, and to identify reasons why healthcare workers decided against vaccination.

Methods: This nested cross-sectional study included volunteer healthcare workers from 14 healthcare institutions in German-speaking Switzerland. In January 2021, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were available for healthcare workers.

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Background: To eliminate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030, 90% of those infected must be diagnosed and 80% treated. In Switzerland, >40% of the estimated 32,000 infected people are still undiagnosed. In the canton of St Gallen, HCV prevalence and cascade of care have only been studied in the centralised opioid agonist therapy (OAT) setting (institutions), although about 80% of OAT patients are treated decentrally (general practitioner [GP] or pharmacy).

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Context: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread concern about its potential impact on various aspects of human health.

Aims: This narrative review aims to summarise the current knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 on sperm quality and its effect on assisted reproductive technology.

Methods: In this narrative review, a literature search using the PubMed and MEDLINE databases was conducted to identify relevant original research articles published up to 29 January 2023.

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Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a global increase in healthcare-associated infections (HAI) among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Whether this increase is directly attributable to COVID-19 or whether the pandemic indirectly (via staff shortages or breaches in infection prevention measures) led to this increase, remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to assess HAI incidence and to identify independent risk factors for HAI in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ICU patients.

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  • * The study discovered that deep incisional and organ/space infections were the most common types of SSIs, with Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. being the most frequently identified bacteria.
  • * Key risk factors for developing SSIs included a BMI of 25 or higher and delayed graft function, both of which were linked to increased chances of graft loss post-transplant.
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  • - The study in Switzerland assessed the effectiveness of a targeted intervention program aimed at reducing surgical site infection (SSI) rates in eight hospitals, alongside existing SSI surveillance, from 2013 to 2020.
  • - Researchers included over 10,000 patients undergoing cardiac, colon, or hip/knee surgeries and focused on optimizing hair removal, skin disinfection, and antimicrobial prophylaxis as preoperative measures.
  • - Results showed a decrease in overall SSI rates post-intervention, with a significant reduction for cardiac surgeries, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in lowering infection rates.
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Background: Healthcare-associated infections in long-term care are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. While infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines are well-defined in the acute care setting, evidence of effectiveness for long-term care facilities (LTCF) is missing. We therefore performed a systematic literature review to examine the effect of IPC measures in the long-term care setting.

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  • - The study examined the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from healthcare workers (HCW) to their household contacts, focusing on how HCWs' exposure to COVID-19 patients affected this risk.
  • - Results showed that 19% of HCWs reported having at least one positive household contact, with increased patient exposure, larger household sizes, and having children influencing this positivity.
  • - Vaccinated HCWs and those using respirator masks had lower risks of transmitting the virus to their households, while delayed vaccinations were linked to higher household positivity rates.
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Objective: We evaluated the epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing bacteria (CPB) in Switzerland by comparing risk factors between patients colonized with CPB and patients colonized with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. Hospitalized patients with CPB in any sample between January 2008 and July 2019 were included.

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The effects of different types of pre-existing immunity on the frequency of clinical symptoms caused by the SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection were prospectively assessed in healthcare workers during the Omicron period. Among 518 participants, hybrid immunity was associated with symptom reduction for dizziness, muscle or limb pain and headache as compared to vaccination only. Moreover, the frequencies of dizziness, cough and muscle or limb pain were lower in participants who had received a booster vaccine dose.

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Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Gram-negative bacteria have the ability to persist in moist environments in healthcare settings, but their spread from these areas can result in outbreaks of healthcare-associated infections.

Methods: This study reports the investigation and containment of a multi-drug-resistant P. aeruginosa outbreak in three intensive care units of a Swiss university hospital.

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Importance: World Health Organization guidelines recommend administering surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP), including cefuroxime, within 120 minutes prior to incision. However, data from clinical settings supporting this long interval is limited.

Objective: To assess whether earlier vs later timing of administration of cefuroxime SAP is associated with the occurrence of surgical site infections (SSI).

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Background: We sought to decipher transmission pathways in healthcare-associated infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within our hospital by epidemiological work-up and complementary whole genome sequencing (WGS). We report the findings of the four largest epidemiologic clusters of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurring during the second wave of the pandemic from 11/2020 to 12/2020.

Methods: At the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, systematic outbreak investigation is initiated at detection of any nosocomial case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, occurring more than five days after admission.

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Background: Disentangling the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and vaccination on the occurrence of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) is crucial to estimate and reduce the burden of PASC.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis (May/June 2022) within a prospective multicenter healthcare worker (HCW) cohort in north-eastern Switzerland. HCWs were stratified by viral variant and vaccination status at time of their first positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab.

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Background: Disseminated (. ) infection following cardiac surgery has been associated with a high mortality. The long-term impact of surgery and the appropriate surgical approach are still matters of debate.

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