countrywide outbreak in hospitals linked to pre-moistened non-sterile washcloths, Norway, October 2021 to April 2022.

In November 2021, a clonal outbreak of of novel sequence type ST3875 was detected in three patients who died of bloodstream infections in one hospital. By 25 April 2022, the outbreak included 339 cases from 38 hospitals across Norway. Initial hospital reports indicate infection as the main contributing cause in seven deaths.

Quantification of aerosol dispersal from suspected aerosol-generating procedures.

Background: Oxygen-delivering modalities like humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIV) are suspected of generating aerosols that may contribute to transmission of disease such as coronavirus disease 2019. We sought to assess if these modalities lead to increased aerosol dispersal compared to the use of non-humidified low-flow nasal cannula oxygen treatment (LFNC).

Methods: Aerosol dispersal from 20 healthy volunteers using HFNC, LFNC and NIV oxygen treatment was measured in a controlled chamber.

In-hospital deaths attributable to healthcare-associated infections.

Background: It is estimated that approximately one-third of in-hospital deaths in Norway are attributable to adverse events, while the proportion caused by infection is unknown. Oslo University Hospital provides a full range of medical specialties on a national and regional level while serving as a local hospital for a population of approximately 300 000. We wished to investigate in-hospital deaths associated with fatal adverse events, and healthcare-associated infections in particular.

Operating room ventilation and the risk of revision due to infection after total hip arthroplasty: assessment of validated data in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register.

Background: The air in the operating room is considered a risk factor for surgical site infection (SSI) due to airborne bacteria shed from the surgical staff or from patients themselves.

Aim: To assess the influence of validated operating room (OR) ventilation data on the risk of revision surgery due to deep infection after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) reported to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR).

Methods: Forty orthopaedic units reporting THAs to the NAR during the period 2005-2015 were included.

Operating room ventilation-Validation of reported data on 108 067 primary total hip arthroplasties in the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register.

Rationale, Aims, And Objectives: The true effect of laminar airflow (LAF) systems on postoperative infection is disputed, partly due to uncertainty regarding the validity of ventilation data in register studies. The aim of this study was to validate the information on operating room (OR) ventilation reported by the orthopaedic surgeons to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR) after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Method: Forty of the 62 public orthopaedic units performing primary THA in Norway during the period 1987-2015 were included.

Diversity and antibiotic resistance among Escherichia coli populations in hospital and community wastewater compared to wastewater at the receiving urban treatment plant.

Bacterial diversity and antimicrobial resistance patterns among the indicator organism Escherichia coli were monitored in wastewater samples collected over one year from a hospital (HW), a community (CW) and the receiving urban (UW) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). We compared levels of antibiotic resistance in the different types of wastewater, and identified whether resistant strains were endemic in the wastewater system. If so, implementation of local treatment at certain resistance hotspots (e.

Polyhexanide - safety and efficacy as an antiseptic.

BACKGROUND Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride/polyhexanide/polyaminopropyl biguanide (PHMB) is used as a disinfectant and antiseptic. This article discusses the use of the substance as an antiseptic. We summarise published data on its antimicrobial effect in vitro and its clinical effect and safety when used on skin, wounds and mucosa.

Consensus statement: patient safety, healthcare-associated infections and hospital environmental surfaces.

Healthcare-associated infections have serious implications for both patients and hospitals. Environmental surface contamination is the key to transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Routine manual cleaning and disinfection eliminates visible soil and reduces environmental bioburden and risk of transmission, but may not address some surface contamination.

Secular trends in nosocomial bloodstream infections: antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase the total burden of infection.

Background: It is unknown whether rising incidence rates of nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) replace antibiotic-susceptible bacteria (ASB), leaving the total BSI rate unaffected.

Methods: We investigated temporal trends in annual incidence densities (events per 100 000 patient-days) of nosocomial BSIs caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), ARB other than MRSA, and ASB in 7 ARB-endemic and 7 ARB-nonendemic hospitals between 1998 and 2007.

Results: 33 130 nosocomial BSIs (14% caused by ARB) yielded 36 679 microorganisms.

[Post-exposure varicella prophylaxis].

Background: Varicella may have a serious and sometimes fatal course, especially in immunocompromised patients. Some patient groups may need prophylaxis after exposure to the varicella-zoster-virus. In this article we review the evidence for usefulness of prophylactic measures after such exposure.

Factors interfering with the microflora on hands: a regression analysis of samples from 465 healthcare workers.

Aims: This paper is a report of a study of the impact of finger rings, wrist watches, nail polish, length of fingernails, hand lotion, gender and occupation on hand microbiology of healthcare workers.

Background: The impact of the above mentioned variables on hand microbiology of healthcare workers is not well defined. Large scale studies suitable for multivariate analysis are needed to elucidate their role.

A large outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infection with short incubation period in a tertiary care hospital.

Objectives: Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen with a high mortality rate. We report a large, nosocomial outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Methods: Patients with L.

[Tigecycline--a new antibiotic].

Tigecycline belongs to a new class of antimicrobial agents, the glycylcyclines, which are structurally derived from tetracyclines. It is effective against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, aerobes and anaerobes and bacteria that have developed resistance against the classic tetracyclines. Although there is an increased risk for serious adverse events, tigecycline is important for treatment of patients with complicated infections of moderate severity where other antimicrobials cannot be used.

Should patients with hip joint prosthesis receive antibiotic prophylaxis before dental treatment?

The safety committee of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) recommended in 2009 that clinicians should consider antibiotic prophylaxis for all patients with total joint replacement before any invasive procedure that may cause bacteremia. This has aroused confusion and anger among dentists asking for the evidence. The present review deals with different aspects of the rationale for this recommendation giving attention to views both in favor of and against it.

Impact of finger rings on transmission of bacteria during hand contact.

Objective: To investigate the impact of finger rings on the transmission of bacteria from the hands of healthcare workers and the impact on the microflora on the hands of healthcare workers in clinical practice.

Design: Our study had a nonequivalent control group posttest-only design (pre-experimental). Healthcare workers who wore finger ring(s) on 1 hand and no ring on the other hand (n = 100) and a control group of healthcare workers who did not wear any rings (n = 100) exchanged standardized hand shakes with an investigator wearing sterile gloves.

Development of a method to measure bacterial transfer from hands.

A method was developed to investigate the transfer of bacteria from the hands of healthcare workers (HCWs). The method involved standardised hand contact between the HCW and a recipient wearing sterile gloves, followed by sampling of the bare hands of the HCW and the gloved hands of the recipient by the glove juice method. The duration of contact, degree of friction and dryness of the hands could be varied.

Impact of a single plain finger ring on the bacterial load on the hands of healthcare workers.

Objective: To investigate the impact of a single plain finger ring on the number and types of bacteria on the hands of healthcare workers (HCWs).

Design: Nonequivalent control groups, posttest only (preexperimental).

Methods: A total of 121 HCWs wearing 1 plain ring and 113 HCWs wearing no rings had both hands sampled by the "glove juice" technique.

Surgical-site infections at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center.

A five-month prospective survey of surgical-site infections (SSI) was conducted in the department of general surgery at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Tanzania. SSI were classified according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria and identified by bedside surveillance and post-discharge follow-up. This study showed that 77 (19.

Surveillance of the overall consumption of antibacterial drugs in humans, domestic animals and farmed fish in Norway in 1992 and 1996.

The annual overall consumption of antibacterial drugs in Norway, categorized into human use, use in domestic animals and in farmed fish, was estimated from wholesaler and feed-mill sales statistics. Comprehensive data on drug consumption in human medicine in Norway are published on a regular basis on behalf of the drug authorities. These data, including use of antibacterial drugs, are expressed as the number of defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/year.

Biological monitoring of sterilizers and sterilization failures in Norwegian dental offices in 1985 and 1996.

It is essential that dental office sterilizers be regularly challenged with biological indicators (BIs) in order to prove that the test spores are being killed during sterilization. The aims of the study were to biologically monitor Norwegian dental office sterilizers and to identify factors contributing to sterilization failure. In 1985, participants received a packet containing: (i) 4 BI units; (ii) a set of instructions; (iii) a questionnaire concerning operation (including biological monitoring) of the office sterilizer(s), and (iv) a return-address envelope.