One Health surveillance of colistin-resistant Enterobacterales in Belgium and the Netherlands between 2017 and 2019.

Background: Colistin serves as the last line of defense against multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections in both human and veterinary medicine. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and spread of colistin-resistant Enterobacterales (ColR-E) using a One Health approach in Belgium and in the Netherlands.

Methods: In a transnational research project, a total of 998 hospitalized patients, 1430 long-term care facility (LTCF) residents, 947 children attending day care centres, 1597 pigs and 1691 broilers were sampled for the presence of ColR-E in 2017 and 2018, followed by a second round twelve months later for hospitalized patients and animals.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers in Dutch hospitals after the 2020 first wave: a multicentre cross-sectional study with prospective follow-up.

Background: We aimed to estimate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence and describe its determinants and associated symptoms among unvaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) after the first wave of the pandemic.

Methods: HCWs from 13 Dutch hospitals were screened for antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in June-July 2020 and after three months. Participants completed a retrospective questionnaire on determinants for occupational and community exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 experienced since January 2020.

Implementation of the Infection Risk Scan (IRIS) in nine hospitals in the Belgian-Dutch border region (i-4-1-Health project).

Background: A tool, the Infection Risk Scan has been developed to measure the quality of infection control and antimicrobial use. This tool measures various patient-, ward- and care-related variables in a standardized way. We describe the implementation of this tool in nine hospitals in the Dutch/Belgian border area and the obtained results.

ESBL-Producing, Carbapenem- and Ciprofloxacin-Resistant in Belgian and Dutch Broiler and Pig Farms: A Cross-Sectional and Cross-Border Study.

Background: The use of antibiotics in food production selects for resistant bacteria and may cause a threat to human and animal health. Belgium and the Netherlands have one of the highest densities of broilers and pigs in Europe, making active monitoring of antibiotic use and resistance in this region vital.

Objectives: This study aimed to quantify ESBL-producing (ESBL-), carbapenem- and ciprofloxacin-resistant (CiproR) in animal feces on broiler and pig farms with a history of high antibiotic use in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Self-testing for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection with rapid antigen tests for people with suspected COVID-19 in the community.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of nasal mid-turbinate self-testing using rapid antigen detection tests (RDT) for persons with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the community. Self-testing for COVID-19 infection with lateral flow assay severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RDT, provides rapid results and could enable frequent and extensive testing in the community, thereby improving the control of SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: Participants visiting a municipal SARS-CoV-2 testing centre, received self-testing kits containing either the BD Veritor System (BD-RDT) or Roche SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test (Roche-RDT).

Distinguishing Gene-Containing IncF Plasmids from Epidemiologically Related and Unrelated Based on Short- and Long-Read Sequence Data.

Limited information is available on whether -containing plasmids from isolates in a hospital outbreak can be differentiated from epidemiologically unrelated -containing plasmids based on sequence data. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of three approaches to distinguish epidemiologically related from unrelated -containing pKpQiL-like IncFII(k2)-IncFIB(pQiL) plasmids. Epidemiologically related isolates were subjected to short- and long-read whole-genome sequencing.

Clinical performance and sample freeze-thaw stability of the cobas®6800 SARS-CoV-2 assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in oro-/nasopharyngeal swabs and lower respiratory specimens.

Introduction: Studies describing the performance characteristics of the cobas®6800 system for SARS-CoV-2 detection in deep respiratory specimens and freeze-thaw stability are limited. The current study compares the clinical performance of the automated SARS-CoV-2 assay on the cobas®6800 system to a lab-developed assay (LDA) and the cobas impact of freeze-thawing combined with lysis buffer.

Methods: Both retrospective and prospectively selected deep respiratory samples and oro- and nasopharyngeal samples in either E-swab® or GLY- were tested using the SARS-CoV-2 assay on the cobas®6800 System and compared to a lab developed assay.

COVID-19 in health-care workers in three hospitals in the south of the Netherlands: a cross-sectional study.

Background: 10 days after the first reported case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the Netherlands (on Feb 27, 2020), 55 (4%) of 1497 health-care workers in nine hospitals located in the south of the Netherlands had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. We aimed to gain insight in possible sources of infection in health-care workers.

Methods: We did a cross-sectional study at three of the nine hospitals located in the south of the Netherlands.

Prevention of severe infectious complications after colorectal surgery using oral non-absorbable antimicrobial prophylaxis: results of a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common complications after colorectal surgery. Oral non-absorbable antibiotic prophylaxis (OAP) can be administered preoperatively to reduce the risk of SSIs. Its efficacy without simultaneous mechanical cleaning is unknown.

Decreasing prevalence of contamination with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) in retail chicken meat in the Netherlands.

Retail chicken meat is a potential source of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E). In the past decade, vast national efforts were undertaken to decrease the antibiotic use in the veterinary sector, resulting in a 58% decrease in antibiotic sales in the sector between 2009 and 2014. This decrease in antibiotic use was followed by a decrease in ESBL-E prevalence in broilers.

Contact precautions in single-bed or multiple-bed rooms for patients with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Dutch hospitals: a cluster-randomised, crossover, non-inferiority study.

Background: Use of single-bed rooms for control of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is under debate; the added value when applying contact precautions has not been shown. We aimed to assess whether an isolation strategy of contact precautions in a multiple-bed room was non-inferior to a strategy of contact precautions in a single-bed room for preventing transmission of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

Methods: We did a cluster-randomised, crossover, non-inferiority study on medical and surgical wards of 16 Dutch hospitals.

Evaluation of an in vitro model with a novel statistical approach to measure differences in bacterial survival of extended-spectrum -lactamase-producing on an inanimate surface.

Background: The role of environmental contamination in the transmission of Enterobacteriaceae is increasingly recognized. However, factors influencing the duration of survival in the environment have not yet been extensively studied. In this study, we developed and evaluated an in vitro model with a novel statistical approach to accurately measure differences in bacterial survival, that can be used to model the effects of multiple factors/conditions in future experiments.

A diagnostic algorithm for the surveillance of deep surgical site infections after colorectal surgery.

Objective: Surveillance of surgical site infections (SSIs) is important for infection control and is usually performed through retrospective manual chart review. The aim of this study was to develop an algorithm for the surveillance of deep SSIs based on clinical variables to enhance efficiency of surveillance.

Design: Retrospective cohort study (2012-2015).

Preoperative Oral Antibiotic Prophylaxis Reduces Surgical Site Infections After Elective Colorectal Surgery: Results From a Before-After Study.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common complications after colorectal procedures and remain an important source of morbidity and costs. Preoperative oral antibiotic prophylaxis is a potential infection control strategy, but its effectiveness without simultaneous use of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) is unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine whether preoperative oral antibiotics reduce the risk of deep SSIs in elective colorectal surgery.

Decline in AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in a Dutch teaching hospital (2013-2016).

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of rectal carriage of plasmid- and chromosome-encoded AmpC β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in patients in a Dutch teaching hospital between 2013 and 2016.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2016, hospital-wide yearly prevalence surveys were performed to determine the prevalence of AmpC β-lactamase-producing E.

Prevention of severe infectious complications after colorectal surgery using preoperative orally administered antibiotic prophylaxis (PreCaution): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Colorectal surgery is frequently complicated by surgical site infections (SSIs). The most important consequences of SSIs are prolonged hospitalization, an increased risk of surgical reintervention and an increase in mortality. Perioperative intravenously administered antibiotic prophylaxis is the standard of care to reduce the risk of SSIs.