Molecular Typing and Resistance Profile of Isolates during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the "EPIRADIOCLINF" Project.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shift in focus towards controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which has resulted in the neglect of traditional programs aimed at preventing healthcare-associated infections and combating antimicrobial resistance. The present work aims to characterize the colonization or infection with of COVID-19 patients and to identify any clonality between different isolates. Specifically, data and resistance profiles of isolates were prospectively collected from patients recruited by the EPIRADIOCLINF project.

Safe Management Strategies in Clinical Forensic Autopsies of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases.

To date, there is poor evidence on the transmission of infection in individuals handling the bodies of deceased persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 and in particular, during autopsies. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that when appropriate strategies are adopted autopsy is a safe procedure with a minimal infection risk for all subjects involved (pathologists, technical personnel, and others) when proper strategies are adopted. We performed 16 autopsies on cadavers of persons who had died with confirmed COVID-19 with different post-mortem intervals (PMI).

[Rt or RDt, that is the question!].

The article compares two of the most followed indices in the monitoring of COVID-19 epidemic cases: the Rt and the RDt indices. The first was disseminated by the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) and the second, which is more usable due to the lower difficulty of calculation and the availability of data, was adopted by various regional and local institutions.The rationale for the Rt index refers to that for the R0 index, the basic reproduction number, which is used by infectivologists as a measure of contagiousness of a given infectious agent in a completely susceptible population.

Appropriateness of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in two Italian hospitals: a pilot study.

Background: Appropriate perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis has been shown to be an effective measure for preventing surgical site infections and to avoid complications including increased antimicrobial resistance. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the appropriateness of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in two Italian hospitals.

Study Design: In 2016 a survey was prospectively carried out at two hospitals (identified as A and B) and all patients who underwent a surgical operation were enrolled.

Epidemiology of intensive care unit-acquired sepsis in Italy: results of the SPIN-UTI network.

Background: Sepsis is the major cause of mortality from any infectious disease worldwide. Sepsis may be the result of a healthcare associated infection (HAI): the most frequent adverse events during care delivery especially in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The main aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiology of ICU-acquired sepsis and related outcomes among patients enrolled in the framework of the Italian Nosocomial Infections Surveillance in ICUs - SPIN-UTI project.

Hospital hygiene in Italy: the GISIO-SItI survey.

Background: In Italy there are no rules concerning the establishment of a hospital hygiene structure in hospitals and other healthcare settings, and the hospital organization plans vary widely. The aim of the survey, carried out by the Italian Study Group of Hospital Hygiene of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive medicine and Public health, was to evaluate the presence in the hospital organization plan of a structure referred to as Hospital hygiene, or including in its denomination the words "hygiene" or "hospital hygiene", the activities carried out, the relation to other areas, like patient safety, the type and quantity of professionals involved, the strengths and the critical aspects.

Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to Healthcare Trusts representing all Italian Regions through the members of the above Study Group.

Antibiotic trends of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii resistance indicators in an intensive care unit of Southern Italy, 2008-2013.

Background: The overuse of antimicrobials is one of the main factors responsible for the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance, together with other causes, such as intra- and inter-hospital spread of resistant microorganisms and infection control policies and practices. The objective of the present study is to report the trends of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii antimicrobial resistance indicators in an Italian intensive care unit (ICU) during a six-year period, from 2008 to 2013.

Methods: Susceptibility data and annual antibiotic consumptions in the ICU were retrospectively obtained from the clinical laboratory and the pharmacy.

REM sleep behavior disorder in a patient with frontotemporal dementia.

We describe a patient with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a tauopathy, who also showed clinical and polysomnographic features of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). The patient is a 78-year-old male with a 1 year history of behavioral dysfunction involving emotion, character and social functioning. Brain imaging and the results of neuropsychological testing were consistent with a diagnosis of FTD.

Sleep-wake disturbances in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency, severity and determinants of sleep disturbances in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: Information about night-time complaints was collected using a standardised questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in a group of 100 patients with ALS and in 100 control subjects matched for age and sex. Functional disability was assessed using the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R).

Increased frequency of restless legs syndrome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Background: Despite complaints of poor sleep being very common in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms have not been extensively investigated in these patients.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and severity of RLS in patients with COPD and to investigate the factors potentially associated with RLS.

Methods: A total of 87 patients with COPD and 110 controls, matched for age and sex, were evaluated regarding the presence and severity of RLS symptoms.

Incidence of Crohn's disease and CARD15 mutation in a small township in Sicily.

Background: The incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) has been shown to be lower in Southern than in Northern Europe. Data on the frequency of the NOD2/CARD15 mutations for Mediterranean area are very scant.

Aim: To determine the incidence of CD from 1979 to 2002 in a township in Sicily together with the allele frequency of NOD2/CARD15 mutations in patients, family members and controls, and to determine the allele frequency of these mutations in sporadic CD from other areas of Sicily in comparison with a control population.

Alert surveillance of intensive care unit-acquired Acinetobacter infections in a Sicilian hospital.

The epidemiological impact of Acinetobacter baumannii nosocomial infections in a Sicilian intensive care unit (ICU) was investigated to determine the Acinetobacter-specific infection rates, to estimate the preventable proportion of Acinetobacter infections, i.e., those resulting from cross-transmission, and to investigate the molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in Acinetobacter.

Intestinal permeability and genetic determinants in patients, first-degree relatives, and controls in a high-incidence area of Crohn's disease in Southern Italy.

Objective: A defect of gastrointestinal barrier function is considered to represent an important step in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) but the mechanisms leading to an increased intestinal permeability (IP) are poorly understood. Since IP is influenced by pro-inflammatory mediators, it seems likely that a genetically determined abnormal immune response may lead to a loss of barrier function.

Methods: In a geographic area in Southern Italy with high incidence of CD we investigated IP (lactulose/mannitol testing) together with the three main mutations of the NOD2/CARD15 and the D299G polymorphism of the toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 gene in 23 families of CD patients (patients and first-degree relatives).

Epileptic seizures and cerebrovascular disease.

A series of 88 patients with completed stroke was selected in which heralding, early and late seizures were distinguished according to their onset. Relationships between CT scan and clinical EEG data are discussed with particular emphasis on possible mechanisms of seizures. Thus, small emboli or haemodynamic factors are stressed in the cases of heralding seizures, metabolic disturbances with cytotoxic effects in early seizures and chronic epileptic focus in late seizures.

Bimodal sensory stimulation-induced seizures.

A curious case is reported in which the patient, a young woman, exhibited convulsive seizures when approaching closely to a television. The visual and acoustic stimulation did not change her EEG, whereas simultaneous stimulation with both the modalities induced bilateral and symmetrical high-voltage spikes (with their diffusion) that led to a convulsive seizure. Results are discussed with relation to the literature.

An electrophysiological investigation on typhoid polyneuritis.

Polyneuritis is a rare neurological complication of typhoid fever. A clinical and electrophysiological investigation of a very severe and purely motor form of typhoid polyneuritis is reported.