Healthcare infections and antimicrobial consumption in pre-COVID-19 era: a point prevalence survey in three hospitals in a region of Central Italy.

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a major global public health concern, increasing the transmission of drug-resistant infections. This point prevalence survey investigated HAIs occurrence and antimicrobial consumption (AMC) in pre-COVID-19 era in the public hospitals of a region of Central Italy.

Methods: Data were collected using the protocol standardised by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Safety of mRNA BNT162b2 COVID-19 (Pfizer-BioNtech) vaccine in children aged 5-11 years: Results from an active pharmacovigilance study in central Italy.

This survey investigated on adverse events after vaccination with mRNA BNT162b2 (Comirnaty, Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine in children aged 5-11 years in central Italy through active surveillance reporting. During December 2021-January 2022, parents of children who undergone vaccination were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. 197 out of 208 contacted parents participated (94.

Public health, personalized medicine, and COVID-19 in the pre-vaccination phase: a narrative review of the literature on unfavorable prognostic factors in Italian patients.

Objectives: to provide an outline of the factors mainly influencing severe disease and fatal outcome among Italian COVID-19 patients in the pre-vaccination phase, also describing the impact of the scenarios driven by variants, vaccines, and available therapies.

Design: a literature search was carried out for peer-reviewed articles searching for COVID-19 and prognosis, including severe disease and death.

Setting And Participants: Italian patients with COVID-19.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Untoward Reactions Following Homologous and Heterologous COVID-19 Booster Immunizations in Recipients Seventeen Years of Age and Older.

A booster dose after primary COVID-19 vaccination series was considered crucial after the emergence of the B.1.617.

A SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Among Nursing Home Residents Vaccinated with a Booster Dose of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine.

This study describes a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak caused by the Delta (B.1.617.

Infections and Colon Surgery: Preliminary Results from a Surveillance Program in an Italian Hospital.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a valid indicator of the healthcare quality. This study described the preliminary results of one-year active surveillance program on colon surgeries in a hospital in Molise region, central Italy. Patients who had undergone colon surgery according to National Healthcare Safety Network were included.

Active Surveillance of Adverse Events in Healthcare Workers Recipients After Vaccination with COVID-19 BNT162b2 Vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Comirnaty): A Cross-Sectional Study.

In this cross-sectional study, adverse events after the first and second dose of BNT162b2 mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech, Comirnaty) vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 were investigated among employees of clinics in central Italy. A 42-items questionnaire was administrated to vaccine recipients. Adverse events were classified based on severity and occurrence as reported in the literature.

Awareness, knowledge and training gaps regarding asbestos among General Practitioners: a pilot study.

General Practitioners (GPs) have good knowledge of health status and sociocultural backgrounds of their patients, thus could be decisive in early detection of cases of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). In this cross-sectional pilot study, we investigated perception and knowledge on asbestos risk amongst a sample of GPs practicing in Molise region, central Italy, who have anonymously completed a 29-items questionnaire specifically developed for this research. Based on GPs' answers, we obtained scores and classified awareness and knowledge into four percentage quartile classes including inadequate (0-24%), poor (25-49%), moderate (50-74%) and high (75-100%), and scarce (0-24%), sufficient (25-49%), good (50-74%) and optimal (75-100%), respectively.

A Coronavirus Outbreak Linked to a Funeral Among a Romani Community in Central Italy.

The epidemic dynamics of COVID-19 in the Molise region, central Italy, has dramatically changed from the beginning of May 2020, which was when infections were reported amongst Romani people. The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of an outbreak that occurred in the Romani community and the interventions implemented for control. A retrospective analysis of outbreak data was performed to describe the SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics.

Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antibiotics Consumption: A Comparison of Point Prevalence Studies and Intervention Strategies.

This study compares healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) prevalence and antimicrobial consumption (AMC) from surveys conducted in 2016 and 2019 in an Italian hospital for acute care. HAIs prevalence was 7.1% in both surveys, while patients were under antibiotic treatment slightly increased from 2016 to 2019, from 42.

Precision Medicine and Public Health: New Challenges for Effective and Sustainable Health.

The development of high-throughput omics technologies represents an unmissable opportunity for evidence-based prevention of adverse effects on human health. However, the applicability and access to multi-omics tests are limited. In Italy, this is due to the rapid increase of knowledge and the high levels of skill and economic investment initially necessary.

Molecular Epidemiological Insights into Colistin-Resistant and Carbapenemases-Producing Clinical Isolates.

Purpose: Carbapenemases-producing are challenging antimicrobial therapy of hospitalised patients, which is further complicated by colistin resistance. This study describes molecular epidemiological insights into colistin-resistant and carbapenemases-producing clinical .

Patients And Methods: Cultures collected from 26 hospitalised patients during 2014-2017 in the main hospital in Molise Region, central Italy, were characterized.

Human Papillomavirus Infections, Cervical Cancer and MicroRNAs: An Overview and Implications for Public Health.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is among the most common sexually transmitted infections in both females and males across the world that generally do not cause symptoms and are characterized by high rates of clearance. Persistent infections due at least to twelve well-recognized High-Risk (HR) or oncogenic genotypes, although less frequent, can occur, leading to diseases and malignancies, principally cervical cancer. Three vaccination strategies are currently available for preventing certain HR HPVs-associated diseases, infections due to HPV6 and HPV11 low-risk types, as well as for providing cross-protection against non-vaccine genotypes.

Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes serovar 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c and 4b by high resolution melting analysis for epidemiological investigations.

This study aimed to characterize serovar 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c and 4b of Listeria monocytogenes cultures based on High Resolution Melting (HRM) profiles, targeting 53 fragments in the region comprising prs, Listeria Pathogenicity Island-1 (LIPI-1) and ldh loci, and 28 fragments of inlAB operon. Fifty L. monocytogenes cultures (28 of lineage I, 22 of lineage II) were tested.

Carbapenem-Resistant KPC- and TEM-Producing ST131 Isolated from a Hospitalized Patient with Urinary Tract Infection: First Isolation in Molise Region, Central Italy, July 2018.

In July 2018, a carbapenemase (KPC)-producing ST131 was isolated from a patient admitted to the Vascular Surgery Unit of the main hospital of Molise region, Central Italy. Sequencing and alignment with the available sequences revealed that the isolate harbored the KPC-2 variant and TEM-1 beta-lactamase. This observation raises great concerns about the spread of carbapenem resistance in national and local settings with high endemicity level of KPC in , and underlines the importance of strengthening a proactive surveillance.

[Biological risk in agriculture and construction workplaces: a survey on perception, knowledge and prevention measures.].

Objectives: Despite the potential presence in many workplaces, biological risk is little known and largely underestimated, except in healthcare environments. Objectives: To evaluate perception, knowledge and behaviors adopted for protection and prevention of biological risk, related also to the occupational activity, among construction and agricultural workers.

Methods: Workers were recruited at farms and construction companies of Molise Region, Central Italy, which were visited within the surveillance activities planned by local institutions.

Asbestos Exposures, Mesothelioma Incidence and Mortality, and Awareness by General Practitioners in the Molise Region, Central Italy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate environmental asbestos sources, mesothelioma incidence and mortality, and awareness on asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) by general practitioners (GPs) in Molise Region.

Methods: The contaminated sites in three towns were identified by census; mesothelioma incidence (2000 to 2012) and mortality (2003 to 2013) was achieved from local registries; GPs were interviewed on practiced population's exposures and ARDs diagnosis.

Results: About 54.

Prevalence of anal, oral, penile and urethral Human Papillomavirus in HIV infected and HIV uninfected men who have sex with men.

Aims of the study were to evaluate Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and type-specific prevalence in four anatomical sites in HIV infected men who have sex with men (MSM) compared with HIV uninfected MSM. Participants were recruited among the attendees of Infectious Diseases Clinics in Central Italy. A trained medical practitioner collected by interview sociodemographic data and information on medical history, sexual behavior, and drug use.

[Biological risk among agriculture and construction workers in Molise Region, Central Italy].

Background: Biological risk is a significant issue in workplaces due to continuous modification of work organization and condition.

Objectives: In this pilot study, perception and knowledge of biological risk, as well as adoption of prevention measures were evaluated among construction and agriculture workers.

Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to workers to collect socio-demographic and employment information, in addition to data on risk perception and knowledge, and adoption of preventive measures, including those related to work activities.

High prevalence of human papillomavirus type 58 in HIV infected men who have sex with men: A preliminary report in Central Italy.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and type-specific prevalence at anal, oral, coronal sulcus, and urethral mucosa in fifty HIV positive men having sex with men (MSM) were evaluated; patients were enrolled in a non-metropolitan area of Central Italy. Clinical and socio-demographic information, drug, and sexual behaviors were obtained for each participant. HPV was detected by PCR from an overall of 200 specimens, and genotyping was performed by both Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis and sequencing.

Gene expression in Listeria monocytogenes exposed to sublethal concentration of benzalkonium chloride.

In this study, tolerance at sublethal concentration of benzalkonium chloride and transcription levels of mdrL, ladR, lde, sigB and bcrABC genes in Listeria monocytogenes strains were evaluated. Viable cells reduction occurred in 45% of strains and clinical isolates showed lower sensitivity than isolates from foods. An increased transcription of an efflux system encoding gene was found in 60% of strains, and simultaneous mdrL overexpression and ladR underexpression occurred in 30% of isolates.

Evaluation of transcription levels of inlA, inlB, hly, bsh and prfA genes in Listeria monocytogenes strains using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and ability of invasion into human CaCo-2 cells.

Listeria monocytogenes virulence depends on the activity of well-characterized virulence factors. In this study, transcription levels of inlA, inlB, hly, bsh and prfA genes in L. monocytogenes strains, and the ability of invasion into CaCo-2 cells were investigated.

Asthma prevalence and risk factors among children and adolescents living around an industrial area: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The exposure to air pollution has negative effects on human health, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Few data are yet available on the epidemiology of childhood asthma in some areas of Italy. The aim of the study was to estimate asthma prevalence and related risk factors in children and adolescents residents around the industrial area of Termoli, Molise region, Central-South Italy.

Real-time PCRs assay for serogrouping Listeria monocytogenes and differentiation from other Listeria spp.

A 5'-exonuclease real-time triplex-PCR assay was developed for serogrouping Listeria monocytogenes, and differentiation from other Listeria spp. The assay was evaluated on 109 Listeria cultures, and results were compared with a previously validated gel-based multiplex-PCR procedure. All L.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of Listeria monocytogenes by Experion™ automated microfluidic electrophoresis.

Fifty Listeria monocytogenes strains were genotyped by sAFLP and PCR products were separated by agarose gel and automated chip-based microfluidic electrophoresis. A high congruency of results was observed comparing the two techniques, although for some cultures a better separation of sAFLP fragments was achieved with microfluidic system, which proved to be a highly reliable and reproducible tool to improve the molecular typing of L. monocytogenes, requiring lower volumes of samples and reducing significantly analysis time.