Influence of a Heterologous (ChAdOx1-nCoV-19/BNT162b2) or Homologous (BNT162b2/BNT162b2) Vaccination Regimen on the Antibody and T Cell Response to a Third Vaccination with BNT162b2.

Emerging numbers of SARS-CoV-2 infections are currently combated with a third vaccination. Considering the different vaccination regimens used for the first two vaccine doses, we addressed whether the previous vaccination influences the immune response to the booster. Participants for this prospective study were recruited from among healthcare workers.

Calculated initial parenteral treatment of bacterial infections: Bacterial gastrointestinal infections.

This is the fourteenth chapter of the guideline "Calculated initial parenteral treatment of bacterial infections in adults - update 2018" in the 2 updated version. The German guideline by the Paul-Ehrlich-Gesellschaft für Chemotherapie e.V.

The method used to dry washed hands affects the number and type of transient and residential bacteria remaining on the skin.

Background: Widespread antibiotic resistance has led to fears that we are entering a post-antibiotic era and the relatively simple premise of hand washing to reduce transfer of bacteria and viruses has never been more important. Much of the emphasis has been on hand-washing technique, type of soap, and maintaining compliance but effective drying of the hands is just as important.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of drying washed hands with a jet air dryer or paper towels to remove transient bacterial contamination and to determine the effect on residential flora.

IL-17 and TNF-α Are Key Mediators of Triggered Exacerbation of Allergic Airway Inflammation.

Alterations of the airway microbiome are often associated with pulmonary diseases. For example, detection of the bacterial pathogen in the upper airways is linked with an increased risk to develop or exacerbate asthma. However, the mechanisms by which augments allergic airway inflammation (AAI) remain unclear.

Point stresses during reproductive stage rather than warming seasonal temperature determine yield in temperate rice.

Climate change is predicted to shift temperature regimes in most agricultural areas with temperature changes expected to impact yields of most crops, including rice. These temperature-driven effects can be classified into point stresses, where a temperature event during a sensitive stage drives a reduction in yield, or seasonal warming losses, where raised temperature is thought to increase maintenance energy demands and thereby decrease available resources for yield formation. Simultaneous estimation of the magnitude of each temperature effect on yield has not been well documented due to the inherent difficulty in separating their effects.

[Gastrointestinal infections].

Infectious diarrhea is one of the most common diseases. This article summarizes the current state of the diagnostics and treatment and includes the most important pathogens, i.e.

Epidemiology and Recurrence Rates of Clostridium difficile Infections in Germany: A Secondary Data Analysis.

Introduction: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of health-care-associated infectious diarrhea. Recurrence rates are as high as 20-30% after standard treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin, and appear to be reduced for patients treated with fidaxomicin. According to the literature, the risk of CDI recurrence increases after the second relapse to 30-65%.

[Hygiene and infection control measures in intensive care units].

The prevention of infections is the purpose of hospital hygiene/infection control using control and preventive measures and strategies to achieve this. Especially in intensive care units with seriously ill patients. The continuous increase of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) and as a consequence difficult to treat infections clearly shows the importance of prevention.

The role of Octenidol(®), Glandomed(®) and chlorhexidine mouthwash in the prevention of mucositis and in the reduction of the oropharyngeal flora: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Aim: The oropharyngeal flora is of importance for the development of oral mucositis, which is a frequent complication in oncologic practice. It also plays a role in the pathogenesis of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Mucositis is associated with significantly worse clinical and economic outcomes.

Nutrients and sediments in surface runoff water from direct-seeded rice fields: implications for nutrient budgets and water quality.

Nutrient losses from rice fields can have economic and environmental consequences. Little is known about nutrient losses in surface runoff waters from direct-seeded rice systems, which are common in the United States and increasingly more so in Asia. The objectives of this research were to quantify nutrient losses from California rice fields in surface runoff waters and to determine when and under what conditions losses are greatest.

Establishing a transoral robotic surgery program in an academic hospital in Germany.

The application of robot technology in the field of surgery has grown rapidly in recent years. Also in Europe, robot-assisted surgery has become increasingly popular, predominantly in the fields of urology and gynecology. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is widely practiced in North America after receiving FDA approval in 2009.

Control of the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in hospitals: epidemiology and clinical relevance.

Background: The spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), particularly E. faecium, in hospitals leads to many cases of colonization, but only sporadic infections. Detailed and valid risk assessment is needed so that patients at risk can be protected from VRE infection.

Comparative Activity of Carbapenem Testing (COMPACT) study in Germany.

The aim of this study was to determine the current susceptibility of hospital isolates of contemporary Gram-negative pathogens to the carbapenems doripenem, imipenem and meropenem. Between May and October 2008, seven centres in Germany were invited to collect and submit Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae and other Gram-negative bacterial Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/non-ICU isolates from patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs), bloodstream infections (BSIs) or nosocomial pneumonia (NP). Susceptibility was determined at each centre by Etest.

Comparative activity of carbapenem testing: the COMPACT study.

Objectives: Doripenem is a new carbapenem recently introduced into Europe. The COMParative Activity of Carbapenem Testing (COMPACT) study compared the susceptibility of common Gram-negative bacilli causing serious infections in hospitalized patients with doripenem, imipenem and meropenem.

Methods: Gram-negative isolates (4498 total: 2171 Pseudomonas species; 1910 Enterobacteriaceae; and 417 other Gram-negative bacilli) were collected from 80 centres in 16 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa during 2008-09.

Comparison of two full-mouth approaches in the treatment of peri-implant mucositis: a pilot study.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that an additional full-mouth disinfection results in a greater clinical and microbiological improvement compared with sole mechanical debridement within one session in patients with peri-implant mucositis and treated chronic periodontitis.

Material And Methods: The study included 13 partially edentulous patients (mean age 51.5 years) with treated chronic periodontitis and 36 dental implants with mucositis (bleeding on probing and/or a gingival index > or =1 at least at one site at baseline, absence of peri-implant bone loss during the last 2 years before baseline).

Seasonal losses of dissolved organic carbon and total dissolved solids from rice production systems in northern California.

Water quality concerns have arisen related to rice (Oryza sativa L.) field drain water, which has the potential to contribute large amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) to the Sacramento River. Field-scale losses of DOC or TDS have yet to be quantified.

In vitro activity of tigecycline and comparator agents against a global collection of Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms: tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial 2004 to 2007.

The Tigecycline Evaluation and Surveillance Trial began in 2004 to monitor the in vitro activity of tigecycline and comparator agents against a global collection of Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. Against Gram negatives (n = 63 699), tigecycline MIC(90)'s ranged from 0.25 to 2 mg/L for Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens (but was > or =32 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

Cost-effectiveness of rapid MRSA screening in surgical patients.

This study investigates the effectiveness of a same-day polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a general screening of patients admitted to the trauma surgery and heart surgery department in a German university hospital. A total of 442 patients were screened over a 4-month period by using a PCR assay, compared to culture methods, for specimens from the nose and throat. The MRSA carriage rate on admission was 3.

Effect of age on gingival crevicular fluid concentrations of MIF and PGE2.

We used an experimental gingivitis study design to compare crevicular fluid concentrations of Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) and Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in younger (18 to 30 yrs) and older (46 to 77 yrs) healthy adults. PGE(2) increased after 1 wk in younger participants, whereas it decreased in older individuals after 1 wk of plaque accumulation. A significant interaction between age and time was observed for PGE(2) (p = 0.

One-stage full-mouth disinfection versus quadrant and full-mouth root planing.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the one-stage full-mouth disinfection (FMD) provides greater clinical and microbiological improvement compared with full-mouth scaling and root planing (FM-SRP) within 24 h and quadrant scaling and root planing (Q-SRP) in patients with generalized chronic periodontitis.

Material & Methods: Twenty-eight patients were randomized into three groups. 25 patients completed the study and were the basis for analysis.

The effect of a supragingival plaque-control regimen on the subgingival microbiota in smokers and never-smokers: evaluation by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of strict supragingival plaque control on the subgingival microbiota in smokers and never-smokers. Research into the impact of supragingival plaque control on the number of subgingival bacteria has resulted in contradictory findings. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been suggested as a valid alternative to current microbiologic methods based on bacteria cultures.

Quantitative detection of Clostridium difficile in hospital environmental samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

C. difficile-associated diarrhoea occurs commonly in hospitals and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Hospital surfaces are often contaminated with nosocomial pathogens and may be responsible for cross-transmission, especially if hardy Gram-positive and spore-forming organisms are involved.

The disinfecting effect of ozonized oxygen in an infected root canal: an in vitro study.

Objectives: To determine the disinfecting effect of ozonized oxygen (120 seconds from the HealOzone generator, KaVo) on Enterococcus faecalis, representing bacteria that are difficult to eliminate in the root canals of human teeth, and to compare it with the conventional irrigants: sterile physiologic sodium chloride solution (negative control group), 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, 0.2% chlorhexidine solution, 1.5% sodium hypochlorite solution, and 3% sodium hypochlorite solution (positive control group).