Tracing the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at the patient: ward environmental nexus.

Introduction: Colonisation and infection with Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in healthcare settings poses significant risks, especially for vulnerable patients. Genomic analysis can be used to trace transmission routes, supporting antimicrobial stewardship and informing infection control strategies. Here we used genomic analysis to track the movement and transmission of CREs within clinical and environmental samples.

In-vitro and in-use efficacy of a rapid, targeted UVC decontamination system.

Background: Ultraviolet C (UVC) decontamination systems are used in healthcare to supplement manual cleaning. Systems typically target whole rooms with fixed, vertical bulbs.

Aim: To evaluate the in-vitro and in-use efficacy of the novel device with emitters on articulating arms designed for rapid, targeted decontamination in a hospital room.

Concordance between IDEXX Legiolert® (liquid culture assay) and plate culture (ISO 11731:2017) for the detection and quantification of Legionella pneumophila in water samples.

Background: Legionella pneumophila is a water-borne bacterium that can cause Legionnaires' disease. Legiolert® (IDEXX, USA) is a low-labour liquid culture assay for the detection and enumeration of L. pneumophila (SG1-15) from water.

Thermal disinfection at suboptimal temperature of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm on copper pipe and shower hose materials.

Background: Hospital-acquired infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been linked to contaminated shower systems in health care. Thermal disinfection, whereby colonized outlets are flushed with existing hot water supplies, is a commonly used method to disinfect contaminated systems. Temperatures of 60°C are recommended for inactivation of P.

Assessment of a rapid diagnostic test to exclude bacteraemia and effect on clinical decision-making for antimicrobial therapy.

Unnecessary antimicrobial treatment promotes the emergence of resistance. Early confirmation that a blood culture is negative could shorten antibiotic courses. The Cognitor Minus test, performed on blood culture samples after 12 hours incubation has a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.

Evaluation of droplet production by a new design of clinical handwash basin for the healthcare environment.

Splashing from handwash basins may be a source of bacteria in the healthcare environment. A novel splash-reducing basin was assessed for its ability to reduce droplet formation during simulated handwashing. The basin was compared to two conventional basins commonly used in healthcare.

Ultraviolet-C decontamination of hand-held tablet devices in the healthcare environment using the Codonics D6000™ disinfection system.

Mobile phones and tablet computers may be contaminated with micro-organisms and become a potential reservoir for cross-transmission of pathogens between healthcare workers and patients. There is no generally accepted guidance on how to reduce contamination on mobile devices in healthcare settings. Our aim was to determine the efficacy of the Codonics D6000™ UV-C disinfection device.

Identification of Clostridium difficile Reservoirs in The Patient Environment and Efficacy of Aerial Hydrogen Peroxide Decontamination.

OBJECTIVE To identify, using a novel enhanced method of recovery, environmental sites where spores of Clostridium difficile persist despite cleaning and hydrogen peroxide aerial decontamination. DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING Tertiary referral center teaching hospital.

Comparison of two whole-room ultraviolet irradiation systems for enhanced disinfection of contaminated hospital patient rooms.

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) light decontamination systems are being used increasingly to supplement terminal disinfection of patient rooms. However, efficacy may not be consistent in the presence of soil, especially against Clostridium difficile spores.

Aim: To demonstrate in-use efficacy of two whole-room UV decontamination systems against three hospital pathogens with and without soil.

ESBL-producing Gram-negative organisms in the healthcare environment as a source of genetic material for resistance in human infections.

Background: The increasing prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the healthcare setting and in the community despite established infection control guidelines indicates that these microorganisms may possess survival strategies that allow them to persist in the environment.

Aims: To determine the extent and variation in endemic ESBL-carrying species in different ward environments, and to investigate the potential for cephalosporin resistance to be transferred from environmental isolates to human pathogens.

Methods: Conventional microbiological methods were used to sample 1436 environmental surfaces for ESBL-producing bacteria.

Efficacy of two hydrogen peroxide vapour aerial decontamination systems for enhanced disinfection of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Clostridium difficile in single isolation rooms.

Background: Hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) disinfection systems are being used to reduce patients' exposure to hospital pathogens in the environment. HPV whole-room aerial disinfection systems may vary in terms of operating concentration and mode of delivery.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of two HPV systems (HPS1 and HPS2) for whole-room aerial disinfection of single isolation rooms (SIRs).

A Novel Quantitative Sampling Technique for Detection and Monitoring of Clostridium difficile Contamination in the Clinical Environment.

The horizontal transmission of Clostridium difficile in the hospital environment is difficult to establish. Current methods to detect C. difficile spores on surfaces are not quantitative, lack sensitivity, and are protracted.

The type, level, and distribution of microorganisms within the ward environment: a zonal analysis of an intensive care unit and a gastrointestinal surgical ward.

OBJECTIVE. To investigate the distribution of hospital pathogens within general and critical care ward environments and to determine the most significant bacterial reservoirs within each ward type. DESIGN.

Dissemination of antibiotic-resistant enterococci within the ward environment: the role of airborne bacteria and the risk posed by unrecognized carriers.

Background: Colonized or infected patients pose a significant risk to noncolonized patients occupying the same room. The aim of this study was to investigate how far Enterococcus spp can spread from isolated and nonisolated patients.

Methods: Conventional microbiological methods were used to recover enterococci from the air and from 62 high-contact sites located within the near-patient and wider ward environment.

Ward assessment of SmartIdeas Project: bringing source isolation to the patient.

Most UK hospitals lack enough single rooms to provide source isolation for all infected patients. The aim of this study was to test prototype isolation systems on general wards together with specifically designed portable sink units and toilets. Questionnaires were offered to staff, patients and visitors covering ease of use and acceptability.

Molecular characterization of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. clinical isolates from Hungary and Serbia.

The objectives of this work were to collect and characterize vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) clinical isolates from Hungary and Serbia and to analyse their genetic relatedness. VREF isolates were initially typed by PFGE. A selection of VREF isolates representing all participating hospitals was further examined by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST).

Molecular typing indicates an important role for two international clonal complexes in dissemination of VIM-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates in Hungary.

VIM metallo-beta-lactamase-producing serotype O11 or O12 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates infecting or colonising 19 patients from seven hospitals were reported in Hungary between 2003 and 2005. In this study we characterised VIM-producing Pseudomonas spp. clinical isolates from two novel locations in Hungary; we identified three new bla(VIM) carrying integron types and the presence of the bla(VIM-2) allele in Hungary.

Molecular epidemiology of VIM-4 metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas sp. isolates in Hungary.

VIM metallo-beta-lactamase-producing serotype O11 or O12 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates infecting or colonizing 19 patients from seven hospitals in Hungary were characterized between October 2003 and November 2005. Macrorestriction analysis revealed the involvement of hospitals from three different towns in northwest Hungary in an outbreak caused by VIM-4-producing P. aeruginosa.

Isolation of an integron-borne blaVIM-4 type metallo-beta-lactamase gene from a carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolate in Hungary.

The first integron-borne metallo-beta-lactamase gene was isolated in Hungary. The bla(VIM-4) gene is located on a class 1 integron that also carries a novel bla(OXA)-like gene. The integron is harbored by a serotype O12 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain and shows high structural similarity to integrons isolated in Greece and Poland.