Background: As COVID-19 is integrated into existing infectious disease control programs, it is important to understand the comparative clinical impact of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with symptomatic healthcare-associated COVID-19 or influenza reported to the nationwide, hospital-based surveillance system in Switzerland. Included patients were adults (≥18 years) hospitalized for ≥3 days in tertiary care and large regional hospitals.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on hospitals worldwide. In such a context of tension in healthcare systems, efficiently allocating hospital resources is a crucial aspect of crisis management. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of readmitted patients and to determine risk factors for hospital readmission using data from the Swiss COVID-19 Hospital-Based Surveillance system (CH-SUR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrob Resist Infect Control
June 2024
Background: In the initial phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, masking has been widely accepted in healthcare institutions to mitigate the risk of healthcare-associated infection. Evidence, however, is still scant and the role of masks in preventing healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 acquisition remains unclear.We investigated the association of variation in institutional mask policies with healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections in acute care hospitals in Switzerland during the BA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis analysis of 116 isavuconazole therapy courses shows that hepatic test disturbances (HTDs) were relatively frequent (29% of cases) but rarely led to treatment interruption (5%). Importantly, patients with baseline HTDs, including those attributed to a first-line triazole, did not exhibit a higher risk of subsequent HTD under isavuconazole therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNon-ventilator associated hospital-acquired pneumonia (nvHAP) is a common nosocomial infection, but little is known about the outcomes of patients with nvHAP and the risk factors for adverse outcomes. In this retrospective study conducted in a Swiss tertiary care centre, adverse outcomes like in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mechanical ventilation, both all-cause and nvHAP-associated, were investigated. Of 244 patients with nvHAP, 72 (30%) died, 35 (14%) deaths were attributed to nvHAP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Infectious diseases (IDs) are highly relevant after solid organ transplantation in terms of morbidity and mortality, being among the most common causes of death. Patients undergoing kidney retransplantation (re-K-Tx) have been already receiving immunosuppressive therapy over a prolonged period, potentially facilitating subsequent infections. Comparing ID events after re-K-Tx and first kidney transplantation (f-K-Tx) can delineate patterns and risks of ID events associated with prolonged immunosuppression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNumerous clinical parameters link to severe coronavirus disease 2019, but factors that prevent symptomatic disease remain unknown. We investigated the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and endemic human coronavirus (HCoV) antibody responses on symptoms in a longitudinal children cohort ( = 2,917) and a cross-sectional cohort including children and adults ( = 882), all first exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (March 2020 to March 2021) in Switzerland. Saliva ( = 4,993) and plasma ( = 7,486) antibody reactivity to the four HCoVs (subunit S1 [S1]) and SARS-CoV-2 (S1, receptor binding domain, subunit S2 [S2], nucleocapsid protein) was determined along with neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron (BA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The oral cavity contains numerous microorganisms, including antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. These microorganisms can be transmitted via respiratory particles from patients to healthcare providers and vice versa during dental care. We evaluated the spread of during standardized dental procedures using different scaling devices and rinsing solutions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims Of The Study: Remdesivir has shown benefits against COVID-19. However, it remains unclear whether, to what extent, and among whom remdesivir can reduce COVID-19-related mortality. We explored whether the treatment response to remdesivir differed by patient characteristics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Intravascular catheter infections are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. However, a significant proportion of these infections are preventable. Evaluations of the performance of automated surveillance systems for adequate monitoring of central-line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) or catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) are limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmissions originates from either asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals. To prevent unnoticed introduction of SARS-CoV-2, many hospitals have implemented universal admission screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate associations between results of an universal SARS-CoV-2 admission screening and public SARS-CoV-2 incidence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to assess the current burden of disease of community-acquired SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in hospitalized patients to tailor appropriate public health policies. Comparisons with better-known seasonal influenza infections may facilitate such decisions.
Objective: To compare the in-hospital outcomes of patients hospitalized with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant with patients with influenza.
Of 1,118 patients with COVID-19 at a university hospital in Switzerland during October 2020-June 2021, we found 83 (7.4%) had probable or definite healthcare-associated COVID-19. After in-hospital exposure, we estimated secondary attack rate at 23.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBone and joint infection (BJI) epidemiology and outcomes in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTr) remain largely unknown. We aim to describe BJI in a multi-center cohort of SOTr (Swiss Transplant Cohort Study). All consecutive SOTr with BJI (01.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrob Resist Infect Control
August 2022
Background: Healthcare-associated infections remain a preventable cause of patient harm in healthcare. Full documentation of adherence to evidence-based best practices for each patient can support monitoring and promotion of infection prevention measures. Thus, we reviewed the extent, nature, and determinants of the documentation of infection prevention (IP) standards in patients with HAI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Hospital-acquired pneumonia in nonventilated patients (nvHAP) belongs to the most common healthcare-associated infections. This study aimed to investigate risk factors for nvHAP in patients outside the intensive care unit, focusing on modifiable risk factors.
Methods: All inpatients admitted to an academic teaching hospital in Switzerland between 2017 and 2018 were included.
Healthcare-associated outbreaks of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) are a worldwide problem with increasing prevalence. The genomic plasticity of this hospital-adapted pathogen contributes to its efficient spread despite infection control measures. Here, we aimed to identify the genomic and phenotypic determinants of health care-associated transmission of VREfm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAmong 400 species from respiratory samples in Switzerland, was the most frequent species. Non- spp were more prevalent among solid organ transplant recipients and after azole exposure. Azole resistance was detected in 4 isolates, 3 of them with the "environmental" mutation TR/L98H in the gene.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackgroundSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease has frequently been compared with seasonal influenza, but this comparison is based on little empirical data.AimThis study compares in-hospital outcomes for patients with community-acquired COVID-19 and patients with community-acquired influenza in Switzerland.MethodsThis retrospective multi-centre cohort study includes patients > 18 years admitted for COVID-19 or influenza A/B infection determined by RT-PCR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: When the periods of time during and after the first wave of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic in Europe are compared, the associated COVID-19 mortality seems to have decreased substantially. Various factors could explain this trend, including changes in demographic characteristics of infected persons and the improvement of case management. To date, no study has been performed to investigate the evolution of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in Switzerland, while also accounting for risk factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The increasing incidence of candidemia and emergence of drug-resistant species are major concerns worldwide. Long-term surveillance studies are needed.
Methods: The Fungal Infection Network of Switzerland (FUNGINOS) conducted a 15-year (2004-2018), nationwide, epidemiological study of candidemia.
Early identification and isolation of SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals is central to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) serve as a specimen for detection by RT-PCR and rapid antigen screening tests. Saliva has been confirmed as a reliable alternative specimen for RT-PCR and has been shown to be valuable for diagnosing children and in repetitive mass testing due to its non-invasive collection.
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