Clinical characteristics and outcomes of healthcare workers with COVID-19 pre- and postvaccination.

Vaccines are the most effective strategy to control the spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Data on COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCW) pre- and postvaccination are limited. This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of HCW with COVID-19 pre- and postvaccination.

Antimicrobial stewardship: The influence of behavioral nudging on renal-function-based appropriateness of dosing.

Failure to adjust doses may contribute to adverse events. We evaluated the effectiveness of providing the estimated glomerular filtration rate on appropriateness of dosing for antimicrobials. The approach increased appropriateness of dosing from 33.

Predicting the occurrence of surgical site infections using text mining and machine learning.

In this study we propose the use of text mining and machine learning methods to predict and detect Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) using textual descriptions of surgeries and post-operative patients' records, mined from the database of a high complexity University hospital. SSIs are among the most common adverse events experienced by hospitalized patients; preventing such events is fundamental to ensure patients' safety. Knowledge on SSI occurrence rates may also be useful in preventing future episodes.

Antimicrobial stewardship through telemedicine and its impact on multi-drug resistance.

Introduction: Telemedicine technologies are increasingly being incorporated into infectious disease practice. We aimed to demonstrate the impact of antimicrobial stewardship through telemedicine on bacterial resistance rates.

Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study in a 220-bed hospital in southern Brazil.

Detection and molecular characterization of the novel recombinant norovirus GII.P16-GII.4 Sydney in southeastern Brazil in 2016.

Noroviruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in all age groups worldwide. Despite the high genetic diversity of noroviruses, most AGE outbreaks are caused by a single norovirus genotype: GII.4.

Serious infections among unselected patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with contemporary primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Contemporary studies assessing the frequency, characteristics, and outcomes of serious infections (SIs) in patients presenting a ST-elevation myocardial infarction are scarce.

Methods: Prospective cohort of consecutive patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). Serious infection was defined as the presence of infection that prolonged hospitalization.

Association between Accessory Gene Regulator Polymorphism and Mortality among Critically Ill Patients Receiving Vancomycin for Nosocomial MRSA Bacteremia: A Cohort Study.

Background. Polymorphism of the accessory gene regulator group II (agr) in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is predictive of vancomycin failure therapy. Nevertheless, the impact of group II agr expression on mortality of patients with severe MRSA infections is not well established.

Surgical Site Infection Rates in Four Cities in Brazil: Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium.

Background: There are no data on surgical site infection (SSI) rates stratified by surgical procedures (SPs) in Brazil, and our objective was to report such rates.

Methods: From January 2005 to December 2010 we conducted a surveillance study on SSIs in four hospital members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) in four Brazilian cities. We applied the U.

Outcomes and Risk Factors Associated with Clostridium difficile Diarrhea in Hospitalized Adult Patients.

Background. The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection has changed over time. Therefore, it is essential to monitor the characteristics of patients at risk of infection and factors associated with poor prognosis.

Accuracy of tracheal aspirate gram stain in predicting Staphylococcus aureus infection in ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background: The Gram stain can be used to direct initial empiric antimicrobial therapy when complete culture is not available. This rapid test could prevent the initiation of inappropriate therapy and adverse outcomes. However, several studies have attempted to determine the value of the Gram stain in the diagnosis and therapy of bacterial infection in different populations of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) with conflicting results.

Comparison of anti-anaerobic antimicrobial strategies in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Background: The current study sought to compare 28-day mortality rates in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms who underwent monotherapy using an antibiotic with antipseudomonal and anti-anaerobic activity (piperacillin-tazobactam or a carbapenem) and a group treated with a combination of cefepime-metronidazole.

Findings: We performed a prospective cohort study in a single tertiary hospital from October 2009 to August 2011. All consecutive adult cancer patients admitted with FN secondary to intensive chemotherapy and GI symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea or perianal pain) were evaluated.

Association between adherence to an antimicrobial stewardship program and mortality among hospitalised cancer patients with febrile neutropaenia: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Initial management of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropaenia (FN) comprises empirical therapy with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial. Currently, there is sufficient evidence to indicate which antibiotic regimen should be administered initially. However, no randomized trial has evaluated whether adherence to an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) results in lower rates of mortality in this setting.

Viral epidemiology of respiratory infections among children at a tertiary hospital in Southern Brazil.

Introduction: This study reports the pediatric epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza (IF), parainfluenza (PIV), and adenovirus (ADV) at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre.

Methods: Cases of infection, hospitalizations in intensive care units (ICUs), nosocomial infections, and lethality rates were collected from 2007 to 2010.

Results: RSV accounted for most nosocomial infections.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium Bacteremia in a tertiary care hospital: epidemiology, antimicrobial susceptibility, and outcome.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) has emerged as a relevant multidrug-resistant pathogen and potentially lethal etiology of health care associated infections worldwide. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess factors associated with mortality in patients with VREF bacteremia in a major tertiary referral hospital in Southern Brazil. All documented cases of bacteremia identified between May 2010 and July 2012 were evaluated.

Mortality related to coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia in febrile neutropenia: A cohort study.

Background: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are currently the most common isolates recovered from the blood of patients with cancer and febrile neutropenia (FN).

Objectives: To assess the mortality associated with bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by CoNS in cancer patients with FN.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a single tertiary hospital from October 2009 to August 2011.

Evaluation of respiratory syncytial virus group A and B genotypes among nosocomial and community-acquired pediatric infections in Southern Brazil.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main cause of lower respiratory tract illness in children worldwide. Molecular analyses show two distinct RSV groups (A and B) that comprise different genotypes. This variability contributes to the capacity of RSV to cause yearly outbreaks.

The impact of serum vancomycin levels and minimum inhibitory concentrations of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on mortality in patients with nosocomial pneumonia.

Background: Vancomycin is the treatment of choice for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections; however, treatment failure is not uncommon, even when the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the MRSA strain is within the susceptible range for vancomycin.

Objective: To describe the relationship between molecular markers such as the mecA and agrII genes, serum vancomycin levels and vancomycin MICs, and the 30-day mortality rate of patients with nosocomial MRSA pneumonia in an intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: The present study was a prospective cohort study including all patients with MRSA hospital-acquired pneumonia or ventilator-associated pneumonia who were admitted to the ICU of a tertiary care hospital between June 2009 and December 2011.

Risk factors for multidrug-resistant bacteremia in hospitalized cancer patients with febrile neutropenia: a cohort study.

We conducted a prospective cohort study in a single tertiary hospital with the aim of assessing predictors of multidrug-resistant bacteremia in 307 cases of febrile neutropenia in adult patients with cancer. On multivariate analysis using stepwise logistic regression, age (P = .009), duration of neutropenia (P = .

Changes in hand hygiene compliance after a multimodal intervention and seasonality variation.

Background: Hand hygiene is the most important measure to reduce health care-related infections and colonization with multiresistant micro-organisms. We sought to determine the rate and seasonality of handwashing compliance in a university-affiliated hospital.

Methods: In January 2006 (baseline period), handwashing observation was first made in an intensive care unit.