Assessing infection prevention and control structures in German hospitals after the COVID-19 pandemic using the WHO infection prevention and control assessment framework (IPCAF): results from 660 hospitals and comparison with a pre-pandemic survey.

Background: The WHO Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework (IPCAF) is a standardized tool to assess infection prevention and control (IPC) structures in healthcare facilities. The IPCAF reflects the eight WHO core components (CC) of IPC. Besides facility self-assessment, the IPCAF can be used for national surveys, and repeated usage can aid in describing trends concerning IPC structures.

[Automated surveillance and risk prediction with the aim of risk-stratified infection control and prevention (RISK PRINCIPE)].

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) represent an enormous burden for patients, healthcare workers, relatives and society worldwide, including Germany. The central tasks of infection prevention are recording and evaluating infections with the aim of identifying prevention potential and risk factors, taking appropriate measures and finally evaluating them. From an infection prevention perspective, it would be of great value if (i) the recording of infection cases was automated and (ii) if it were possible to identify particularly vulnerable patients and patient groups in advance, who would benefit from specific and/or additional interventions.

Surveillance of infections of surgical sites and lower respiratory tracts should be combined: experiences from the German surveillance module for operated patients (OP-KISS), 2018 to 2022.

BackgroundSurveillance of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) of operated patients conventionally focuses on intubated patients in intensive care units (ICU). Post-operative immobilisation increases the risk of LRTI not associated with ventilators. Operated patients, however, have thus far not been a primary target for LRTI surveillance.

Healthcare-Associated Infections and the Use of Antibiotics in German Hospitals—Results of the Point Prevalence Survey of 2022 and Comparison With Earlier Findings.

Background: A national point prevalence survey (PPS) of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and antibiotic use (AU) was carried out in Germany in 2022 in the framework of the European PPS conducted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The objective was to determine the prevalence of HAI and AU in German hospitals and to compare the obtained values with those of the most recent previous PPS, which was carried out in 2016.

Methods: The German National Reference Center for the Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections was entrusted with the organization of the PPS of 2022.

Perioperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis—Indications and Modalities for the Prevention of Postoperative Wound Infection.

Background: Postoperative surgical site infections (SSI) account for almost 25% of all nosocomial infections in Germany and are a source of increased morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and on national and international guidelines.

Results: The individual risk factors for SSI must be assessed before any surgical procedure.