Detection methods for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in surface water and wastewater.

Water systems can act as an important reservoir for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can pose public health risks during human contact. Carbapenem resistance is one of the most concerning resistances in P. aeruginosa making it a high-priority pathogen according to the World Health Organization (WHO), due to its ability to cause difficult-to-treat infections.

Update of the FANTOM web resource: enhancement for studying noncoding genomes.

The FANTOM web resource (https://fantom.gsc.riken.

Examining preventive occupational health and safety management in the Swedish welfare sector-questionnaire development, its validity and reliability, and initial findings on employers' knowledge.

Introduction: A preventive approach to occupational health and safety management (OHSM) can improve working conditions, but more knowledge is needed on how this should be organised in practice. Here, we describe the development, validity and reliability of a questionnaire used to examine employers' preventive OHSM within the Swedish welfare sector. Furthermore, employers' knowledge of preventive OHSM was explored using the survey data.

Impact of duodenoscope reprocessing factors on duodenoscope contamination: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Despite adherence to reprocessing protocols, duodenoscopes frequently remain contaminated, highlighting significant knowledge gaps in reprocessing efficiency.

Aim: To identify risk factors in duodenoscope reprocessing procedures affecting contamination rates.

Methods: Cultures from Pentax ED34-i10T2 duodenoscopes collected between February 2022 and December 2023 were included.

Contaminated duodenoscopes in ERCP: sensitivity of detection and risk of underdetection.

Background And Aims: Periodic duodenoscope cultures are essential to timely detect contamination, but their sensitivity remains unknown. This study aims to determine the sensitivity of duodenoscope cultures and to estimate the prevalence of contaminated duodenoscope use.

Methods: We combined duodenoscope microbiologic surveillance data from March 2015 to June 2022 with usage data to evaluate patient exposure to duodenoscopes contaminated with microorganisms of gut or oral origin (MGO).

Active follow-up of patients identified with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria to discontinue contact precautions and isolation measures.

Background: It is essential to refrain from unnecessary isolation measures indicated for patients identified with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB).

Aim: To evaluate whether a pro-active follow-up strategy to discontinue isolation measures of patients identified with MDR-GNB (without carbapenemase production) resulted in reduced isolation days during hospitalization, compared to passive follow-up.

Methods: A comparison was made between active and passive follow-up strategies over a two-year period after first MDR-GNB identification.

Regional variation in the interpretation of contact precautions for multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Contact precautions are recommended when caring for patients with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CPPA), and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E).

Aim: Our aim was to determine the interpretation of contact precautions and associated infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in the non-ICU hospital setting for patients with CPE, CPPA or ESBL-E in 11 hospitals in the Southwest of the Netherlands.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was developed to collect information on all implemented IPC measures, including use of personal protective equipment, IPC measures for visitors, cleaning and disinfection, precautions during outpatient care and follow-up strategies.

Identification and characterization of Staphylococcus argenteus from Indonesia.

Background: In 2015, Staphylococcus argenteus was reported for the first time as a novel species of the Staphylococcus aureus complex. While S. argenteus has been found in many countries, its presence in Indonesia has not been reported yet.

Indigenous governance, ethics and data collection in Australian clinical registries.

Objectives: To examine Indigenous Governance of Data processes in Australian clinical registries.

Design, Setting, Participants: Audit (via desktop review and interviews) of registries in the Australian Register of Clinical Registries from 17 January 2022 to 30 April 2023.

Main Outcome Measures: The number of clinical registries collecting ethnicity data, reporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representation on registry governance or steering committees, and reporting human research ethics committee approval.

In search of the best method to detect carriage of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in humans: a systematic review.

Background: Detection of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CR-PA) in humans is important to prevent transmission. However, the most optimal culture method to detect CR-PA is unknown. This systematic review aims to determine which culture method is most sensitive and which culture methods are used to detect CR-PA in humans.

Annotation of nuclear lncRNAs based on chromatin interactions.

The human genome is pervasively transcribed and produces a wide variety of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), constituting the majority of transcripts across human cell types. Some specific nuclear lncRNAs have been shown to be important regulatory components acting locally. As RNA-chromatin interaction and Hi-C chromatin conformation data showed that chromatin interactions of nuclear lncRNAs are determined by the local chromatin 3D conformation, we used Hi-C data to identify potential target genes of lncRNAs.

A search strategy for detecting duodenoscope-associated infections: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Duodenoscope-associated infections (DAIs) are exogenous infections resulting from the use of contaminated duodenoscopes. Though numerous outbreaks of DAI have involved multidrug-resistant micro-organisms (MDROs), outbreaks involving non-MDROs are also likely to occur. Detection challenges arise as these infections often resolve before culture or because causative strains are not retained for comparison with duodenoscope strains.

Reducing sickness absence among public-sector healthcare employees: the difference-making roles of managerial and employee participation.

Purpose: Evaluations of organizational-level interventions to prevent work-related illness have identified enabling factors, but knowledge of necessary and sufficient conditions for intervention success is needed. The aim was to identify difference-making factors that distinguish intervention groups with and without a positive intervention effect on sickness absence.

Methods: An organizational-level intervention designed to decrease sickness absence by providing support from process facilitators was implemented at eight healthcare workplaces in Sweden between 2017 and 2018.

Proposal for a screening protocol for Candida auris colonization.

Background: Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast which can cause severe infection in hospitalized patients. Since its first detection in 2009, C. auris has spread globally.

Thermal Conductivity Calculation in Organic Liquids: Application to Poly--Olefin.

In this work, we aim to understand and predict the thermal properties of automotive lubricants using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics. After a previous study on model materials for the mechanical parts of a car engine, we now focus on the thermal conductivity κ of the poly-α-olefin base oil (PAO4) using the well-known sink and source method to study the response of the system to an imposed heat flux. We present a detailed methodology for the calculation of κ, taking into account specific constraints related to the system under study, such as large steady-state fluctuations and rapidly growing stationarization times.

Unveiling 8 years of duodenoscope contamination: insights from a retrospective analysis in a large tertiary care hospital.

Objective: Contaminated duodenoscopes caused several hospital outbreaks. Despite efforts to reduce contamination rates, 15% of patient-ready duodenoscopes are still contaminated with gastrointestinal microorganisms. This study aimed to provide an overview of duodenoscope contamination over time, identify risk factors and study the effects of implemented interventions.

Dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus in patients and the hospital environment in a tertiary care hospital in the Netherlands.

Background: The dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus in patients and the hospital environment are relatively unknown. We studied these dynamics in a tertiary care hospital in the Netherlands.

Methods: Nasal samples were taken from adult patients at admission and discharge.

Description of a nationwide structure for monitoring nosocomial outbreaks of (highly resistant) microorganisms in the Netherlands: characteristics of outbreaks in 2012-2021.

Background: Before 2012, established national surveillance systems in the Netherlands were not able to provide a timely, comprehensive epidemiological view on nosocomial outbreaks. The Healthcare-associated Infections and AntiMicrobial Resistance Monitoring Group (SO-ZI/AMR) was initiated in 2012 for timely national nosocomial outbreak monitoring and risk assessment. This paper aims to describe the achievements of the SO-ZI/AMR by presenting characteristics of outbreaks reported in 2012-2021.

Effect of a novel endoscope cleaning brush on duodenoscope contamination.

Background: Current duodenoscope reprocessing protocols are insufficient to prevent contamination and require adaptations to prevent endoscopy-associated infections (EAIs). This study aimed to investigate the effect of a new endoscope cleaning brush on the contamination rate of ready-to-use duodenoscopes.

Methods: This retrospective before-and-after intervention study collected duodenoscope surveillance culture results from March 2018 to June 2022.

ZENBU-Reports: a graphical web-portal builder for interactive visualization and dissemination of genome-scale data.

In the genomic era, data dissemination and visualization is an integral part of scientific publications and research projects involving international consortia producing massive genome-wide data sets, intra-organizational collaborations, or individual labs. However, creating custom supporting websites is oftentimes impractical due to the required programming effort, web server infrastructure, and data storage facilities, as well as the long-term maintenance burden. ZENBU-Reports (https://fantom.

Contact investigations for antibiotic-resistant bacteria: a mixed-methods study of patients' comprehension of and compliance with self-sampling requests post-discharge.

Background: Contact investigation is an important tool to identify unrecognized patients who are colonized with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Many Dutch hospitals include already discharged contact patients by sending them a self-sampling request at home, incl. an information letter and sampling materials.

Universal screening or a universal risk assessment combined with risk-based screening for multidrug-resistant microorganisms upon admission: Comparing strategies.

Objective: Timely identification of patients who carry multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) is needed to prevent nosocomial spread to other patients and to the hospital environment. We aimed to compare the yield of a universal screening strategy upon admission to the currently installed universal risk assessment combined with risk-based screening upon admission.

Methods: This observational study was conducted within a prospective cohort study.