Identifying research priorities for infection prevention and control. A mixed methods study with a convergent design.

Background: Meaningful research creates evidence for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice.

Aim: To establish Infection Prevention Society (IPS) members' research priorities to support future research projects.

Methods: A mixed methods convergent parallel design incorporating a cross-sectional survey of IPS members (2022-2023), and focus group findings from the IPS Consultative Committee, (October 2022).

Meticillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus transmission among healthcare workers, patients and the environment in a large acute hospital under non-outbreak conditions investigated using whole-genome sequencing.

Background: The role of meticillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) colonization of healthcare workers (HCWs), patients and the hospital environment in MSSA transmission events (TEs) is poorly understood.

Aims: The role of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was investigated recently under non-outbreak conditions in a large hospital with a history of endemic MRSA over 2 years using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Numerous potential MRSA TEs were identified.

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission among healthcare workers, patients and the environment in a large acute hospital under non-outbreak conditions investigated using whole-genome sequencing.

Background: The role of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization of healthcare workers (HCWs), patients and the hospital environment in MRSA transmission in non-outbreak settings is poorly understood.

Aims: To investigate transmission events (TEs) involving HCWs, patients and the environment under non-outbreak conditions in a hospital with a history of endemic MRSA using whole-genome sequencing (WGS).

Methods: HCW (N = 326) and patient (N = 388) volunteers on nine wards were tested for nasal and oral MRSA colonization over two years.

Screening the nose, throat and the naso-pharynx for methicillin-resistant : a pilot study.

Patients who carry nasal methicillin-resistant (MRSA) may also harbour MRSA in the oro-pharyngeal cavity. However, the naso-oro-pharyngeal co-carriage is infrequently assessed. The incidence of concurrent MRSA carriage of the naso-oro-pharynx was ascertained, and the sensitivity of two methods, a throat swab and a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) oral rinse, for MRSA detection was investigated.

Are positive-pressure ventilation lobby rooms effective for protective and source isolation?

High-efficiency particulate air supplied to a positive-pressure ventilation lobby (PPVL) in isolation rooms offers the dual advantage of protective and source isolation. This study demonstrates the in-use validity of PPVL rooms for protective isolation of patients. Of the 48 PPVL air samples investigated, Aspergillus fumigatus was detected from only one (2%) sample.