Systematic evaluation of machine learning models for postoperative surgical site infection prediction.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) lead to increased mortality and morbidity, as well as increased healthcare costs. Multiple models for the prediction of this serious surgical complication have been developed, with an increasing use of machine learning (ML) tools.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the performance as well as the methodological quality of validated ML models for the prediction of SSIs.

Targeted antimicrobial regimens for Gram-negative prosthetic joint infections: a prospective multicenter study.

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are considered the most effective antimicrobial treatment for Gram-negative prosthetic joint infection (GN-PJI). Alternatives are needed due to increasing FQ resistance and side effects. We aimed to compare different targeted antimicrobial strategies for GN-PJI managed by debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) or one-stage revision surgery (1SR) and to review the literature of oral treatment options for GN-PJI.

Handling missing data in variational autoencoder based item response theory.

Recently Variational Autoencoders (VAEs) have been proposed as a method to estimate high dimensional Item Response Theory (IRT) models on large datasets. Although these improve the efficiency of estimation drastically compared to traditional methods, they have no natural way to deal with missing values. In this paper, we adapt three existing methods from the VAE literature to the IRT setting and propose one new method.

Rate of nosocomial MRSA transmission evaluated via contact screening.

Background: The prevention of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) transmission in the healthcare setting is a priority in Infection Control practices. A cornerstone of this policy is contact tracing of nosocomial contacts after an unexpected MRSA finding.

Use of proxy indicators for automated surveillance of severe acute respiratory infection, the Netherlands, 2017 to 2023: a proof-of-concept study.

BackgroundEffective pandemic preparedness requires robust severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance. However, identifying SARI patients based on symptoms is time-consuming. Using the number of reverse transcription (RT)-PCR tests or contact and droplet precaution labels as a proxy for SARI could accurately reflect the epidemiology of patients presenting with SARI.

Implications of ad-hoc molecular typing for infection control measures in a multi-cluster, multi-phenotypic Serratia marcescens outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: Serratia marcescens is known to cause outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Traditionally epidemiological data, antimicrobial resistance patterns and epidemiological typing have been used to guide infection prevention methods. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) applications such as core-genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) applied during an outbreak would potentially yield more information.

Patient engagement to counter catheter-associated urinary tract infections with an app (PECCA): a multicentre, prospective, interrupted time-series and before-and-after study.

Background: The risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is increased by unnecessary placement and prolonged use of urinary catheters.

Aim: To assess whether inappropriate use of catheters and catheter-associated UTI were reduced through patient participation.

Methods: In this multicentre, interrupted time-series and before-and-after study, we implemented a patient-centred app which provides catheter advice for patients, together with clinical lessons, feedback via e-mails and support rounds for staff members.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers in Dutch hospitals after the 2020 first wave: a multicentre cross-sectional study with prospective follow-up.

Background: We aimed to estimate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence and describe its determinants and associated symptoms among unvaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) after the first wave of the pandemic.

Methods: HCWs from 13 Dutch hospitals were screened for antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in June-July 2020 and after three months. Participants completed a retrospective questionnaire on determinants for occupational and community exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 experienced since January 2020.

Influence of transition from open bay units to single room units in a neonatal intensive care unit on hospital transmission of multi-drug-resistant Enterobacterales.

Background: It was shown previously that changing the design of a hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from open bay units (OBUs) to single room units (SRUs) was not associated with a reduction in Gram-negative multi-drug-resistant organism (MDRO) colonization rates. It was therefore hypothesized that colonization mainly occurs vertically, or through parents and healthcare workers, and not through environmental factors, and that transition to SRUs would not decrease the number of clusters of MDROs with an epidemiological link. To investigate this, core-genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) was applied on MDROs cultured from infants at the study hospital.

A comparison of five Illumina, Ion Torrent, and nanopore sequencing technology-based approaches for whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2.

Rapid identification of the rise and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern remains critical for monitoring of the efficacy of diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines, and control strategies. A wide range of SARS-CoV-2 next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods have been developed over the last years, but cross-sequence technology benchmarking studies have been scarce. In the current study, 26 clinical samples were sequenced using five protocols: AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 (Illumina), EasySeq RC-PCR SARS-CoV-2 (Illumina/NimaGen), Ion AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 (Thermo Fisher), custom primer sets (Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT)), and capture probe-based viral metagenomics (Roche/Illumina).

Effectiveness of Different Antimicrobial Strategies for Staphylococcal Prosthetic Joint Infection: Results From a Large Prospective Registry-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Treatment of staphylococcal prosthetic joint infection (PJI) usually consists of surgical debridement and prolonged rifampicin combination therapy. Tailored antimicrobial treatment alternatives are needed due to frequent side effects and drug-drug interactions with rifampicin combination therapy. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of several alternative antibiotic strategies in patients with staphylococcal PJI.

A longitudinal analysis of nosocomial bloodstream infections among preterm neonates.

Nosocomial bloodstream infections (NBSIs), commonly due to central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), contribute substantially to neonatal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to identify longitudinal changes in incidence of NBSI, microbiological-spectrum, and antibiotic exposure in a large cohort of preterm neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. We retrospectively assessed differences in annual rates of NBSI (per 1000 patient-days), CLABSI (per 1000 central-line days), and antibiotic consumption (per 1000 patient-days) among preterm neonates (< 32 weeks' gestation) hospitalized between January 2012 and December 2020.

Reducing Inappropriate Urinary Catheter Use by Involving Patients Through the Participatient App: Before-and-After Study.

Background: The risk of urinary tract infections is increased by the inappropriate placement and unnecessary prolongation of the use of indwelling urinary catheters. Sustained behavior change in infection prevention could be promoted by empowering patients through a smartphone app.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and efficacy of implementation actions on patients' use of the Participatient app on a clinical ward and to compare 3 survey methods for urinary catheter use.

Impact of transition from open bay to single room design neonatal intensive care unit on multidrug-resistant organism colonization rates.

Background: The influence of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) design on the acquisition of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) has not been well-documented.

Aim: To examine the effect of single room unit (SRU) versus open bay unit (OBU) design on the incidence of colonization with MDROs and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant bacteria (3G-CRB) in infants admitted to the NICU.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study, including all infants admitted to the NICU of a tertiary care academic hospital two years prior to and two years following the transition from OBU to SRU in May 2017.

Hospital transmission of borderline oxacillin-resistant evaluated by whole-genome sequencing.

is a major cause of hospital infections worldwide. Awareness towards methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infections is high but attention towards borderline oxacillin-resistant (BORSA) is limited, possibly due to an underestimated clinical relevance, presumption of low incidence and diagnostic limitations. BORSA surveillance has not been routinely implemented, and thus consensus with regard to a definition and infection control measures is lacking.

eHealth for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections: a scoping review.

Background: The increase in smartphone use and mobile health applications (apps) holds potential to use apps to reduce and detect healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in clinical practice.

Aim: To obtain an overview of available apps for HAI prevention, by selecting the clinically relevant apps and scoring functionality, quality and usefulness.

Methods: This scoping review of available apps in the iOS and Android app stores uses an in-house-developed tool (scraper https://holtder.

A Smartphone App for Engaging Patients With Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: Protocol for an Interrupted Time-Series Analysis.

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the main cause of health care-associated infections, and they increase the disease burden, antibiotic usage, and hospital stay. Inappropriate placement and unnecessarily prolonged usage of a catheter lead to an elevated and preventable risk of infection. The smartphone app Participatient has been developed to involve hospitalized patients in communication and decision-making related to catheter use and to control unnecessary (long-term) catheter use to prevent CAUTIs.

The Effect of Single-Room Care Versus Open-Bay Care on the Incidence of Bacterial Nosocomial Infections in Pre-Term Neonates: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Nosocomial infections (NIs) are a major source of iatrogenic harm in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The influence of the infrastructure of NICUs on NIs is not well documented. This study aims to examine the effect of single-room units (SRU) versus open-bay units (OBU) on the incidence of NIs, including central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), in preterm neonates.

The Effect of Single-Room Care Versus Open-Bay Care on the Incidence of Bacterial Nosocomial Infections in Pre-Term Neonates: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Nosocomial infections (NIs) are a major source of iatrogenic harm in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The influence of the infrastructure of NICUs on NIs is not well documented. This study aims to examine the effect of single-room units (SRU) versus open-bay units (OBU) on the incidence of NIs, including central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), in preterm neonates.

Borderline oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage among healthcare workers at neonatal intensive care unit and paediatric ward.

Background: During a meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus contact tracing and screening investigation, two borderline oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (BORSA)-positive screening cultures were encountered among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) healthcare workers (HCWs). This finding led to further investigations.

Aim: To assess the likelihood of an outbreak with direct transmission among HCWs.

Limited multi-drug resistant organism related stigma in carriers exposed to isolation precautions: an exploratory quantitative questionnaire study.

Background: Isolation precautions are applied to control the risk of transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). These precautions have been associated with adverse effects, such as anxiety and depression. This study aimed to quantify stigma among MDRO carriers and its association with perceived mental health and experienced quality of care.

[Rational use of respiratory protective equipment: advice for health care professionals in time of COVID-19].

The current COVID-19 pandemic has led to a worldwide shortage of respiratory protective equipment. In order to offer maximum protection against infection for all healthcare workers, we need to optimise our use of the available equipment. This article provides practical advice on which type of mask is indicated in what specific situation, what requirements the mask should meet and how to optimise the local workflow, including the re-use of masks after decontamination.

Public health response to two imported, epidemiologically related cases of Lassa fever in the Netherlands (ex Sierra Leone), November 2019.

On 20 November 2019, Lassa fever was diagnosed in a physician repatriated from Sierra Leone to the Netherlands. A second physician with suspected Lassa fever, repatriated a few days later from the same healthcare facility, was confirmed infected with Lassa virus on 21 November. Comprehensive contact monitoring involving high- and low-risk contacts proved to be feasible and follow-up of the contacts did not reveal any case of secondary transmission in the Netherlands.