Publications by authors named "W Zingg"
Article Synopsis
- Semi-automated surveillance systems effectively reduce time spent on monitoring non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (nvHAP) by using computer algorithms to identify at-risk patients for further manual review.
- * The study evaluated multiple nvHAP indicators and algorithms on a large cohort, examining their sensitivity, workload reduction, and efficiency in detecting cases based on a reference standard.
- * Results showed that complex algorithms significantly lowered the number of patients needing manual review by up to 96.2% while maintaining a high sensitivity of 92%, suggesting a promising method for improving patient surveillance in hospitals.
To see, or not to see… pathogens in virtual reality hand hygiene training.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
October 2024
Article Synopsis
- ViRTUE is a virtual reality hand hygiene trainer that allows users to see how pathogens transfer during patient care, either in real-time or at the end of each level.
- A study was conducted with first-year medical students to assess the impact of different visualization timings on their performance and immersion, with participants assigned to three different setups for viewing contagion events.
- Results showed that students who only received "summary" visualizations performed better (fewer contaminations) and reported higher immersion compared to those who had "real-time" visuals, highlighting the need to pilot test VR training methods to optimize their effectiveness.
Article Synopsis
- Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) have serious health impacts, and this study investigates their trends in incidence and pathogens over several years in a Swiss hospital.
- Researchers analyzed data from 2016 to 2023, finding a stable CLABSI incidence density but an increase in the use of central lines.
- The study highlighted a shift in the types of microorganisms causing CLABSI, with a rise in Enterococcus species and yeast, while coagulase-negative staphylococci decreased in prevalence.
Article Synopsis
- This systematic review evaluated 24 infection prevention interventions for peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs), which are known to contribute to a high rate of infections globally.* -
- Out of 105 included studies, findings indicate that wearing gloves during catheter insertion and scheduled catheter removal may lower the risk of complications, while specific antiseptics like chlorhexidine were more effective for neonates.* -
- The review highlights a significant lack of high-quality research on effective interventions, emphasizing the need for better studies and the importance of standard precautions in PIVC management.*
Background: Patients in burns centres are at high risk of acquiring multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) due to the reduced skin barrier and long hospital stay.
Methods: This study reports the investigation and control of an outbreak of MDR Acinetobacter baumannii in a burns centre. The 27 patients hospitalized in the centre during the outbreak were screened regularly, and a total of 132 environmental samples were analysed to identify a potential source.