Rotavirus outbreak among adults in a university hospital in Germany.

Background: Rotaviruses are the main cause of acute viral gastroenteritis in children under five years of age. Adults seem to be less frequently affected by rotaviruses most likely due to partial immunity resulting from prior infections.

Objectives: To describe a hospital-associated outbreak of rotavirus infections among adults.

Global outbreak of severe Mycobacterium chimaera disease after cardiac surgery: a molecular epidemiological study.

Background: Since 2013, over 100 cases of Mycobacterium chimaera prosthetic valve endocarditis and disseminated disease were notified in Europe and the USA, linked to contaminated heater-cooler units (HCUs) used during cardiac surgery. We did a molecular epidemiological investigation to establish the source of these patients' disease.

Methods: We included 24 M chimaera isolates from 21 cardiac surgery-related patients in Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, 218 M chimaera isolates from various types of HCUs in hospitals, from LivaNova (formerly Sorin; London, UK) and Maquet (Rastatt, Germany) brand HCU production sites, and unrelated environmental sources and patients, as well as eight Mycobacterium intracellulare isolates.

Bacterial Contamination of the Anesthesia Workplace and Efficiency of Routine Cleaning Procedures: A Prospective Cohort Study.

In this prospective cohort study, 200 decontamination (cleaning and disinfection) procedures of the anesthesia workplace either by anesthesia nurses or by specially trained housekeeping staff were monitored. Time used by housekeeping staff was shorter (1.2 ± 0.

Characterisation of nosocomial and community-acquired influenza in a large university hospital during two consecutive influenza seasons.

Background: Nosocomial influenza is increasingly recognized as an important public health threat causing considerable morbidity and mortality each year. However, data on nosocomial influenza is usually collected during outbreaks only and clinical information of nosocomial influenza is sparsely available.

Objectives: To systematically analyse the distribution of nosocomial and community-acquired influenza and epidemiological characteristics in a tertiary care unit in two consecutive seasons.

Chemosensory irritations and pulmonary effects of acute exposure to emissions from oriented strand board.

Due to the reduction of air change rates in low-energy houses, the contribution to indoor air quality of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitting from oriented strand boards (OSB) has become increasingly important. The aim of this study was to evaluate sensory irritations, pulmonary effects and odor annoyance of emissions from OSB in healthy human volunteers compared to clean air. Twenty-four healthy non-smokers were exposed to clean air and OSB emissions for 2 h under controlled conditions in a 48 m(3) test chamber at three different time points: to fresh OSB panels and to the same panels after open storage for 2 and 8 weeks.

Genotoxic effects of three selected black toner powders and their dimethyl sulfoxide extracts in cultured human epithelial A549 lung cells in vitro.

Until now, the adverse effects of toner powders on humans have been considered to be minimal. However, several recent reports have suggested possible significant adverse health effects from toner dust inhalation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of black toner powders in vitro.