Temporal trends and epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infection in the Swiss surveillance network: a cohort study.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is the leading pathogen in surgical site infections (SSI).

Aim: To explore trends and risk factors associated with S. aureus SSI.

Importance of whole genome sequencing for the assessment of outbreaks in diagnostic laboratories: analysis of a case series of invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections.

Outbreaks of Streptococcus pyogenes hypervirulent clones are constant public health threats. In western Switzerland, an increase of severe cases of S. pyogenes invasive infections was observed between December 2015 and March 2016.

Utility of an Algorithm to Increase the Accuracy of Medication History in an Obstetrical Setting.

Background: In an obstetrical setting, inaccurate medication histories at hospital admission may result in failure to identify potentially harmful treatments for patients and/or their fetus(es).

Methods: This prospective study was conducted to assess average concordance rates between (1) a medication list obtained with a one-page structured medication history algorithm developed for the obstetrical setting and (2) the medication list reported in medical records and obtained by open-ended questions based on standard procedures. Both lists were converted into concordance rate using a best possible medication history approach as the reference (information obtained by patients, prescribers and community pharmacists' interviews).

Thirteen years of surgical site infection surveillance in Swiss hospitals.

Background: Surveillance is an essential element of surgical site infection (SSI) prevention. Few studies have evaluated the long-term effect of these programmes.

Aim: To present data from a 13-year multicentre SSI surveillance programme from western and southern Switzerland.

Transformation of a microprolactinoma into a mixed growth hormone and prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma.

Combined prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) secretion by a single pituitary tumor can occur in approximately 5% of cases. However, in all previously reported patients, combined secretion of both hormones was present at the time of diagnosis. Here we describe a patient initially diagnosed with a pure prolactin-secreting microadenoma, who experienced the progressive apparition of symptomatic autonomous GH secretion while on intermittent long term dopamine agonist therapy.

Antibiotic use: is appropriateness expensive?

Antibiotics are prone to misuse. In this study, 37% of 600 antibiotic prescriptions in three hospitals were considered unnecessary. When antibiotic therapy was indicated, 45% were considered to be inadequate.

Impact of an interdisciplinary strategy on antibiotic use: a prospective controlled study in three hospitals.

Objectives: Evaluation of the impact of the implementation of practice guidelines, with or without their reinforcement by a pharmacist, on the intra-hospital use of antibiotics.

Materials And Methods: The duration of antibiotic treatment, their cost, and the length of patient stay were compared in three secondary-care hospitals, before and after interventions that were designed to promote rational antibiotic use. After randomization, hospital A received no intervention (control), local practice guidelines were implemented in hospital B (low grade intervention), and these guidelines were reinforced by a clinical pharmacist in hospital C (high grade intervention).

Panton-valentine leukocidin and staphyloccoccal skin infections in schoolchildren.

The Panton-Valentine leukocidin is associated with staphylococcal skin and pulmonary infections. We describe a school outbreak of skin infections and the public health response to it. Nasal carriage of a Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus clone was detected only in previously ill classmates and their family members.

Hospital pharmacists' reinforcement of guidelines for switching from parenteral to oral antibiotics: a pilot study.

Objective: The cost of antibiotics in hospitals may be reduced by streamlining, and, particularly, by early switching from the intravenous (i.v.) to the oral route of administration.

Usefulness of procalcitonin serum level for the diagnosis of bacteremia.

The predictive value of procalcitonin serum levels to detect or rule out bacteremia was investigated prospectively in a case-control study with 200 hospitalized adults from whom blood samples were taken for culture. Fifty bacteremic patients (cases) had higher procalcitonin serum levels than the 150 controls with sterile blood cultures (11.7 vs.

Use of broad spectrum antibiotics in six non-university Swiss hospitals.

Principles: Broad-spectrum antibiotics (BSAs) are costly and prone to misuse. Their use is associated with the emergence of resistant bacteria. This article describes the first step of an interhospital programme for the appropriate use of BSAs.