A systematic review on the excess health risk of antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections for six key pathogens in Europe.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat, which requires novel intervention strategies, for which priority pathogens and settings need to be determined.

Objectives: We evaluated pathogen-specific excess health burden of drug-resistant bloodstream infections (BSIs) in Europe.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Impact of diagnostic stewardship interventions in the collection process of fungal blood cultures.

We implemented 2 interventions to improve utilization and contamination at our institution: kits to improve appropriate sample collection and an electronic order alert displaying appropriate indications of fungal blood cultures. An electronic order alert when ordering fungal blood cultures was associated with decreased utilization without decrease in positivity rate.

Interplay of Digital Proximity App Use and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Uptake in Switzerland: Analysis of Two Population-Based Cohort Studies.

Our study aims to evaluate developments in vaccine uptake and digital proximity tracing app use in a localized context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We report findings from two population-based longitudinal cohorts in Switzerland from January to December 2021. Failure time analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression models were conducted to assess vaccine uptake and digital proximity tracing app (SwissCovid) uninstalling outcomes.

American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Series: #7 - Management of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients.

The Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) partnered with its Transplant Infectious Disease Special Interest Group (TID-SIG) to update the 2009 compendium-style infectious disease guidelines for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). A new approach was adopted to better serve clinical providers by publishing each standalone topic in the infectious disease series in a concise format of frequently asked questions (FAQ), tables, and figures. Experts in HCT and infectious diseases identified FAQs and then provided answers based on the strength of the recommendation and the level of supporting evidence.

Factors associated with loss to follow-up in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy: A retrospective cohort study.

We assessed factors associated with increased risk to loss of follow-up with infectious diseases staff in OPAT patients. Discharge to subacute healthcare facilities is strongly associated with loss to follow-up. We did not identify sociodemographic disparities.

Strategies to reduce hospital-associated bloodstream infections in a limited resource setting: Preventing Infections in Neonates (PIN) collaborative.

Background: Hospitalized neonates are at high risk for hospital-associated bloodstream infections (HA-BSI) and require locally contextualized interventions to prevent HA-BSI.

Methods: The collaborative aimed to reach a 50% decrease in neonatal HA-BSI rates for a 27-bed Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Using quality improvement (QI) methodologies, a multidisciplinary cross-cultural collaborative implemented phased and bundled interventions from July 2017 to September 2019.

Assessing immunogenicity barriers of the HIV-1 envelope trimer.

Understanding the balance between epitope shielding and accessibility on HIV-1 envelope (Env) trimers is essential to guide immunogen selection for broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) based vaccines. To investigate the antigenic space of Env immunogens, we created a strategy based on synthetic, high diversity, Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein (DARPin) libraries. We show that DARPin Antigenicity Analysis (DANA), a purely in vitro screening tool, has the capability to extrapolate relevant information of antigenic properties of Env immunogens.

p38/MK2 signaling stimulates host cells autophagy pathways to restrict infection.

Autophagy plays an important role in recognizing and protecting cells from invading intracellular pathogens such as . In this work, we investigated the role of p38/MK2 in modulating the host cell susceptibility to infection. Inhibition of p38 or MK2 led to a significant increase of bacterial counts in infected mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), as well as in MK2-deficient () cells.

Incidence of sexually transmitted infections and association with behavioural factors: Time-to-event analysis of a large pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cohort.

Objectives: Our objective was to obtain long-term data on the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their association with behavioural factors after widespread pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation.

Methods: This was a time-to-event analysis of a national PrEP cohort in Switzerland (SwissPrEPared study). Participants were people without HIV interested in taking PrEP with at least two STI screening visits.

Treatment effect of remdesivir on the mortality of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Switzerland across different patient groups: a tree-based model analysis.

Aims Of The Study: Remdesivir has shown benefits against COVID-19. However, it remains unclear whether, to what extent, and among whom remdesivir can reduce COVID-19-related mortality. We explored whether the treatment response to remdesivir differed by patient characteristics.

Clostridioides Difficile in Latin America: An Epidemiological Overview.

Clostridioides difficile infection is one of the most significant causes of nosocomial diarrhea associated with antibiotic use worldwide. In recent years, the incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection in Latin American countries has increased due to the emergence and spread of epidemic Clostridioides difficile strains, such as RT027/NAP1/ST1, RT078/ST11, and RT017/ST37; additionally, endemic multi-drug-resistant strains have recently appeared due to the lack of heterogeneous diagnostic algorithms and guidelines for antibiotic use in each country. The aim of this review is to present the latest information regarding Clostridioides difficile and emphasize the importance of epidemiological surveillance of this pathogen in Latin American countries.

The potential clinical value of pairing procalcitonin and lung ultrasonography to guide antibiotic therapy in patients with community-acquired pneumonia: a narrative review.

Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are among the most frequent infections and are prone to inappropriate antibiotic treatments. This results from a limited accuracy of diagnostic tools in identifying bacterial pneumonia. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has excellent sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing pneumonia.

Validation of sTREM-1 and IL-6 based algorithms for outcome prediction of COVID-19.

Background: A prospective observational cohort study of COVID-19 patients in a single Emergency Department (ED) showed that sTREM-1- and IL-6-based algorithms were highly predictive of adverse outcome (Van Singer et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021). We aim to validate the performance of these algorithms at ED presentation.

Association between perioperative prophylaxis with cefuroxime plus metronidazole or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and surgical site infections in paediatric uncomplicated appendectomy: a Swiss retrospective cohort study.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the association between post-appendectomy SSI rates and the two most commonly used regimens for perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in Swiss children.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, analysing data from the Swiss national SSI surveillance database with a study period from 2014 to 2018. All hospitals undertaking paediatric appendectomies in Switzerland participate in the surveillance.

Recommendations on data sharing in HIV drug resistance research.

 • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance has implications for antiretroviral treatment strategies and for containing the HIV pandemic because the development of HIV drug resistance leads to the requirement for antiretroviral drugs that may be less effective, less well-tolerated, and more expensive than those used in first-line regimens.  • HIV drug resistance studies are designed to determine which HIV mutations are selected by antiretroviral drugs and, in turn, how these mutations affect antiretroviral drug susceptibility and response to future antiretroviral treatment regimens.  • Such studies collectively form a vital knowledge base essential for monitoring global HIV drug resistance trends, interpreting HIV genotypic tests, and updating HIV treatment guidelines.

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for typing of vancomycin-resistant : performance analysis and outbreak investigation.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, mainly (VREfm), are causing nosocomial infections and outbreaks. Bacterial typing methods are used to assist in outbreak investigations. Most of them, especially genotypic methods like multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), whole genome sequencing (WGS), or pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, are quite expensive and time-consuming.

Principles and Practice of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Resource Allocation.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) improve individual patient outcomes and clinical care processes while reducing antimicrobial-associated adverse events, optimizing operational priorities, and providing institutional cost savings. ASP composition, resources required, and priority focuses are influenced by myriad factors. Despite robust evidence and broad national support, individual ASPs still face challenges in obtaining appropriate resources.

Impact of bronchoalveolar lavage on the management of immunocompromised hosts.

Background: Respiratory infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is an important tool to detect infectious agents in immunocompromised patients with low respiratory tract infections (LRTI).

Research Question: BAL changes the management of immunocompromised patients with suspected LRTI.