Healthcare workers' knowledge, attitude and practices on infection prevention and control in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic at the Faranah regional hospital and associated healthcare centers, Guinea.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO launched a strategic preparedness and response plan, outlining public health measures to support countries worldwide. Healthcare workers have an increased risk of becoming infected and their behaviour regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) influences infection dynamics. IPC strategies are important across the globe, but even more in low-resource settings where capacities for testing and treatment are limited.

PASQUALE - A long-term partnership to improve hand hygiene and capacity building in infection prevention and control in the Faranah region of Guinea.

Across the globe, hand hygiene (HH) is promoted to fight the spread of healthcare associated infections. Despite multiple ongoing HH campaigns and projects, the healthcare associated infection rates remain high especially in low- and middle-income countries. In the narrative overview presented here, we aim to share objectives, framework, successes and challenges of our long-term partnership in Guinea to offer guidance for other projects aiming to sustainably improve HH.

Molecular Epidemiology, Clinical Course, and Implementation of Specific Hygiene Measures in Hospitalised Patients with Infection in Brandenburg, Germany.

(1) Background: infections (CDI) have increased worldwide, and the disease is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAI). This study aimed to evaluate the molecular epidemiology of , the clinical outcome, and the time of initiation of specific hygiene measures in patients with CDI in a large tertiary-care hospital in Brandenburg. (2) Methods: Faecal samples and data from hospitalised patients diagnosed with CDI were analysed from October 2016 to October 2017.

Tolerance of biofilm of a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae involved in a duodenoscopy-associated outbreak to the disinfectant used in reprocessing.

Background: One possible transmission route for nosocomial pathogens is contaminated medical devices. Formation of biofilms can exacerbate the problem. We report on a carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae that had caused an outbreak linked to contaminated duodenoscopes.

Effectiveness and sustainability of the WHO multimodal hand hygiene improvement strategy in the University Hospital Bouaké, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: The most frequent adverse events in healthcare are healthcare-associated infections, whose burden is highest in resource-limited settings. In addition, low resource settings often lack Hand Hygiene (HH) knowledge and reliable supply to disinfectant, a necessity emphasized by the past West African Ebola Epidemic and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. PASQUALE aims to increase patient safety by introducing the WHO multimodal HH strategy in the University Hospital Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire.

The largely unnoticed spread of PCR ribotype 027 in Germany after 2010.

In recent decades, incidence and severity of infection (CDI) has increased dramatically, coinciding with the emergence of hypervirulent strains such as PCR ribotype 027 (RT027). Data on prevalence of distinct strains in random CDI cases in Germany are scarce. The aim of this review was to obtain an overview of prevalence and geographical distribution of RT027 among clinical isolates from random cases in non-outbreak settings in hospitals in Germany.

Implementation of the WHO hand hygiene strategy in Faranah regional hospital, Guinea.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections are the most frequent adverse events in healthcare worldwide, with limited available evidence suggesting highest burden in resource-limited settings. Recent Ebola epidemics emphasize the disastrous impact that spread of infectious agents within healthcare facilities can have, accentuating the need for improvement of infection control practices. Hand hygiene (HH) measures are considered to be the most effective tool to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

More than just teddy bears: Unconventional transmission agents in the operating room.

Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) following orthopedic surgery can have a substantial impact on patients and families. The rate remains high, ranging from 0.5% to 8.

A survey on current knowledge, practice and beliefs related to preoperative antimicrobial decolonization regimens for prevention of surgical site infections among Austrian surgeons.

Background: Various measures are considered to reduce the risk of surgical site infection (SSI), including preoperative decolonization. Details of preoperative decolonization practices in surgical departments have not been investigated in Austria.

Aim: To analyse the current situation of pre-surgical patient decolonization in national hospitals and to assess the current knowledge on this procedure among surgeons of different surgical disciplines.