Phylodynamic estimation of the within-host evolutionary rate of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales.

Despite their clinical relevance, the within-host evolution of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales is still poorly understood. To estimate the within-host evolutionary rates of ESBL-producing and species complex, we fitted phylodynamic models to genomic sequence data of longitudinally collected rectal swabs from 63 colonized hospital patients. We estimated an average within-host evolutionary rate of 7.

Diagnostic Performance of a Combined Rapid Antigen Test for Detecting SARS-CoV-2, Influenza Virus, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Symptomatic Patients in Tertiary Care.

Rapid antigen diagnostic tests (RDTs) can rapidly detect respiratory pathogens, allowing for the prompt initiation of infection control measures and the prevention of nosocomial spread within hospital settings. In this study, we prospectively evaluated the diagnostic performance of a combined RDT from AllTest Biotech for the simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus (IV-A/B), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We compared its diagnostic performance to the Xpert-Xpress-SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV molecular test using 100 naso-oropharyngeal swabs (Ct-values ≤ 35), collected from symptomatic patients with acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) at our tertiary care hospital.

The impact of hemorrhage extension on external ventricular drain associated infections in patients with non-aneurysmal primary intracerebral and/or intraventricular hemorrhage.

Background: Ventriculostomy is a common intervention to treat acute hydrocephalus in patients with primary intracerebral (PICH) and primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH). A variety of risk-factors for external ventricular drain (EVD)-associated infections (EVDAI) have been identified, however, it remains unclear how blood extent in PICH and PIVH impacts EVDAI-rates.

Methods: Retrospective single-center cohort study of PICH and PIVH patients undergoing EVD-placement between 01/2009 and 02/2023.

Impact of Hemorrhage Extent on External Ventricular Drain-Associated Infections in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Background: External ventricular drain (EVD)-associated infections (EVDAI) remain a relevant complication of acute hydrocephalus treatment following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Whether radiological quantity and anatomical distribution of subarachnoid and ventricular blood impact EVDAI rates has not been thoroughly studied to date.

Methods: This was a retrospective (2009-2023) analysis of patients with aSAH undergoing emergency ventriculostomy.

Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales in Municipal Wastewater Collections, Switzerland, 2019-2023.

We quantified presumptive extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, and Citrobacter group colonies from wastewater in Basel, Switzerland, across 3 years to represent before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Wastewater surveillance might be a noninvasive, sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective instrument for early detection and monitoring local epidemiology.

The Impact of Rapid Molecular Diagnostics for Influenza on Antibiotic Stewardship in the Emergency Department-An Observational Retrospective Study.

Objective: The clinical diagnosis of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) may result in unnecessary antibiotic treatment due to clinical exams' low sensitivity and specificity to differentiate viral from bacterial infections and costly diagnostic work-ups. Unnecessary antibiotic consumption drives antibiotic resistance. We explored whether a rapid influenza-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay reduced antibiotic use in an emergency room before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Screening sites for detection of carbapenemase-producers- a retrospective cohort study.

While screening the rectal site and urine may be appropriate for detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, respiratory samples, throat and wound swabs may increase the sensitivity of screening protocols when aiming to detect colonization with carbapenemase-producing non-fermenting bacteria. Our results support the need for tailoring screening recommendations according to the bacterial species targeted.

Toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae Infections in Low-Risk Patients, Switzerland, 2023.

We report a cluster of infections with genetically related toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae linked to an outbreak among asylum seekers in Switzerland that subsequently affected patients without known exposure. This discovery highlights the importance of rapid, interdisciplinary outbreak investigations and regular vaccination status assessment, especially in elderly populations with waning immunity.

Multicenter Evaluation of the QIAstat-Dx and the BioFire Multiplex Panel Tests for the Detection of Respiratory Pathogens.

Syndromic multiplex panel testing enables simultaneous detection of multiple respiratory pathogens, but limited data is available on the comparative diagnostic performance of different testing systems. In this multicenter prospective study, we aimed to compare the QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel 2.0 (QIAstat-Dx-RP2.

In-hospital outcomes of healthcare-associated COVID-19 (Omicron) versus healthcare-associated influenza: a retrospective, nationwide cohort study in Switzerland.

Background: As COVID-19 is integrated into existing infectious disease control programs, it is important to understand the comparative clinical impact of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with symptomatic healthcare-associated COVID-19 or influenza reported to the nationwide, hospital-based surveillance system in Switzerland. Included patients were adults (≥18 years) hospitalized for ≥3 days in tertiary care and large regional hospitals.

Exploring the real-world management of catheter-associated urinary tract infections by Swiss general practitioners and urologists: insights from an online survey.

Aim: To assess and compare the real-world management of catheters and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) among Swiss general practitioners and urologists, encompassing diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis.

Methods: An anonymised online questionnaire was distributed among Swiss general practitioners and urologists between January and October 2023 via the networks of Sentinella and the Swiss Association of Urology. The questionnaire consisted of questions on catheter management, including diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of CAUTI.

Endocarditis associated with contamination of cardiovascular bioprostheses with Mycobacterium chelonae: a collaborative microbiological study.

Background: Mycobacterium chelonae is a rare cause of infective endocarditis that is difficult to diagnose and treat. After we found M chelonae in a series of patients, we aimed to investigate its role in cardiovascular prosthesis dysfunction and contamination of bioprostheses as a possible cause of infection.

Methods: In this collaborative microbiological study, we report on nine patients treated in three cardiovascular surgical departments in Germany, who were found to have M chelonae infection after receiving BioIntegral bioprostheses.

Swiss COVID-19 hospital surveillance: an in-depth analysis of the factors associated with hospital readmission dynamics in community-acquired COVID-19 cases.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on hospitals worldwide. In such a context of tension in healthcare systems, efficiently allocating hospital resources is a crucial aspect of crisis management. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of readmitted patients and to determine risk factors for hospital readmission using data from the Swiss COVID-19 Hospital-Based Surveillance system (CH-SUR).

Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections-Online Questionnaire: Status Quo in Central European Urological Management of Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infection.

Background And Objective: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) represent a significant burden in health care and its management is challenging. This study aims to assess and compare central European CAUTIs regarding diagnostics, treatment, and prophylaxis.

Methods: An anonymized online questionnaire was distributed among urologists in Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland between January and October 2023, consisting of demographic questions on catheter management and diagnostics, treatment, and prophylaxis of CAUTIs.

Prospective One-Health investigation into low-abundant extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacterales enables detection of potential dissemination events and persistence.

Background: Following a one-health approach, we sought to determine reservoirs of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE), other than Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae complex species (i.e., low-abundant species), and their associated ESBL genes and plasmid-replicon profiles.

Secondary attack rate following on-site isolation of patients with suspected COVID-19 in multiple-bed rooms.

The implementation of isolation precautions for patients with suspected Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and pending test results is resource intensive. Due to the limited availability of single-bed rooms at our institution, we isolated patients with suspected COVID-19 together with patients without suspected COVID-19 on-site in multiple-bed rooms until SARS-CoV-2-test results were available. We evaluated the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to individuals sharing the room with patients isolated on-site.

Association of institutional masking policies with healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections in Swiss acute care hospitals during the BA.4/5 wave (CH-SUR study): a retrospective observational study.

Background: In the initial phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, masking has been widely accepted in healthcare institutions to mitigate the risk of healthcare-associated infection. Evidence, however, is still scant and the role of masks in preventing healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 acquisition remains unclear.We investigated the association of variation in institutional mask policies with healthcare-associated SARS-CoV-2 infections in acute care hospitals in Switzerland during the BA.

Diphtheria in a Swiss Asylum Seeker Reception Centre: Outbreak Investigation and Evaluation of Testing and Vaccination Strategies.

To describe a suspected diphtheria outbreak in a Swiss asylum seeker reception centre, and to analyse its management response regarding testing and vaccination. We retrospectively analysed clinical, microbiology, and case management data of all asylum seekers tested for between 28th August and 31st December 2022 while residing at the centre. Results are reported descriptively.

Influenza transmission dynamics quantified from RNA in wastewater in Switzerland.

Introduction: Influenza infections are challenging to monitor at the population level due to many mild and asymptomatic cases and similar symptoms to other common circulating respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Methods for tracking cases outside of typical reporting infrastructure could improve monitoring of influenza transmission dynamics. Influenza shedding into wastewater represents a promising source of information where quantification is unbiased by testing or treatment-seeking behaviours.

Assessing the rationale of prescribing carbapenems among hospitalized patients with documented penicillin allergy: implications for stewardship.

Background: A reported history of penicillin allergy frequently leads to the prescription of carbapenems as a substitute for penicillin to avoid allergic reactions. Such self-reported allergies need to be accurately characterized to identify targeted antibiotic stewardship interventions that potentially minimize unnecessary carbapenem use.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.