scholarly journals A Guide to Investigating Suspected Outbreaks of Mucormycosis in Healthcare

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen P. Hartnett ◽  
Brendan R. Jackson ◽  
Kiran M. Perkins ◽  
Janet Glowicz ◽  
Janna L. Kerins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Single Source ◽  
Environmental Assessments ◽  
Infection Control Measures

This report serves as a guide for investigating mucormycosis infections in healthcare. We describe lessons learned from previous outbreaks and offer methods and tools that can aid in these investigations. We also offer suggestions for conducting environmental assessments, implementing infection control measures, and initiating surveillance to ensure that interventions were effective. While not all investigations of mucormycosis infections will identify a single source, all can potentially lead to improvements in infection control.

scholarly journals Two cases of cholera O1 in South Batinah, Oman, April 2019: lessons learned

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. e2019033
Author(s):  
Zayid K. Al Mayahi ◽  
Nasser Al-Shaqsi ◽  
Hamid A. Elmutashi ◽  
Ali Al-Dhoyani ◽  
Azza Al Hattali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Care Level ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Primary Care Level ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Detection Point

Cholera represents an ongoing threat to many low-income and middle-income countries, but some cases of cholera even occur in high-income countries. Therefore, to prevent or combat cholera outbreaks, it is necessary to maintain the capacity to rapidly detect cholera cases, implement infection control measures, and improve general hygiene in terms of the environment, water, and food. The 2 cases, 1 imported and 1 secondary, described herein are broadly indicative of areas that require improvement. These cases were missed at the primary health care stage, which should be the first detection point even for unusual diseases such as cholera, and the absence of strict infection control practices at the primary care level is believed to contribute to secondary cases of infection. This report also encourages countries to ensure that rapid diagnostic stool tests are available to enable quick detection, as well as to provide information to people travelling to areas where cholera is endemic.

scholarly journals Overcoming Current and Preventing Future Nosocomial Outbreaks during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned at Three Hospitals in Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10226
Author(s):  
Makiko Komasawa ◽  
Myo Nyein Aung ◽  
Kiyoko Saito ◽  
Mitsuo Isono ◽  
Go Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Practical Knowledge ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Health Care Delivery Systems ◽  
And Control

Hospitals are increasingly challenged by nosocomial infection (NI) outbreaks during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although standardized guidelines and manuals regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are available worldwide, case-studies conducted at specified hospitals that are required to cope with real settings are limited. In this study, we analyzed three hospitals in Japan where large-scale NI outbreaks occurred for hints on how to prevent NI outbreaks. We reviewed openly available information from each hospital and analyzed it applying a three domain framework: operation management; identification of infection status; and infection control measures. We learned that despite having authorized infection control teams and using existing standardized IPC measures, SARS-CoV-2 may still enter hospitals. Early detection of suspected cases and confirmation by PCR test, carefully dealing with staff-to-staff transmission were the most essential factors to prevent NI outbreaks. It was also suggested that ordinary training on IPC for staff does not always provide enough practical knowledge and skills; in such cases external technical and operational supports are crucial. It is expected that our results will provide insights into preventing NI outbreaks of COVID-19, and contribute to mitigate the damage to health care delivery systems in various countries.

scholarly journals Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Emergence of a New Pandemic

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70
Author(s):  
Anjly Sheth ◽  
Frank Romanelli
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
New Agents ◽  
Indirect Contact ◽  
Antiviral Therapies ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Care Workers

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic depicted the vulnerability of man and tested our ability to respond to a global emergency. The SARS-coronavirus has been postulated to originate in animals and subsequently spread to and infect humans. It is transmissible via direct and indirect contact with infected persons or their environment. Poor infection control practices have been responsible for numerous outbreaks. In the human host, the virus can cause pulmonary sequelae and can result in death. Collaborative international efforts between health care workers and scientists led to the detection and isolation of the virus. Use of available antiviral therapies and implementation of strict infection control measures became pivotal for disease containment, as the discovery for new agents to eradicate the virus emerged. To date, novel preventative or curativemedications and vaccines are lacking. Lessons learned from this pandemic must be remembered, as the emergence of another unknown infectious disease can occur instantaneously and, once again, endanger mankind.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Care Clinic in a Medical Center: Lessons Learned

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110567
Author(s):  
Sidna M. Tulledge-Scheitel ◽  
Thomas A. Billings ◽  
Karen M. Fischer ◽  
Jason H. Homme ◽  
Jennifer M. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Patient Demographics ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Primary Care Practices ◽  
Age Range

Objective: The purpose of this report is to describe the elements of a Covid-19 Care Clinic (CCC), patient demographics, and outcomes. Methods: Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. This report is based on 4934 unique patients seen in the CCC who provided research authorization within a 10-month period of time (April 1, 2020-January 31, 2021). The CCC infection control processes consisted of a rooming process that mitigated SARS-COV-2 transmission, preparing examination rooms, using PPE by staff, in room lab drawing, and escorting services to minimize the time in clinic. Results: Of the 4934 unique patients seen (age range newborn-102 years), 76.8% were tested for COVID-19. Of those tested, 11.8% were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Ninety-two percent of the patients with the reason for the visit documented had COVID-19 type symptoms. Cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain were the most common presenting symptom in those with COVID-19. At the time of the visit in the CCC, 5.8% of the patients were actively contagious. Thirty days after being seen in the CCC, 9.1% of the patients were seen in the emergency department (ED) and 0.2% died. During the 10-month period there were no known occupationally related COVID-19 infections. Conclusion: The COVID-19 Care Clinic provided face-to-face access for all ages with COVID-19 type symptoms. A minority of patients had COVID-19 who were seen in the clinic. The clinic provided an additional venue of care outside of the ED. The infectious control measures employed were highly effective in protecting the staff. Lessons learned allow for decentralization of COVID-19 symptom care to the primary care practices employing the infection control measures.

Successive outbreaks of Group A streptococcus (GAS) in care of the elderly settings; lessons learned

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Inkster ◽  
P Wright ◽  
H Kane ◽  
E Paterson ◽  
S Dodd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Group A

Group A streptococcal (GAS) outbreaks in care of the elderly settings are rare. We describe two successive outbreaks involving care of the elderly patients. The first outbreak involved 18 patients and the second involved six patients and two healthcare workers. We describe the difficulties encountered controlling GAS outbreaks in care of the elderly settings and how the lessons learned from the first outbreak influenced management of the second incident. Stringent infection control measures including isolation until completion of treatment and re-screening for evidence of eradication were required to bring outbreak one under control. These measures were adopted early in outbreak two and we suspect that these measures and the rapid identification of carriers brought this second outbreak under control quickly.

scholarly journals Candida auris: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Infection Control Measures to Combat the Spread of Infections in Healthcare Facilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 807
Author(s):  
Suhail Ahmad ◽  
Wadha Alfouzan
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Infection Control Measures

Candida auris, a recently recognized, often multidrug-resistant yeast, has become a significant fungal pathogen due to its ability to cause invasive infections and outbreaks in healthcare facilities which have been difficult to control and treat. The extraordinary abilities of C. auris to easily contaminate the environment around colonized patients and persist for long periods have recently resulted in major outbreaks in many countries. C. auris resists elimination by robust cleaning and other decontamination procedures, likely due to the formation of ‘dry’ biofilms. Susceptible hospitalized patients, particularly those with multiple comorbidities in intensive care settings, acquire C. auris rather easily from close contact with C. auris-infected patients, their environment, or the equipment used on colonized patients, often with fatal consequences. This review highlights the lessons learned from recent studies on the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, susceptibility, and molecular basis of resistance to antifungal drugs and infection control measures to combat the spread of C. auris infections in healthcare facilities. Particular emphasis is given to interventions aiming to prevent new infections in healthcare facilities, including the screening of susceptible patients for colonization; the cleaning and decontamination of the environment, equipment, and colonized patients; and successful approaches to identify and treat infected patients, particularly during outbreaks.

Eye in COVID-19: A Brief Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mohsin Ali ◽  
Qudsia Anwar Dar ◽  
Zahid Kamal ◽  
Alishba Khan
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Transmission Route ◽  
Ocular Manifestation ◽  
Personal Protection ◽  
Personal Protection Equipment ◽  
Ocular Manifestations ◽  
Infection Control Measures

This is a brief review covering the currently available literature on ocular manifestations of COVID-19, andprevention strategies for ophthalmologists. A literature search was carried out of Pubmed, Google Scholar andWHO database of publications on COVID. Keywords used in the search were eye, ocular manifestations,ophthalmology, COVID-19, nCoV-2019, and coronavirus disease. All available articles were reviewed and thosepertinent to the study topic were included. Considering the dearth of information available, ophthalmology journals were also searched separately for relevant articles. Major ocular manifestation of COVID reported in literature is red eye, which usually presents before the onset of respiratory symptoms. Since the eye can be a possible transmission route for SARS-CoV-2, infection control measures should be undertaken by ophthalmologists, including use of personal protection equipment and eye/face covering. A framework for structuring ophthalmological services during the COVID pandemic is also presented in this review.

scholarly journals Estimating the consequences of a COVID-19 super spreader: A stochastic model of a night on the town

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110314
Author(s):  
Nils Henrik Kolnes ◽  
Snorre Nilsen Eikeland ◽  
Tor Albert Ersdal ◽  
Geir Sverre Braut
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Stochastic Model ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
The Town

A stochastic model estimated the consequences of a COVID-19 super spreader event occurring in the local municipality of Stavanger, Norway as a result of a night on the town. The model imposed different infection control regulations and compared these different scenarios. For Stavanger’s 161 locations of service, secondary transmissions from a super spreader event was estimated to infect a median of 37, requiring the quarantining of 200 guests given no infection control regulations, 23 and 167 when imposing social distancing regulations and other hygienic infection control measures, 7 infected and 63 quarantined guests with restrictions placed on the guest capacity, and 4 infected and 57 quarantined guests with both forms of restriction in use.

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