No reduced serum serotonin levels in patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Approximately 10-20% of patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), presenting with fatigue and neurocognitive dysfunction along various other symptoms. Recent studies suggested a possible role of a virally induced decrease in peripheral serotonin concentration in the pathogenesis of PASC. We set out to verify this finding in an independent and well-defined cohort of PASC patients from our post-COVID-19 outpatient clinic. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case-control study including 34 confirmed PASC patients and 14 healthy controls. Clinical assessment encompassed physician examination as well as questionnaire based evaluation. Eligibility required ongoing symptoms for at least 6 months post-PCR-confirmed infection, relevant fatigue (CFS ≥ 4), and no other medical conditions. Serum serotonin was determined by LC-MS/MS technique. RESULTS: Serum serotonin levels in PASC patients did not significantly differ from healthy controls. Most subjects had normal serotonin levels, with no subnormal readings. Subgroup analyses showed no significant differences in serotonin levels based according to predominant fatigue type, high overall fatigue score or depression severity. CONCLUSION: We postulate that peripheral serotonin is no reliable biomarker for PASC and that it should not be used in routine diagnostic. Therapy of PASC with serotonin-reuptake inhibitors or tryptophane supplementation should not be based solely on the assumption of lowered serotonin levels.

Epidemiological trends and susceptibility patterns of bloodstream infections caused by Enterococcus spp. in six German university hospitals: a prospectively evaluated multicentre cohort study from 2016 to 2020 of the R-Net study group.

PURPOSE: To analyse recent epidemiological trends of bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by Enterococcus spp. In adult patients admitted to tertiary care centres in Germany. METHODS: Epidemiological data from the multicentre R-NET study was analysed. Patients presenting with E. faecium or E. faecalis in blood cultures in six German tertiary care university hospitals between October 2016 and June 2020 were prospectively evaluated. In vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), the presence of vanA/vanB was confirmed via molecular methods. RESULTS: In the 4-year study period, 3001 patients with BSI due to Enterococcus spp. were identified. E. faecium was detected in 1830 patients (61%) and E. faecalis in 1229 patients (41%). Most BSI occurred in (sub-) specialties of internal medicine. The pooled incidence density of enterococcal BSI increased significantly (4.0-4.5 cases per 10,000 patient days), which was primarily driven by VRE BSI (0.5 to 1.0 cases per 10,000 patient days). In 2020, the proportion of VRE BSI was > 12% in all study sites (range, 12.8-32.2%). Molecular detection of resistance in 363 VRE isolates showed a predominance of the vanB gene (77.1%). CONCLUSION: This large multicentre study highlights an increase of BSI due to E. faecium, which was primarily driven by VRE. The high rates of hospital- and ICU-acquired VRE BSI point towards an important role of prior antibiotic exposure and invasive procedures as risk factors. Due to limited treatment options and high mortality rates of VRE BSI, the increasing incidence of VRE BSI is of major concern.

Imported Toxigenic Corynebacterium Diphtheriae in Refugees with Polymicrobial Skin Infections, Germany, 2022.

During August-December 2022, toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae was isolated from 25 refugees with skin infections and 2 refugees with asymptomatic throat colonization at a refugee reception center in Germany. None had systemic toxin-mediated illness. Of erosive/ulcerative skin infections, 96% were polymicrobial. Erosive/ulcerative wounds in refugees should undergo testing to rule out cutaneous diphtheria.

Association of ward-level antibiotic consumption with healthcare-associated Clostridioides difficile infections: an ecological study in five German university hospitals, 2017-2019.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the influence of antibiotic consumption on healthcare-associated healthcare onset (HAHO) Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in a German university hospital setting. METHODS: Monthly ward-level antibiotic consumption measured in DDD/100 patient days (pd) and CDI surveillance data from five university hospitals in the period 2017 through 2019 were analysed. Uni- and multivariable analyses were performed with generalized estimating equation models. RESULTS: A total of 225 wards with 7347 surveillance months and 4 036 602 pd participated. With 1184 HAHO-CDI cases, there was a median incidence density of 0.17/1000 pd (IQR 0.03-0.43) across all specialties, with substantial differences among specialties. Haematology-oncology wards showed the highest median incidence density (0.67/1000 pd, IQR 0.44-1.01), followed by medical ICUs (0.45/1000 pd, IQR 0.27-0.73) and medical general wards (0.32/1000 pd, IQR 0.18-0.53). Multivariable analysis revealed carbapenem (mostly meropenem) consumption to be the only antibiotic class associated with increased HAHO-CDI incidence density. Each carbapenem DDD/100 pd administered increased the HAHO-CDI incidence density by 1.3% [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.013; 95% CI 1.006-1.019]. Specialty-specific analyses showed this influence only to be valid for haematological-oncological wards. Overall, factors like ward specialty (e.g. haematology-oncology ward IRR 2.961, 95% CI 2.203-3.980) or other CDI cases on ward had a stronger influence on HAHO-CDI incidence density (e.g. community-associated CDI or unknown association case in same month IRR 1.476, 95% CI 1.242-1.755) than antibiotic consumption. CONCLUSIONS: In the German university hospital setting, monthly ward-level carbapenem consumption seems to increase the HAHO-CDI incidence density predominantly on haematological-oncological wards. Furthermore, other patient-specific factors seem to be equally important to control HAHO-CDI.

Antibiotic use in pediatric acute care hospitals: an analysis of antibiotic consumption data from Germany, 2013-2020.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs are effective tools for improving antibiotic prescription quality. Their implementation requires the regular surveillance of antibiotic consumption at the patient and institutional level. Our study captured and analyzed antibiotic consumption density (ACD) for hospitalized pediatric patients. METHOD: We collected antibacterial drug consumption data for 2020 from hospital pharmacies at 113 pediatric departments of acute care hospitals in Germany. ACD was calculated as defined daily dose (DDD, WHO/ATC Index 2019) per 100 patient days (pd). In addition, we analyzed the trends in antibiotic use during 2013-2020. RESULTS: In 2020, median ACD across all participating hospitals was 26.7 DDD/100 pd, (range: 10.1-79.2 DDD/100 pd). It was higher at university vs. non-university hospitals (38.6 vs. 25.2 DDD/100 pd, p < 0.0001). The highest use densities were seen on oncology wards and intensive care units at university hospitals (67.3 vs. 38.4 DDD/100 pd). During 2013-2020, overall ACD declined (- 10%) and cephalosporin prescriptions also decreased (- 36%). In 2020, cephalosporins nevertheless remained the most commonly dispensed class of antibiotics. Interhospital variability in cephalosporin/penicillin ratio was substantial. Antibiotics belonging to WHO AWaRe "Watch" and "Reserve" categories, including broad-spectrum penicillins (+ 31%), linezolid (+ 121%), and glycopeptides (+ 43%), increased over time. CONCLUSION: Significant heterogeneity in ACD and prescription of different antibiotic classes as well as high prescription rates for cephalosporins and an increased use of reserve antibiotics indicate improvable antibiotic prescribing quality. AMS programs should urgently prioritize these issues to reduce antimicrobial resistance.

Long-term follow-up after introduction of a systematic sexually transmitted infection screening program for men having sex with men living with HIV in a primary care setting: uptake, STI incidence, and risk factors for infection and reinfection.

PURPOSE: Annual screening for asymptomatic infections with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) is recommended by international guidelines in people living with HIV but uptake in routine care remains poor. This study analyzed the effects of the implementation of a CT/NG screening program in a primary HIV treatment center. METHODS: In this single-center cohort study, we included men having sex with men (MSM) living with HIV during the study period from January 2016 to December 2019. From January 2018 on, annual sexual health counseling including CT/NG screening was proactively offered to all MSM presenting at the center. CT/NG screening rates, test positivity rates and case detection rates in the years 2018 and 2019 were compared to those in the years 2016 and 2017. RESULTS: A total of 234 patients were enrolled in the study contributing to 798.7 patient years (py) during the four-year study period. Screening rates increased from 3.1% and 3.9% in 2016 and 2017 to 51.1% in 2018 and decrease to 35.4% in 2019. Over the study period, 19.7% (46/234) had at least one positive CT/NG result. After the intervention, case detection per 100 py increased for CT (2016: 2.6, 2017: 3.7, 2018: 7.7, 2019: 7.1) and NG (2016: 3.2, 2017: 3.1, 2018: 5.3, 2019: 7.6). The number needed to test was 8.9 for CT and 10.4 for NG. CONCLUSION: Regular CT/NG screening is feasible in a primary care setting, leads to an increase in case detection and may contribute to decrease transmission and complications of CT/NG. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02149004).

Tick-borne encephalitis virus IgG antibody surveillance: vaccination- and infection-induced seroprevalences, south-western Germany, 2021.

BackgroundThe exact epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infections is unknown because many TBEV infections have an influenza-like or asymptomatic course. Surveillance data are based on patients with any (predominantly neurological) symptoms that prompted diagnostic testing. Infection- and vaccine-induced antibodies against TBEV can be distinguished using an NS1 IgG ELISA.AimIn a seroprevalence study we aimed to investigate TBEV antibody prevalence, incidences, manifestation indices and potential protection rates in a highly endemic district in south-western Germany.MethodsWe analysed 2,220 samples from healthy blood donors collected between May and September 2021. The reported number of TBEV infections was provided on a sub-district level by the local public health authorities. Blood samples were first screened using a TBEV IgG ELISA. In a second step, all positive samples were further analysed with a recently established NS1 IgG ELISA. The presence of specific antibodies against TBEV (excluding cross-reacting antibodies against other flaviviruses) was confirmed by testing screening-positive samples with a microneutralisation assay.ResultsOf 2,220 included samples, 1,257 (57%) tested positive by TBEV IgG ELISA and 125 tested positive for infection-induced TBEV NS1 antibodies, resulting in a TBEV NS1 IgG seroprevalence at 5.6% in our population. The yearly incidence based on the NS1 ELISA findings resulted in 283 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.ConclusionUsing the TBEV NS1 IgG assay, we confirmed a manifestation index of ca 2% and a high incidence of predominantly silent TBEV infections (> 250/100,000/year), which exceeds the incidence of notified cases (4.7/100,000/year) considerably.

Impact of single-room contact precautions on acquisition and transmission of vancomycin-resistant enterococci on haematological and oncological wards, multicentre cohort-study, Germany, January-December 2016.

BackgroundEvidence supporting the effectiveness of single-room contact precautions (SCP) in preventing in-hospital acquisition of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (haVRE) is limited.AimWe assessed the impact of SCP on haVRE and their transmission.MethodsWe conducted a prospective, multicentre cohort study in German haematological/oncological departments during 2016. Two sites performed SCP for VRE patients and two did not (NCP). We defined a 5% haVRE-risk difference as non-inferiority margin, screened patients for VRE, and characterised isolates by whole genome sequencing and core genome MLST (cgMLST). Potential confounders were assessed by competing risk regression analysis.ResultsWe included 1,397 patients at NCP and 1,531 patients at SCP sites. Not performing SCP was associated with a significantly higher proportion of haVRE; 12.2% (170/1,397) patients at NCP and 7.4% (113/1,531) patients at SCP sites (relative risk (RR) 1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35-2.23). The difference (4.8%) was below the non-inferiority margin. Competing risk regression analysis indicated a stronger impact of antimicrobial exposure (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) 7.46; 95% CI: 4.59-12.12) and underlying disease (SHR for acute leukaemia 2.34; 95% CI: 1.46-3.75) on haVRE than NCP (SHR 1.60; 95% CI: 1.14-2.25). Based on cgMLST and patient movement data, we observed 131 patient-to-patient VRE transmissions at NCP and 85 at SCP sites (RR 1.76; 95% CI: 1.33-2.34).ConclusionsWe show a positive impact of SCP on haVRE in a high-risk population, although the observed difference was below the pre-specified non-inferiority margin. Importantly, other factors including antimicrobial exposure seem to be more influential.

Impact of Immunosuppressive Agents on Clinical Manifestations and Outcome of Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis in 2 Large, Prospectively Evaluated Cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (SAB) is a common, life-threatening infection. The impact of immunosuppressive agents on the outcome of patients with SAB is incompletely understood. METHODS: Data from 2 large prospective, international, multicenter cohort studies (Invasive Staphylococcus aureus Infections Cohort [INSTINCT] and International Staphylococcus aureus Collaboration [ISAC]) between 2006 and 2015 were analyzed. Patients receiving immunosuppressive agents were identified and a 1:1 propensity score-matched analysis was performed to adjust for baseline characteristics of patients. Overall survival and time to SAB-related late complications (SAB relapse, infective endocarditis, osteomyelitis, or other deep-seated manifestations) were analyzed by Cox regression and competing risk analyses, respectively. This approach was then repeated for specific immunosuppressive agents (corticosteroid monotherapy and immunosuppressive agents other than steroids [IMOTS]). RESULTS: Of 3188 analyzed patients, 309 were receiving immunosuppressive treatment according to our definitions and were matched to 309 nonimmunosuppressed patients. After propensity score matching, baseline characteristics were well balanced. In the Cox regression analysis, we observed no significant difference in survival between the 2 groups (death during follow-up: 105/309 [33.9%] immunosuppressed vs 94/309 [30.4%] nonimmunosuppressed; hazard ratio [HR], 1.20 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .84-1.71]). Competing risk analysis showed a cause-specific HR of 1.81 (95% CI, .85-3.87) for SAB-related late complications in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents. The cause-specific HR was higher in patients taking IMOTS (3.69 [95% CI, 1.41-9.68]). CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppressive agents were not associated with an overall higher mortality. The risk for SAB-related late complications in patients receiving specific immunosuppressive agents such as IMOTS warrants further investigations.

New Topoisomerase Inhibitors: Evaluating the Potency of Gepotidacin and Zoliflodacin in Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli upon tolC Inactivation and Differentiating Their Efflux Pump Substrate Nature.

Inactivating tolC in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli with differing sequence types and quinolone resistance-determining mutations reveals remarkably potentiated activity of the first-in-class topoisomerase inhibitors gepotidacin and zoliflodacin. Differences between both structurally unrelated compounds in comparison to fluoroquinolones regarding the selectivity of E. coli RND (resistance-nodulation-cell division)-type transporters, efflux inhibitors, and AcrB porter domain mutations were demonstrated. The findings should reinforce efforts to develop efflux-bypassing drugs and provide AcrB targets with critical relevance for this purpose.

Limited Multidrug Resistance Efflux Pump Overexpression among Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Strains of ST131.

Gram-negative bacteria partly rely on efflux pumps to facilitate growth under stressful conditions and to increase resistance to a wide variety of commonly used drugs. In recent years, Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131) has emerged as a major cause of extraintestinal infection frequently exhibiting a multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. The contribution of efflux to MDR in emerging E. coli MDR clones, however, is not well studied. We characterized strains from an international collection of clinical MDR E. coli isolates by MIC testing with and without the addition of the AcrAB-TolC efflux inhibitor 1-(1-naphthylmethyl)-piperazine (NMP). MIC data for 6 antimicrobial agents and their reversion by NMP were analyzed by principal-component analysis (PCA). PCA revealed a group of 17 MDR E. coli isolates (n = 34) exhibiting increased susceptibility to treatment with NMP, suggesting an enhanced contribution of efflux pumps to antimicrobial resistance in these strains (termed enhanced efflux phenotype [EEP] strains). Only 1/17 EEP strains versus 12/17 non-EEP MDR strains belonged to the ST131 clonal group. Whole-genome sequencing revealed marked differences in efflux-related genes between EEP and control strains, with the majority of notable amino acid substitutions occurring in AcrR, MarR, and SoxR. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) of multiple efflux-related genes showed significant overexpression of the AcrAB-TolC system in EEP strains, whereas in the remaining strains, we found enhanced expression of alternative efflux proteins. We conclude that a proportion of MDR E. coli strains exhibit an EEP, which is linked to an overexpression of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump and a distinct array of genomic variations. Members of ST131, although highly successful, are less likely to exhibit the EEP.

Enterococcus faecalis bloodstream infection: does infectious disease specialist consultation make a difference?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between mortality or relapse of bloodstream infection (BSI) due to Enterococcus faecalis and infectious diseases specialist consultation (IDC) and other factors potentially associated with outcomes. METHODS: In a tertiary-care center, consecutive adult patients with E. faecalis BSI between January 1, 2016 and January 31, 2019, were prospectively followed. The management of E. faecalis BSI was evaluated in terms of adherence to evidence-based quality-of-care indicators (QCIs). IDC and other factors potentially associated with 90-day-mortality or relapse of E. faecalis BSI were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 151 patients with a median age of 68 years were studied. IDC was performed in 38% of patients with E. faecalis BSI. 30 cases of endocarditis (20%) were diagnosed. All-cause in-hospital mortality was 23%, 90-day mortality was 37%, and 90-day relapsing E. faecalis BSI was 8%. IDC was significantly associated with better adherence to 5 QCIs. Factors significantly associated with 90-day mortality or relapsing EfB in multivariate analysis were severe sepsis or septic shock at onset (HR 4.32, CI 2.36e7.88) and deep-seated focus of infection (superficial focus HR 0.33, CI 0.14e0.76). CONCLUSION: Enterococcus faecalis bacteremia is associated with a high mortality. IDC contributed to improved diagnostic and therapeutic management.

Assessing the differential impact of chronic CMV and treated HIV infection on CD8+ T-cell differentiation in a matched cohort study: is CMV the key?

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the main driving forces of T-cell senescence in the general population, whereas its differential impact in people living with HIV (PLWH) is less well characterized. The study explores the effect of latent CMV infection on T-cell subsets, monocyte/macrophages activation markers, and CRP in PLWH on long-term ART. METHODS: Cross-sectional cohort study including PLWH on long-term suppressive ART. Individuals of 4 groups (HIV+CMV-, HIV+CMV+, HIV-CMV+, and HIV-CMV-) were matched 1:1:1:1 for age and sex. Immunophenotyping of lymphocyte and T-cell subsets by multicolor flow cytometry was performed in fresh blood samples collected from patients and healthy donors. RESULTS: Both, latent CMV and treated HIV infection were associated with an expansion of CD8 T cells, a reduced CD4/CD8 ratio, and with CD8 T-cell activation with a cumulative effect in CMV/HIV-coinfected individuals. CMV was associated with elevated numbers of late effector and terminally differentiated CD8 T-cells. Compared to CMV monoinfection, CMV/HIV coinfection showed to be associated with lower proportion of CD28-CD8+ T cells expressing CD57 suggesting that HIV preferentially expands CD28-CD57-CD8+ T cells and impedes terminal differentiation of CD28-CD8+ T cells. We could not show any association between HIV or CMV infection status and concentration of CRP and CD163. CONCLUSIONS: CMV infection is associated with phenotypic signs of T-cell senescence, promoting exacerbation and persistence of alterations of the T-cell compartment in PLWH on effective ART, which are associated with adverse clinical outcomes and may be an attractive target for therapeutic interventions.

Organization of antibiotic stewardship in Europe: the way to go.

It is more than two decades ago that a European Union conference on "The Microbial Threat" hosted by the Danish Government in Copenhagen in September 1998 issued recommendations to encourage good practice in the use of antimicrobial agents and reduce inappropriate prescribing. Essential components of those recommendations were antimicrobial teams in hospitals and the use of feedback to prescribers as well as educational activities. Two decades later, important surveillance systems on both antimicrobial resistance as well as on antibiotic consumption are functioning at the European level and in most European countries; European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) has thoroughly re-evaluated, standardized and harmonized antibiotic susceptibility testing and breakpoints; there have been educational activities in many countries; and stewardship teams are now included in many guidelines and policy papers and recommendations. Yet, antimicrobial resistance problems in Europe have shifted from methicillin-resistant Staphylococus aureus (MRSA) to vancomycin-resistent Enterococcus faecium (VRE) and to multidrug-resistant gramnegative bacteria, while antibiotic consumption volumes, trends and patterns across countries do not show major and highly significant improvements. The way to go further is to recognize that better prescribing comes at a cost and requires investment in expert personnel, practice guideline drafting, and implementation aids, and, secondly, the setting of clear goals and quantitative targets for prescribing quality.

Combination therapy with rifampicin or fosfomycin in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection at high risk for complications or relapse: results of a large prospective observational cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (SAB) patients at high risk for complications or relapse benefit from combination therapy with adjunctive rifampicin or fosfomycin. METHODS: In this post hoc analysis, SAB patients with native valve infective endocarditis, osteoarticular infections or implanted foreign devices were included. The co-primary endpoints were all-cause 90 day mortality and death or SAB-related late complications within 180 days. To overcome treatment selection bias and account for its time dependence, inverse probability of treatment weights were calculated and included in marginal structural Cox proportional hazard models (MSCMs). RESULTS: A total of 578 patients were included in the analysis, of which 313 (54%) received combination therapy with either rifampicin (n = 242) or fosfomycin (n = 58). In the multivariable MSCM, combination therapy was associated with a better outcome, that is, a lower rate of death or SAB-related late complications within 180 days (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.46-0.92). This beneficial effect was primarily seen in patients with implanted foreign devices, in which combination therapy was associated with a lower rate of death or SAB-related late complications within 180 days (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.35-0.79) and a lower 90 day mortality (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.91). Upon agent-specific stratification, we found no significant differences in outcomes between combination therapy containing rifampicin and fosfomycin; however, the number of patients in most subgroups was not large enough to draw firm conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with implanted foreign devices, combination therapy was associated with a better long-term outcome. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

Prevalence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales colonization on hospital admission and ESBL genotype-specific risk factors: a cross-sectional study in six German university hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the admission prevalence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (3GCREB) and to assess whether risk factors vary by ß-lactamase genotype. METHODS: Adult patients were recruited within 72 h of admission to general wards of six university hospitals in 2014 and 2015. Rectal swabs were screened for 3GCREB and isolates were analysed phenotypically and genotypically. Patients were questioned on potential risk factors. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify risk factors for 3GCREB colonization and for specific ß-lactamases. RESULTS: Of 8753 patients screened, 828 were 3GCREB positive (9.5%). Eight hundred and thirteen isolates were available for genotyping. CTX-M-15 was the most common ESBL (38.0%), followed by CTX-M-1 (22.5%), CTX-M-14 (8.7%), CTX-M-27 (7.5%) and SHV-ESBL (4.4%). AmpC was found in 11.9%. Interestingly, 18 Escherichia coli isolates were AmpC positive, 12 of which (67%) contained AmpC on a gene of plasmid origin [CMY (n = 10), DHA (n = 2)]. Risk factors for 3GCREB colonization varied by genotype. Recent antibiotic exposure and prior colonization by antibiotic-resistant bacteria were risk factors for all ß-lactamases except CTX-M-14 and CTX-M-27. Travel outside Europe was a risk factor for CTX-M-15 and CTX-M-27 [adjusted OR (aOR) 3.49, 95% CI 2.88-4.24 and aOR 2.73, 95% CI 1.68-4.43]. A previous stay in a long-term care facility was associated with CTX-M-14 (aOR 3.01, 95% CI 1.98-4.59). A preceding hospital stay in Germany increased the risk of CTX-M-15 (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.14-1.41), while a prior hospital stay in other European countries increased the risk of SHV-ESBL colonization (aOR 3.85, 95% CI 1.67-8.92). CONCLUSIONS: The detection of different ESBL types is associated with specific risk factor sets that might represent distinct sources of colonization and ESBL-specific dissemination routes.

A behavioural approach to specifying interventions: what insights can be gained for the reporting and implementation of interventions to reduce antibiotic use in hospitals?

BACKGROUND: Reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure is a key strategy in reducing the development and selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions are inherently complex, often requiring multiple healthcare professionals to change multiple behaviours at multiple timepoints along the care pathway. Inaction can arise when roles and responsibilities are unclear. A behavioural perspective can offer insights to maximize the chances of successful implementation. OBJECTIVES: To apply a behavioural framework [the Target Action Context Timing Actors (TACTA) framework] to existing evidence about hospital AMS interventions to specify which key behavioural aspects of interventions are detailed. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and interrupted time series (ITS) studies with a focus on reducing unnecessary exposure to antibiotics were identified from the most recent Cochrane review of interventions to improve hospital AMS. The TACTA framework was applied to published intervention reports to assess the extent to which key details were reported about what behaviour should be performed, who is responsible for doing it and when, where, how often and with whom it should be performed. RESULTS: The included studies (n = 45; 31 RCTs and 14 ITS studies with 49 outcome measures) reported what should be done, where and to whom. However, key details were missing about who should act (45%) and when (22%). Specification of who should act was missing in 79% of 15 interventions to reduce duration of treatment in continuing-care wards. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of precise specification within AMS interventions limits the generalizability and reproducibility of evidence, hampering efforts to implement AMS interventions in practice.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium colonizing patients on hospital admission in Germany: prevalence and molecular epidemiology.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the rectal carriage rate and the molecular epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) recovered from patients upon hospital admission. METHODS: Adult patients were screened at six German university hospitals from five different federal states upon hospital admission for rectal colonization with VREfm between 2014 and 2018. Molecular characterization of VREfm was performed by WGS followed by MLST and core-genome MLST analysis. RESULTS: Of 16350 patients recruited, 263 were colonized with VREfm, with increasing prevalence rates during the 5 year study period (from 0.8% to 2.6%). In total, 78.5% of the VREfm were vanB positive and 20.2% vanA positive, while 1.2% harboured both vanA and vanB. The predominant ST was ST117 (56.7%) followed by ST80 (15%), ST203 (10.9%), ST78 (5.7%) and ST17 (3.2%). ST117/vanB VREfm isolates formed a large cluster of 96 closely related isolates extending across all six study centres and four smaller clusters comprising 13, 5, 4 and 3 isolates each. In contrast, among the other STs inter-regional clonal relatedness was rarely observed. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the largest admission prevalence and molecular epidemiology study of VREfm. These data provide insight into the epidemiology of VREfm at six German university hospitals and demonstrate the remarkable inter-regional clonal expansion of the ST117/vanB VREfm clone.

Spatial distribution and incidence trend of human alveolar echinococcosis in southwest Germany: increased incidence and urbanization of the disease?

Ecology and epidemiology of Echinococcus multilocularis and human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) are changing in Central Europe. Our data from a regional referral center for AE in southwest Germany suggest rising regional incidence for AE (annual incidence per 100,000 population 2004-2011: 0.12; 2012-2019: 0.20) and emerging urban AE (of 7 cases of AE in Freiburg city dwellers none was diagnosed before 2012) calling for an intensification of E. multilocularis and AE surveillance and of AE prevention measures.

Patient satisfaction & use of health care: a cross-sectional study of asylum seekers in the Freiburg initial reception centre.

BACKGROUND: In response to a high number of incoming asylum seekers and refugees (AS&R) in Germany, initial reception centres were established to provide immediate shelter, food and health support. This study evaluates the satisfaction with and use of the health care available at the Freiburg initial reception centre (FIRC) where an integrated health care facility (ICF) was set up in 2015. METHODS: We assessed use and satisfaction with health services available to resident AS&R within and outside the FIRC in a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in 2017 using a questionnaire with both open and closed ended items. RESULTS: The majority of 102 included participants were young (mean age 24.2; 95%CI 22.9-25.5, range 18-43) males (93%), from Sub-Saharan Africa (92%). High use frequencies were reported from returning patients of the ICF; with 56% fortnightly use and 19% daily use reported. The summary of satisfaction scores indicated that 84% (CI95 76-89%) of respondents were satisfied with the ICF. Multivariate analysis showed female gender and non-English speaking as risk factors for low satisfaction. Outside the FIRC, the satisfaction scores indicated that 60% of participants (95%CI 50-69%) were satisfied with the health care received. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that AS&R residing in the FIRC are generally satisfied with the services at the ICF, though strategies to enhance care for females and non-English speakers should be implemented. Satisfaction with health care outside of the FIRC was not as high, indicating the need to improve quality of care and linkage to regular health care services.