1. |
- Dave, Nishi, et al.
(author)
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Nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections and mortality during unique COVID-19 epidemic waves
- 2023
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In: JAMA Network Open. - : American Medical Association (AMA). - 2574-3805. ; 6:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Importance: Quantifying the burden of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections and associated mortality is necessary to assess the need for infection prevention and control measures.Objective: To investigate the occurrence of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections and associated 30-day mortality among patients admitted to hospitals in Region Stockholm, Sweden.Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective, matched cohort study divided the period from March 1, 2020, until September 15, 2022, into a prevaccination period, early vaccination and pre-Omicron (period 1), and late vaccination and Omicron (period 2). From among 303 898 patients 18 years or older living in Region Stockholm, 538 951 hospital admissions across all hospitals were included. Hospitalized admissions with nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections were matched to as many as 5 hospitalized admissions without nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 by age, sex, length of stay, admission time, and hospital unit.Exposure: Nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection defined as the first positive polymerase chain reaction test result at least 8 days after hospital admission or within 2 days after discharge.Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcome of 30-day mortality was analyzed using time-to-event analyses with a Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for age, sex, educational level, and comorbidities.Results: Among 2193 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections or reinfections (1107 women [50.5%]; median age, 80 [IQR, 71-87] years), 2203 nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified. The incidence rate of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections was 1.57 (95% CI, 1.51-1.64) per 1000 patient-days. In the matched cohort, 1487 hospital admissions with nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections were matched to 5044 hospital admissions without nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections. Thirty-day mortality was higher in the prevaccination period (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 2.97 [95% CI, 2.50-3.53]) compared with period 1 (AHR, 2.08 [95% CI, 1.50-2.88]) or period 2 (AHR, 1.22 [95% CI, 0.92-1.60]). Among patients with nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections, 30-day AHR comparing those with 2 or more doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and those with less than 2 doses was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.46-0.88).Conclusions and Relevance: In this matched cohort study, nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections were associated with higher 30-day mortality during the early phases of the pandemic and lower mortality during the Omicron variant wave and after the introduction of vaccinations. Mitigation of excess mortality risk from nosocomial transmission should be a strong focus when population immunity is low through implementation of adequate infection prevention and control measures.
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2. |
- Karlsson Valik, John, et al.
(author)
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Validation of automated sepsis surveillance based on the Sepsis-3 clinical criteria against physician record review in a general hospital population : observational study using electronic health records data
- 2020
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In: BMJ Quality and Safety. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-5415 .- 2044-5423. ; 29:9, s. 735-745
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Surveillance of sepsis incidence is important for directing resources and evaluating quality-of-care interventions. The aim was to develop and validate a fully-automated Sepsis-3 based surveillance system in non-intensive care wards using electronic health record (EHR) data, and demonstrate utility by determining the burden of hospital-onset sepsis and variations between wards.Methods: A rule-based algorithm was developed using EHR data from a cohort of all adult patients admitted at an academic centre between July 2012 and December 2013. Time in intensive care units was censored. To validate algorithm performance, a stratified random sample of 1000 hospital admissions (674 with and 326 without suspected infection) was classified according to the Sepsis-3 clinical criteria (suspected infection defined as having any culture taken and at least two doses of antimicrobials administered, and an increase in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score by >2 points) and the likelihood of infection by physician medical record review.Results: In total 82 653 hospital admissions were included. The Sepsis-3 clinical criteria determined by physician review were met in 343 of 1000 episodes. Among them, 313 (91%) had possible, probable or definite infection. Based on this reference, the algorithm achieved sensitivity 0.887 (95% CI: 0.799 to 0.964), specificity 0.985 (95% CI: 0.978 to 0.991), positive predictive value 0.881 (95% CI: 0.833 to 0.926) and negative predictive value 0.986 (95% CI: 0.973 to 0.996). When applied to the total cohort taking into account the sampling proportions of those with and without suspected infection, the algorithm identified 8599 (10.4%) sepsis episodes. The burden of hospital-onset sepsis (>48 hour after admission) and related in-hospital mortality varied between wards.Conclusions: A fully-automated Sepsis-3 based surveillance algorithm using EHR data performed well compared with physician medical record review in non-intensive care wards, and exposed variations in hospital-onset sepsis incidence between wards.
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3. |
- Naucler, Pontus, et al.
(author)
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HAI-Proactive : Development of an Automated Surveillance System for Healthcare-Associated Infections in Sweden
- 2020
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In: Infection control and hospital epidemiology. - : Cambridge University Press. - 0899-823X .- 1559-6834. ; 41, s. S39-S39
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance is essential for most infection prevention programs and continuous epidemiological data can be used to inform healthcare personal, allocate resources, and evaluate interventions to prevent HAIs. Many HAI surveillance systems today are based on time-consuming and resource-intensive manual reviews of patient records. The objective of HAI-proactive, a Swedish triple-helix innovation project, is to develop and implement a fully automated HAI surveillance system based on electronic health record data. Furthermore, the project aims to develop machine-learning–based screening algorithms for early prediction of HAI at the individual patient level. Methods: The project is performed with support from Sweden’s Innovation Agency in collaboration among academic, health, and industry partners. Development of rule-based and machine-learning algorithms is performed within a research database, which consists of all electronic health record data from patients admitted to the Karolinska University Hospital. Natural language processing is used for processing free-text medical notes. To validate algorithm performance, manual annotation was performed based on international HAI definitions from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Sepsis-3 criteria. Currently, the project is building a platform for real-time data access to implement the algorithms within Region Stockholm. Results: The project has developed a rule-based surveillance algorithm for sepsis that continuously monitors patients admitted to the hospital, with a sensitivity of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.85–0.93), a specificity of 0.99 (0.98–0.99), a positive predictive value of 0.88 (0.83–0.93), and a negative predictive value of 0.99 (0.98–0.99). The healthcare-associated urinary tract infection surveillance algorithm, which is based on free-text analysis and negations to define symptoms, had a sensitivity of 0.73 (0.66–0.80) and a positive predictive value of 0.68 (0.61–0.75). The sensitivity and positive predictive value of an algorithm based on significant bacterial growth in urine culture only was 0.99 (0.97–1.00) and 0.39 (0.34–0.44), respectively. The surveillance system detected differences in incidences between hospital wards and over time. Development of surveillance algorithms for pneumonia, catheter-related infections and Clostridioides difficile infections, as well as machine-learning–based models for early prediction, is ongoing. We intend to present results from all algorithms. Conclusions: With access to electronic health record data, we have shown that it is feasible to develop a fully automated HAI surveillance system based on algorithms using both structured data and free text for the main healthcare-associated infections.Funding: Sweden’s Innovation Agency and Stockholm County CouncilDisclosures: None
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4. |
- Beeton, Michael L., et al.
(author)
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, 11 countries in Europe and Israel, 2011 to 2016
- 2020
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In: Eurosurveillance. - : EUR CENTRE DIS PREVENTION & CONTROL. - 1025-496X .- 1560-7917. ; 25:2, s. 39-51
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia, with large epidemics previously described to occur every 4 to 7 years.Aim: To better understand the diagnostic methods used to detect M. pneumoniae; to better understand M. pneumoniae testing and surveillance in use; to identify epidemics; to determine detection number per age group, age demographics for positive detections, concurrence of epidemics and annual peaks across geographical areas; and to determine the effect of geographical location on the timing of epidemics.Methods: A questionnaire was sent in May 2016 to Mycoplasma experts with national or regional responsibility within the ESCMID Study Group for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections in 17 countries across Europe and Israel, retrospectively requesting details on M. pneumoniae-positive samples from January 2011 to April 2016. The Moving Epidemic Method was used to determine epidemic periods and effect of country latitude across the countries for the five periods under investigation.Results: Representatives from 12 countries provided data on M. pneumoniae infections, accounting for 95,666 positive samples. Two laboratories initiated routine macrolide resistance testing since 2013. Between 2011 and 2016, three epidemics were identified: 2011/12, 2014/15 and 2015/16. The distribution of patient ages for M. pneumoniae-positive samples showed three patterns. During epidemic years, an association between country latitude and calendar week when epidemic periods began was noted.Conclusions: An association between epidemics and latitude was observed. Differences were noted in the age distribution of positive cases and detection methods used and practice. A lack of macrolide resistance monitoring was noted.
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5. |
- Edlund, Charlotta, et al.
(author)
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The clinical and microbiological efficacy of temocillin versus cefotaxime in adults with febrile urinary tract infection, and its effects on the intestinal microbiota : a randomised multicentre clinical trial in Sweden
- 2022
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In: The Lancet - Infectious diseases. - : Elsevier. - 1473-3099 .- 1474-4457. ; 22:3, s. 390-400
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Use of third-generation cephalosporins, such as cefotaxime, is associated with an increased risk of selection for antimicrobial resistance, so alternative antibiotics need to be considered. The aim of the present study was to evaluate intestinal colonisation with third-generation cephalosporin-resistant pathogens following use of temocillin-an alternative antibiotic to cefotaxime that is potentially less prone to disturbing the intestinal microbiota-in empirical treatment of febrile urinary tract infection (UTI).METHODS: We did a randomised, multicentre, superiority, open-label phase 4 trial in patients who had been admitted to inpatient care in 12 Swedish hospitals with suspected or diagnosed febrile UTI (complicated or uncomplicated). To meet inclusion criteria, a patient was required to have at least one sign or symptom of pyelonephritis (ie, flank pain; costovertebral angle tenderness; and changes to urinary frequency or urgency or dysuria), a fever of 38·0°C or higher, and a positive urine dipstick (for nitrites, white blood cells, or both). Participants were also required to have an indication for intravenous antibiotic treatment. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either 2 g temocillin or 1-2 g cefotaxime, by local investigators opening consecutive sealed randomisation envelopes that were generated centrally in advance. Both drugs were administered intravenously every 8 h. The trial was open label for investigators and patients, but those doing the microbiological analyses were masked to the groups. Participants were treated with antibiotics for 7-10 days (or up to 14 days if they had bacteraemia), at least 3 days of which were on the study drug; at day 4 and later, participants who were showing improvement could be given an oral antibiotic (ciprofloxacin, ceftibuten, cefixime, or co-trimoxazole). Patients not showing improvement were regarded as having treatment failures. Rectal swabs were collected at three timepoints: at baseline (before the first dose), after the last dose of study drug, and 7-10 days after treatment stopped. The composite primary outcome was colonisation with Enterobacterales with reduced susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporins, or colonisation with toxin-producing Clostridioides difficile, or both, to evaluate disturbance of the intestinal microbiota. The study is registered in the EU Clinical Trials Register (EudraCT 2015-003898-15).FINDINGS: Between May 20, 2016, and July 31, 2019, 207 patients were screened for eligibility, of whom 55 patients were excluded. 152 participants were randomly assigned to groups: 77 (51%) patients received temocillin, 75 (49%) patients received cefotaxime. The composite primary endpoint was met by 18 (26%) of 68 participants receiving temocillin versus 30 (48%) of 62 patients receiving cefotaxime (risk difference -22% [95% CI -42% to -3%]), showing superiority of temocillin versus cefotaxime (ie, less disturbance of the intestinal microbiota). 43 adverse events were reported in 40 (52%) of 77 patients in the temocillin group, versus 46 adverse events in 34 (45%) of 75 patients in the cefotaxime group. Most events were of mild to moderate severity. 21 (27%) patients in the temocillin and 17 (23%) patients in the cefotaxime group had an adverse event that was considered to be associated with the study drug.INTERPRETATION: Temocillin was found to be less selective than cefotaxime of Enterobacterales with reduced susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporins, and it could therefore be a favourable alternative in the empirical treatment of febrile UTI. Use of this antibiotic could reduce hospital transmission and health-care-associated infections by these pathogens.
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6. |
- van der Werff, S. D., et al.
(author)
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The accuracy of fully automated algorithms for surveillance of healthcare-associated urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients
- 2021
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In: Journal of Hospital Infection. - : Elsevier BV. - 0195-6701 .- 1532-2939. ; 110, s. 139-147
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Surveillance for healthcare-associated infections such as healthcareassociated urinary tract infections (HA-UTI) is important for directing resources and evaluating interventions. However, traditional surveillance methods are resourceintensive and subject to bias.Aim: To develop and validate a fully automated surveillance algorithm for HA-UTI using electronic health record (EHR) data.Methods: Five algorithms were developed using EHR data from 2979 admissions at Karolinska University Hospital from 2010 to 2011: (1) positive urine culture (UCx); (2) positive UCx + UTI codes (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision); (3) positive UCx + UTI-specific antibiotics; (4) positive UCx + fever and/or UTI symptoms; (5) algorithm 4 with negation for fever without UTI symptoms. Natural language processing (NLP) was used for processing free-text medical notes. The algorithms were validated in 1258 potential UTI episodes from January to March 2012 and results extrapolated to all UTI episodes within this period (N 1/4 16,712). The reference standard for HA-UTIs was manual record review according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) definitions by trained healthcare personnel.Findings: Of the 1258 UTI episodes, 163 fulfilled the ECDC HA-UTI definition and the algorithms classified 391, 150, 189, 194, and 153 UTI episodes, respectively, as HA-UTI. Algorithms 1, 2, and 3 had insufficient performances. Algorithm 4 achieved better performance and algorithm 5 performed best for surveillance purposes with sensitivity 0.667 (95% confidence interval: 0.594-0.733), specificity 0.997 (0.996-0.998), positive predictive value 0.719 (0.624-0.807) and negative predictive value 0.997 (0.996-0.997).Conclusion: A fully automated surveillance algorithm based on NLP to find UTI symptoms in free-text had acceptable performance to detect HA-UTI compared to manual record review. Algorithms based on administrative and microbiology data only were not sufficient.
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7. |
- Vähäsarja, Niko, et al.
(author)
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Incidence of infective endocarditis caused by viridans group streptococci in Sweden : effect of cessation of antibiotic prophylaxis in dentistry for risk individuals
- 2020
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In: Journal of Oral Microbiology. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2000-2297. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction In October 2012, the Swedish Medical Products Agency published new recommendations for the cessation of prophylactic antibiotics in dentistry for the prevention of infective endocarditis (IE). Previously, 2 g of amoxicillin per os would be administered 1 h before invasive dental procedures to patients with valve prosthesis, complicated heart valve disease, and to those with previous endocarditis. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the total incidence of IE caused by oral viridans group streptococci (VGS) or IE caused by staphylococci, increased in Sweden after the introduction of the new recommendations. Methods The incidence of IE in Sweden before and after October 2012 was calculated and compared using an interrupted time series analysis. Separate analyses were conducted for the total incidence of IE, and IE caused by VGS or Staphylococcus aureus. Cases of IE were identified using the Swedish national registry of IE, which has existed since 1995 and contains data from all Swedish hospital clinics specialising in infectious disease. All cases with hospital admission date from the 1(st) of Jan 2008, to the 31(st) of Dec 2017 were included. The incidence calculations were corrected for annual changes in population size using data from the Swedish government agency Statistics Sweden. Results The results show no statistically significant increase in the slope of the trend line of the total incidence of IE, IE caused by VGS or S. aureus in the Swedish general population after October 2012, compared to before. Conclusion The results suggest that the recommended cessation of prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of IE in dentistry has not led to an increased incidence of IE caused by oral streptococci among the Swedish population.
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8. |
- Wu, Shengru, et al.
(author)
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Tonsillar microbiota : A cross-sectional study of patients with chronic tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy
- 2021
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In: mSystems. - 2379-5077. ; 6:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chronic tonsillitis (CT) and tonsillar hypertrophy (TH) are common tonsillar diseases that are related to infection and inflammation. Little is known about tonsillar microbiota and its role in CT and TH. This study aims to identify palatine tonsillar microbiota both on the surface and in the core tissues of CT and TH patients. In total, 22 palatine tonsils were removed and collected from CT and TH patients who underwent surgery. The surface and core microbiota in the tonsils of CT and TH patients were compared using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of V3-V4 regions. Differential tonsillar microbiotas were found in the CT versus TH patients and surface versus core tissues. Further, a higher relative abundance of bacterial genera, including Haemophilus, Streptococcus, Neisseria, Capnocytophaga, Kingella, Moraxella, and Lachnospiraceae [G-2] in patients with TH and Dialister, Parvimonas, Bacteroidales [G-2], Aggregatibacter, and Atopobium in patients with CT, was observed. Of these, the differential genera of Dialister, Parvimonas, and Neisseria served as key factors in the tonsillar microbiota network. Notably, four representable tonsillar microbial types were identified, with one, consisting of a higher abundance of Haemophilus and Neisseria, exclusively detected in the TH patients. This study analyzed the different tonsillar microbiota from the surface and core tissues of CT and TH patients. Several bacteria and various microbial types related to CT and TH were identified, along with potential bacterial networks and related immune pathways.IMPORTANCE: The human microbiota has been shown to be functionally connected to infectious and inflammation-related diseases. So far, only limited studies had been performed on tonsillar microbiota, although tonsils play an essential role in the human immune defense system and encountered numerous microorganisms. Our work presented different tonsillar microbiota from surface and core tissues of chronic tonsillitis (CT) and tonsillar hypertrophy (TH) patients. Notably, one tonsillar microbiota type, which contains a higher abundance of Haemophilus and Neisseria, was only detected in the TH patients. Furthermore, certain bacteria, such as Haemophilus, Neisseria, Dialister, and Parvimonas, may serve as microbial biomarkers to discriminate CT patients from TH patients. These data provide important microbiota data in the tonsillar research area and are highly useful for researchers both in the oral microbiome field and clinical field.
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