EUREGIO MRSA-net Twente/Munsterland - a Dutch-German cross-border network for the prevention and control of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches </jats:p

Euregionale MRSA-preventie en bestrijding: een vergelijking van Duitse en Nederlandse richtlijnen

Om te voorkomen dat de MRSA-prevalentie in Nederland stijgt door grensoverschrijdend gezondheidsverkeer met Duitsland dient documentatie van MRSA-richtlijnen zodanig aangepast te worden dat de richtlijnen zowel voor Nederlands als Duits ziekenhuispersoneel toepasbaar en navolgbaar zijn. Een systematische vergelijking van Duitse en Nederlandse MRSA-richtlijnen laat zien dat Duitse richtlijnen de nadruk leggen op het documenteren van standaarden door verwijzingen naar de wet en bewijsvoering. De Nederlandse richtlijnen benadrukken handelingsinstructies door een gebruikersgerichte en risicogeoriënteerde benadering. Mogelijk hangt de niet-optimale naleving van MRSA-richtlijnen samen met de inrichting van het richtlijndocument. Het opstellen van richtlijndocumentatie die aanpasbaar is per land, zou de kwaliteit van het grensoverschrijdende gezondheidsverkeer tussen Nederland en Duitsland kunnen bevorderen. In dit artikel wordt een aanzet gegeven voor een dergelijk adaptief kader

Molecular characterization and phylogeny of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli isolates obtained from two Dutch regions using whole genome sequencing

AbstractShiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the major causes of human gastrointestinal disease and has been implicated in sporadic cases and outbreaks of diarrhoea, haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome worldwide. In this study, we determined the molecular characteristics and phylogenetic relationship of STEC isolates, and their genetic diversity was compared to that of other E. coli populations. Whole genome sequencing was performed on 132 clinical STEC isolates obtained from the faeces of 129 Dutch patients with gastrointestinal complaints. STEC isolates of this study belonged to 44 different sequence types (STs), 42 serogenotypes and 14 stx subtype combinations. Antibiotic resistance genes were more frequently present in stx1-positive isolates compared to stx2 and stx1 + stx2–positive isolates. The iha, mchB, mchC, mchF, subA, ireA, senB, saa and sigA genes were significantly more frequently present in eae-negative than in eae-positive STEC isolates. Presence of virulence genes encoding type III secretion proteins and adhesins was associated with isolates obtained from patients with bloody diarrhoea. Core genome phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates clustered according to their ST or serogenotypes irrespective of stx subtypes. Isolates obtained from patients with bloody diarrhoea were from diverse phylogenetic backgrounds. Some STEC isolates shared common ancestors with non-STEC isolates. Whole genome sequencing is a powerful tool for clinical microbiology, allowing high-resolution molecular typing, population structure analysis and detailed molecular characterization of strains. STEC isolates of a substantial genetic diversity and of distinct phylogenetic groups were observed in this study

A measurement of the axial form factor of the nucleon by the p(e,e'pi+)n reaction at W=1125 MeV

The reaction p(e,e'pi+)n was measured at the Mainz Microtron MAMI at an invariant mass of W=1125 MeV and four-momentum transfers of Q^2=0.117, 0.195 and 0.273 (GeV/c)^2. For each value of Q^2, a Rosenbluth separation of the transverse and longitudinal cross sections was performed. An effective Lagrangian model was used to extract the `axial mass' from experimental data. We find a value of M_A=(1.077+-0.039) GeV which is (0.051+-0.044) GeV larger than the axial mass known from neutrino scattering experiments. This is consistent with recent calculations in chiral perturbation theory.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, uses elsart.cl

Financial evaluations of antibiotic stewardship programs:a systematic review

Introduction: There is an increasing awareness to counteract problems due to incorrect antimicrobial use. Interventions that are implemented are often part of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASPs). Studies publishing results from these interventions are increasing, including reports on the economical effects of ASPs. This review will look at the economical sections of these studies and the methods that were used. Methods: A systematic review was performed of articles found in the PubMed and EMBASE databases published from 2000 until November 2014. Included studies found were scored for various aspects and the quality of the papers was assessed following an appropriate check list (CH EC criteria list). Results: 1233 studies were found, of which 149 were read completely. Ninety-nine were included in the final review. Of these studies, 57 only mentioned the costs associated with the antimicrobial medication. Others also included operational costs (n = 23), costs for hospital stay (n = 18), and/or other costs (n = 19). Nine studies were further assessed for their quality. These studies scored between 2 and 14 out of a potential total score of 19. Conclusions: This review gives an extensive overview of the current financial evaluation of ASPs and the quality of these economical studies. We show that there is still major potential to improve financial evaluations of ASPs. Studies do not use similar nor consistent methods or outcome measures, making it impossible draw sound conclusions and compare different studies. Finally, we make some recommendations for the future

Extracting the rho-omega mixing amplitude from the pion form-factor

We re-examine and extend a recent analysis which showed that the rho-omega mixing amplitude cannot be unambiguously extracted from the pion electromagnetic form-factor in a model independent way. In particular, we focus on the argument that the extraction is sensitive to the presence of any intrinsic omega_I -> 2pi coupling. Our extended analysis confirms the original conclusion, with only minor, quantitative differences. The extracted mixing amplitude is shown to be sensitive to both the intrinsic coupling omega_I -> 2pi and to the value assumed for the mass of the neutral rho meson.Comment: 11 pages, publication details added to title pag