Diagnostic accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 saliva antigen testing in a real-life clinical setting.

BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests with saliva facilitate examination in settings that lack trained personnel. However, little is known on the diagnostic accuracy in real-life clinical settings. Therefore, we studied the diagnostic accuracy of a saliva antigen test to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection in a primary/ secondary care testing facility. METHODS Individuals presented at a COVID-19 testing facility affiliated with a Swiss University Hospital were prospectively recruited (n=377). Saliva specimen was obtained, and the PCL Inc. COVID19 Gold antigen test was conducted in parallel with two real-time PCR. RESULTS RT-PCR was positive in 53 individuals, corresponding to a prevalence of 14.1% (missing material in one individual). The PCL saliva antigen test was positive in 22 individuals (5.8%), and negative in 354 (93.9%). The sensitivity of the saliva antigen test was 30.2% (95% confidence interval, CI, 18.3 to 44.3), both overall and in symptomatic individiduals. The specificity was 98.1% (96.0, 99.3). CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic accuracy of a SARS-CoV-2 saliva antigen test in a primary/ secondary care testing facility was remarkably lower compared to the manufacturers' specifications. Keywords Infections/*epidemiology/transmission; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [Supplementary Concept]; COVID-19 diagnostic testing [Supplementary Concept] Background

Successful Treatment of Acute Prostatitis Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli With Tigecycline Monotherapy

We present a successful treatment, with tigecycline monotherapy, of acute prostatitis caused by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli harboring an NDM-1 carbapemenase along with a CMY-2 cephalosporinase and a TEM ESBL

Antibiotics for preventing recurrent urinary tract infection: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Recurrent urinary tract infections are a common health problem. The only comprehensive synthesis on antibiotic prophylaxis in the last 15 years has been a guideline-embedded meta-analysis. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published up to October 13, 2020, evaluating patients age ≥12 years with either ≥2 episodes of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) within 6 months or ≥3 in the past year. Placebo or antibiotics were allowed as comparators. Study quality was low. In the 11 placebo-controlled trials, the risk for developing UTI was 85% lower with prophylaxis in comparison with placebo (risk ratio [RR], 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08-0.29). In the 9 head-to-head trials, the efficacy of the antibiotic agents appeared similar: The pooled RR indicated no difference between nitrofurantoin and comparators (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.74-1.37), nor trimethoprim (+/- sulfamethoxazole; RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.89-2.03) or norfloxacin and comparators (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.43-1.70). Studies comparing intermittent (postcoital) with continuous strategies revealed intermittent application to be equally effective

Antibiotics for Preventing Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Recurrent urinary tract infections are a common health problem. The only comprehensive synthesis on antibiotic prophylaxis in the last 15 years has been a guideline-embedded meta-analysis. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published up to October 13, 2020, evaluating patients age ≥12 years with either ≥2 episodes of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) within 6 months or ≥3 in the past year. Placebo or antibiotics were allowed as comparators. Study quality was low. In the 11 placebo-controlled trials, the risk for developing UTI was 85% lower with prophylaxis in comparison with placebo (risk ratio [RR], 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08-0.29). In the 9 head-to-head trials, the efficacy of the antibiotic agents appeared similar: The pooled RR indicated no difference between nitrofurantoin and comparators (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.74-1.37), nor trimethoprim (+/- sulfamethoxazole; RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.89-2.03) or norfloxacin and comparators (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.43-1.70). Studies comparing intermittent (postcoital) with continuous strategies revealed intermittent application to be equally effective

Determination of the Diagnostic Performance of Laboratory Tests in the Absence of a Perfect Reference Standard: The Case of SARS-CoV-2 Tests

Background: Currently, assessing the diagnostic performance of new laboratory tests assumes a perfect reference standard, which is rarely the case. Wrong classifications of the true disease status will inevitably lead to biased estimates of sensitivity and specificity. Objectives: Using Bayesian’ latent class models (BLCMs), an approach that does not assume a perfect reference standard, we re-analyzed data of a large prospective observational study assessing the diagnostic accuracy of an antigen test for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical practice. Methods: A cohort of consecutive patients presenting to a COVID-19 testing facility affiliated with a Swiss University Hospital were recruited (n = 1465). Two real-time PCR tests were conducted in parallel with the Roche/SD Biosensor rapid antigen test on nasopharyngeal swabs. A two-test (PCR and antigen test), three-population BLCM was fitted to the frequencies of paired test results. Results: Based on the BLCM, the sensitivities of the RT-PCR and the Roche/SD Biosensor rapid antigen test were 98.5% [95% CRI 94.8;100] and 82.7% [95% CRI 66.8;100]. The specificities were 97.7% [96.1;99.7] and 99.9% [95% CRI 99.6;100]. Conclusions: Applying the BLCM, the diagnostic accuracy of RT-PCR was high but not perfect. In contrast to previous results, the sensitivity of the antigen test was higher. Our results suggest that BLCMs are valuable tools for investigating the diagnostic performance of laboratory tests in the absence of perfect reference standard

Effects and utility of an online forward triage tool during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a mixed method study and patient perspectives, Switzerland.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects (quantitatively) and the utility (qualitatively) of a COVID-19 online forward triage tool (OFTT) in a pandemic context. DESIGN A mixed method sequential explanatory study was employed. Quantitative data of all OFTT users, between 2 March 2020 and 12 May 2020, were collected. Second, qualitative data were collected through key informant interviews (n=19) to explain the quantitative findings, explore tool utility, user experience and elicit recommendations. SETTING The working group e-emergency medicine at the emergency department developed an OFTT, which was made available online. PARTICIPANTS Participants included all users above the age of 18 that used the OFTT between 2 March 2020 and 12 May 2020. INTERVENTION An OFTT that displayed the current test recommendations of the Federal Office of Public Health on whether someone needed testing for COVID-19 or not. No diagnosis was provided. RESULTS In the study period, 6272 users consulted our OFTT; 40.2% (1626/4049) would have contacted a healthcare provider had the tool not existed. 560 participants consented to a follow-up survey and provided a valid email address. 31.4% (176/560) participants returned a complete follow-up questionnaire. 84.7% (149/176) followed the recommendations given. 41.5% (73/176) reported that their fear was allayed after using the tool. Qualitatively, seven overarching themes emerged namely (1) accessibility of tool, (2) user-friendliness of tool, (3) utility of tool as an information source, (4) utility of tool in allaying fear and anxiety, (5) utility of tool in medical decision-making (6) utility of tool in reducing the potential for onward transmissions and (7) utility of tool in reducing health system burden. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrated that a COVID-19 OFTT does not only reduce the health system burden but can also serve as an information source, reduce anxiety and fear, reduce potential for cross infections and facilitate medical decision-making

Air Cleaners and Respiratory Infections in Schools: A Modeling Study Based on Epidemiologic, Environmental, and Molecular Data.

BACKGROUND Using a multiple-measurement approach, we examined the real-world effectiveness of portable HEPA air filtration devices (air cleaners) in a school setting. METHODS We collected data over 7 weeks during winter 2022/2023 in 2 Swiss secondary school classes: environmental (CO2, particle concentrations), epidemiologic (absences related to respiratory infections), audio (coughing), and molecular (bioaerosol and saliva samples). Using a crossover design, we compared particle concentrations, coughing, and risk of infection with and without air cleaners. RESULTS All 38 students participated (age, 13-15 years). With air cleaners, mean particle concentration decreased by 77% (95% credible interval, 63%-86%). There were no differences in CO2 levels. Absences related to respiratory infections were 22 without air cleaners vs 13 with them. Bayesian modeling suggested a reduced risk of infection, with a posterior probability of 91% and a relative risk of 0.73 (95% credible interval, 0.44-1.18). Coughing also tended to be less frequent (posterior probability, 93%), indicating that fewer symptomatic students were in class. Molecular analysis detected mainly non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses in saliva (50/448 positive) but not in bioaerosols (2/105) or on the HEPA filters of the air cleaners (4/160). The molecular detection rate in saliva was similar with and without air cleaners. Spatiotemporal analysis of positive saliva samples identified several likely transmissions. CONCLUSIONS Air cleaners improved air quality and showed potential benefits in reducing respiratory infections. Airborne detection of non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses was rare, suggesting that these viruses may be more difficult to detect in the air. Future studies should examine the importance of close contact and long-range transmission and the cost-effectiveness of using air cleaners

Nosocomial outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) ST796, Switzerland, 2017 to 2020

A large clonal outbreak caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) affected the Bern University Hospital group from the end of December 2017 until July 2020. We describe the characteristics of the outbreak and the bundle of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures implemented. The outbreak was first recognised when two concomitant cases of VRE bloodstream infection were identified on the oncology ward. During 32 months, 518 patients in the 1,300-bed hospital group were identified as vanB VRE carriers. Eighteen (3.5%) patients developed an invasive infection, of whom seven had bacteraemia. In 2018, a subset of 328 isolates were analysed by whole genome sequencing, 312 of which were identified as sequence type (ST) 796. The initial IPC measures were implemented with a focus on the affected wards. However, in June 2018, ST796 caused another increase in cases, and the management strategy was intensified and escalated to a hospital-wide level. The clinical impact of this large nosocomial VRE outbreak with the emergent clone ST796 was modest. A hospital-wide approach with a multimodal IPC bundle was successful against this highly transmissible strain

Nosocomial outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) ST796, Switzerland, 2017 to 2020

A large clonal outbreak caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) affected the Bern University Hospital group from the end of December 2017 until July 2020. We describe the characteristics of the outbreak and the bundle of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures implemented. The outbreak was first recognised when two concomitant cases of VRE bloodstream infection were identified on the oncology ward. During 32 months, 518 patients in the 1,300-bed hospital group were identified as vanB VRE carriers. Eighteen (3.5%) patients developed an invasive infection, of whom seven had bacteraemia. In 2018, a subset of 328 isolates were analysed by whole genome sequencing, 312 of which were identified as sequence type (ST) 796. The initial IPC measures were implemented with a focus on the affected wards. However, in June 2018, ST796 caused another increase in cases, and the management strategy was intensified and escalated to a hospital-wide level. The clinical impact of this large nosocomial VRE outbreak with the emergent clone ST796 was modest. A hospital-wide approach with a multimodal IPC bundle was successful against this highly transmissible strain