Risk Factors for Intra-Abdominal Candidiasis in Intensive Care Units: Results from EUCANDICU Study

Introduction: Intra-abdominal infections represent the second most frequently acquired infection in the intensive care unit (ICU), with mortality rates ranging from 20% to 50%. Candida spp. may be responsible for up to 10–30% of cases. This study assesses risk factors for development of intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) among patients admitted to ICU. Methods: We performed a case–control study in 26 European ICUs during the period January 2015–December 2016. Patients at least 18 years old who developed an episode of microbiologically documented IAC during their stay in the ICU (at least 48 h after admission) served as the case cohort. The control group consisted of adult patients who did not develop episodes of IAC during ICU admission. Matching was performed at a ratio of 1:1 according to time at risk (i.e. controls had to have at least the same length of ICU stay as their matched cases prior to IAC onset), ICU ward and period of study. Results: During the study period, 101 case patients with a diagnosis of IAC were included in the study. On univariate analysis, severe hepatic failure, prior receipt of antibiotics, prior receipt of parenteral nutrition, abdominal drain, prior bacterial infection, anastomotic leakage, recurrent gastrointestinal perforation, prior receipt of antifungal drugs and higher median number of abdominal surgical interventions were associated with IAC development. On multivariate analysis, recurrent gastrointestinal perforation (OR 13.90; 95% CI 2.65–72.82, p = 0.002), anastomotic leakage (OR 6.61; 95% CI 1.98–21.99, p = 0.002), abdominal drain (OR 6.58; 95% CI 1.73–25.06, p = 0.006), prior receipt of antifungal drugs (OR 4.26; 95% CI 1.04–17.46, p = 0.04) or antibiotics (OR 3.78; 95% CI 1.32–10.52, p = 0.01) were independently associated with IAC. Conclusions: Gastrointestinal perforation, anastomotic leakage, abdominal drain and prior receipt of antifungals or antibiotics may help to identify critically ill patients with higher probability of developing IAC. Prospective studies are needed to identify which patients will benefit from early antifungal treatment

Farmers Perception of Sources of Information in Relation to Adoption of Improved Rice Technology by Farmers in the Inland Valley Swamps of Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the fanners perception of information sources and adoption of rice technology and its relationship with farmers socioeconomic characteristics in the inland Valley Swamps (IVS). Using survey research, a pre-tested structured interview scheduled was used to collect information from 500 rice farmers that were randomly selected from four States including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from the Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. About 96% of the respondents adopted fertilizer application and only 29.8% adopted iron toxicity control. The results of the PPMC analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between adoption and household size involved in farming (r =0.095; p < 0.05), and extension contact (r =0.31;p < 0.05). The result of the Chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship between adoption and religion(X2 = 9.94;p < 0.05), ethnic group (X2 =8.57;p < 05 ), awareness of technology ( r = 0.392, p < 0.05) and information source (X2 = 59.49; p < 0.01). This study revealed that extension publication, television and newspaper are considered as not important sources of agricultural information while extension agents, demonstration/SPAT, neighbour/friends, radio, field-day andparents are important sources of agricultural information. The study also revealed that the sources ofinformation awareness variesfrom technology to technology. It is recommended that, the extension agents be encouraged and effort be made to emphasize andpopularize the use of mediated information sources and extension research methodology in order to increase the extension coverage area which is likely to increase adoption

Farmers Perception of Sources of Information in Relation to Adoption of Improved Rice Technology by Farmers in the Inland Valley Swamps of Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the fanners perception of information sources and adoption of rice technology and its relationship with farmers socioeconomic characteristics in the inland Valley Swamps (IVS). Using survey research, a pre-tested structured interview scheduled was used to collect information from 500 rice farmers that were randomly selected from four States including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from the Middle-Belt zone of Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. About 96% of the respondents adopted fertilizer application and only 29.8% adopted iron toxicity control. The results of the PPMC analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between adoption and household size involved in farming (r =0.095; p < 0.05), and extension contact (r =0.31;p < 0.05). The result of the Chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship between adoption and religion(X2 = 9.94;p < 0.05), ethnic group (X2 =8.57;p < 05 ), awareness of technology ( r = 0.392, p < 0.05) and information source (X2 = 59.49; p < 0.01). This study revealed that extension publication, television and newspaper are considered as not important sources of agricultural information while extension agents, demonstration/SPAT, neighbour/friends, radio, field-day andparents are important sources of agricultural information. The study also revealed that the sources ofinformation awareness variesfrom technology to technology. It is recommended that, the extension agents be encouraged and effort be made to emphasize andpopularize the use of mediated information sources and extension research methodology in order to increase the extension coverage area which is likely to increase adoption

Contact tracing, use of surgical masks, hand hygiene and social distancing represent a bundle of effective measures to control SARS-CoV-2 spreading among healthcare workers in a paediatric hospital

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARSCoV-2) is the causative agent of pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19). Protection from virus exposure in children\u2019s hospital is a pivotal aspect of SARS-COV-2 pandemic control. Healthcare workers (HCW) could play an important role in viral infection in-hospital spread. Infection control measures were thus implemented to protect fragile patients and healthcare workers.We retrospectively described a HCW infectionscase-series due to SARS-CoV-2 from February 24th to July 31stat the IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini. Seven separate cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were observed among healthcare workers, with a total of 395 contacts, and 23 (6%) secondary case. A program of contact tracing and quarantine of SARS-CoV-2 positive HCW, screening of asymptomatic HCW, use of surgical masks, hand hygiene, social distancing and use of PPE in COVID-19 cases assistance prevented the spread of the virus to patients and blocked the diffusion within the hospital