May 23, 2022
Device-associated infections did not increase in German hospitals during the first waves of COVID-19. A significant increase in healthcare-associated infections (HAI) was reported by US hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data on the ICU component of the German National Reference Center for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections, researchers in Germany compared the incidence of common device-associated HAI in intensive care units (ICUs) during the years 2019 and 2020. Device utilization rates increased significantly for central lines and ventilator use in 2020; however, this was not associated with an increase in device-associated HAI. Researchers suggest these findings could be explained by the lower overall incidence of COVID-19 in Germany in 2020 compared to the United States (COVID-19 patients were only 7% of all ICU patients in Germany in 2020) and the higher availability of ICU beds compared with other countries. [Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control]
AMR surveillance is needed to preserve Antarctica’s environment. A recent literature review assessed AMR research in Antarctica. With defined zones of human occupation (centered around scientific research stations) and large populations of migratory birds and megafauna, there are opportunities to track and understand the spread of early-stage zoonotic interactions. Studies show reverse zoonosis of characteristic human gut bacteria in endemic wildlife and low rates of AMR in birds and seals. Areas with little to no human activity appear free from anthropogenically introduced AMR. AMR surveillance and reporting mechanisms could aid in preserving this relatively pristine environment. [Microbiome]
To make Sepsis control a national priority, more research is needed. In a mixed-methods study in Malawi, twenty multisectoral stakeholders were qualitatively interviewed and asked to quantitatively rate the likelihood of the realization of sepsis-related policy outcomes. Participants affirmed that sepsis is not prioritized in Malawi because of a dearth of local sepsis-related evidence and policies. Strong connections between sepsis and maternal health, antimicrobial resistance, and COVID-19, which are current national priorities, offer opportunities that need to be explored for sepsis researchers.[BMC Health Services Research]
Future SARS-CoV-2 Variants could be more predictable. Studies show that the SARS-CoV-2 variants known as BA.4 and BA.5 are slightly more transmissible than earlier forms of Omicron. The rise of BA.4, BA.5, and another Omicron variant in North America could mean that SARS-CoV-2 waves are beginning to take on predictable patterns, with new waves periodically emerging from circulating strains. This is unlike the first two years of the pandemic, when variants seemed to appear more sporadically. Although unexpected variants could still emerge, new variants seem to surface roughly every six months. While this may represent the ongoing rhythm of COVID-19 epidemics, a longer time frame is needed for more reliable predictions.[Nature]
Climate mitigation strategies are needed to preserve desert biocrust. Biocrust is a top layer of nutrients covering desert soils, necessary for life in dry places. While researchers had assumed organisms composing biocrust could survive extreme heat, a 2013 discovery indicated climate change is altering their microbial composition. A survey of biocrust organisms showed that while in 1967 and 1996 a lichen that converts nitrogen to air made up 19% of biocrust in the Utah desert, as of 2022, the percentage is just 5%, with no signs of returning to former levels. A permanent shift in the makeup of biocrust organisms could lead to more bare ground in deserts. Researchers estimate that by 2070, 25% to 40% of the biocrusts could be lost.[Science]
People with chronic liver disease are at increased risk of AMR infections. The necessity for multiple courses or long-term use of antibiotics, repeated hospitalizations, and complicated procedures put patients with cirrhosis at elevated risk of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections. One-third of infections in patients with cirrhosis is estimated to be due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. Due to the variation in the prevalence of multidrug resistance in different world regions, treatment should be based on local microbiological epidemiology, instead of relying on broad international recommendations. There is a need for both antimicrobial stewardship programs and investigation of non-antibiotic approaches for infection prophylaxis in patients with cirrhosis.[The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology]
Immigrants’ trust in healthcare systems impacts their vaccine uptake. Researchers investigating the relationships between acculturation to Norwegian culture, trust in health authorities, and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines among Polish immigrants in Norway, surveyed 150 Polish immigrants in Norway, 256 Polish citizens living in Poland, and 264 Norwegians living in Norway. Polish immigrants in Norway had fewer positive attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination than Norwegians, and they did not differ from Polish citizens living in Poland. Polish immigrant participants also relayed lower trust in the Norwegian health care system than Norwegians. Trust in health care system values was the most important predictor of COVID-19 vaccination attitudes in all three groups. [Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology]
Studying vaccine hesitancy through YouTube comments. Text analytics and multiple regression analyses were applied to 43,203 YouTube comments to examine the correlations between vaccine hesitancy factors and vaccination intention, revealing politically partisan preferences in vaccine decision-making processes. Reasons behind vaccine hesitancy included fears about vaccine safety, possible side effects, and distrust in government and pharmaceutical companies. Anti-vaccine movements that amplified misinformation augmented vaccine hesitancy and deteriorated public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines. Public health professionals should leverage social media and amplify accessible and engaging evidence-based posts among online communities.[Nature]
Low public awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Kolkata. A survey of 613 individuals visiting a science museum in Kolkata, India assessed the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and practices related to antibiotic use and AMR. Researchers found significant knowledge gaps in many aspects related to antibiotic use and AMR, with 67% of respondents affirming that antibiotics can be used to treat viral infections and 72% believing that it is the human body that becomes resistant to antibiotics, and not the bacteria. Communities constitute important players in the fight against AMR and public campaigns promoting responsible antibiotic use are urgently needed.[Observer Research Foundation]
