Anna Marigliano

Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis: improved compliance and impact on infection rates.

The aims of this study were to determine adherence to the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) protocol used at a large Italian teaching hospital during a 6-year period, to assess the variables associated with inappropriate administration, and to measure the impact on surgical site infection (SSI) rates. There were 28 621 patients surveyed of which 74·6% received PAP. An improvement in adherence to the PAP protocol was registered for 58·8% of patients. Significant risk factors were an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥ 2 [odds ratios (OR) from 1·28 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1·19-1·37) to 1·87 (95% CI 1·43-2·44)], prolonged duration of surgery (OR 1·68, 95% CI 1·56-1·82) and urgent surgery (OR 2·16, 95% CI 1·96-2·37). During the study period, a significant reduction in SSIs rates was detected. We concluded that the global reduction of inadequate PAP administration signifies the efficacy of a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative on antimicrobial utilization, and this is supported by the observed reduction of the SSI rate.

Determinants of influenza vaccination uptake among Italian healthcare workers

We analyzed seasonal influenza vaccination coverage among the Italian healthcare workers (HCW) in order to identify socio-demographic and clinical determinants of vaccination. We used data from the survey “Health and health care use in Italy,” which comprised interviews of 5,336 HCWs For each respondent, information on socioeconomic, health conditions, self-perceived health and smoking status were obtained. After bivariate analysis, we used multilevel regression models to assess determinants of immunization. Overall 20.8% of HCWs (95%CI 19.7–21.9) reported being vaccinated against seasonal influenza. After controlling for potential confounders, multilevel regression revealed that older workers have a higher likelihood of vaccine uptake (OR = 6.07; 95% CI 4.72–7.79). Conversely, higher education was associated with lower vaccine uptake (OR = 0.65; 95% IC 0.50–0.83). Those suffering from diabetes (OR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.19–1.69), COPD (OR = 1.95; 95% CI 1.31–2.89) and cardiovascular diseases (OR = 1.48 95% CI 1.11–1.96) were more likely to be vaccinated. Likewise, smokers, or former smokers receive more frequently the vaccination (OR = 1.40; 95% CI 1.15–1.70; OR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.24–1.91, respectively) compared with never-smokers as well as those HCWs reporting fair or poor perceived health status (ORs of 1.68, 95% CI 1.30–2.18). Vaccine coverage among HCWs in Italy remains low, especially among those with no comorbidities and being younger than 44 y old. This behavior not only raises questions regarding healthcare organization, infection control in healthcare settings and clinical costs, but also brings up ethical issues concerning physicians who seem not to be very concerned about the impact of the flu on themselves, as well as on their patients. Influenza vaccination campaigns will only be effective if HCWs understand their role in influenza transmission and prevention, and realize the importance of vaccination as a preventive measure

Determinants of influenza vaccination among the adult and older Italian population with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a secondary analysis of the multipurpose ISTAT survey on health and health care use.

We analyzed seasonal flu vaccination rates among the Italian population suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in order to identify socio-demographic and clinical determinants for vaccination. We used data from the survey “Health and health care use in Italy”, which interviewed 5,935 persons (age 15 – 102 years) suffering from COPD in the period 2004-2005. For each respondent, information on socioeconomic and health conditions, smoking status and patterns of health care utilization were retrieved. After bivariate analysis, we used two multilevel regression models to assess determinants of vaccination among the adult and the older Italian population. Overall 30.5% of adults (N=670) and 74.8% (N=2,796) of older people reported being vaccinated against seasonal flu. After controlling for potential confounders, older age increases the odds of vaccine uptake. Single marital status among the older people, smoking and not having contact with GPs in both age groups, are factors associated with non vaccination. Higher-educated elderly are less likely to be vaccinated, while coverage is higher among the wealthier adults. Vaccine coverage among adults with COPD in Italy remains low, especially among those with no comorbidities, and aged less than 44 years. It is only in older age that vaccination rates increase substantially. We found several risk factors for non vaccination, such as smoking, single marital status, and not having contacts with GPs, which should be considered in developing strategies to increase the coverage of influenza vaccine among people with COPD in Italy.

Group B Streptococcal sepsis: An old or ongoing threat?

BACKGROUND Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major cause of severe infections in newborns. Early-onset disease (EOD) occurs within the first week of life, and it is usually vertically transmitted. In late-onset disease (LOD), pathogens may also come from nosocomial sources. We report 3 cases of GBS infection in very low birth weight infants hospitalized by a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Italy. METHODS The cluster was identified thanks to an active surveillance program; an epidemiologic investigation took place. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to assess the clonal relatedness of strains. An audit to stress the adherence to isolation precautions and hand hygiene was organized. RESULTS During a 16-day period, 2 preterm newborns developed GBS LOD; an earlier case of GBS EOD occurred in a baby hospitalized by the same ward. The 3 GBS strains had the same antibiotic susceptibility pattern. The PFGE profiles of the 2 cases of LOD are indistinguishable from each other and closely related with the case of EOD. Strict infection control measures were adopted. CONCLUSION The implementation of additional infection control measures was able to stop the diffusion of infection; however, clusters like this should remind us the ongoing threat of GBS for the small NICU patients.

Measles among Healthcare Workers in a Teaching Hospital in Central Italy

Measles among Healthcare Workers in a Teaching Hospital in Central Italy: Barbadoro PAMELA, et al. Department of Biomedical Science and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy—

Health care workers, immunization and safety issues: Reflections from Italy

recentlypublished in your authoritative journal. Many health careand public health organizations have introduced measures toencourage flu immunization coverage of health care workers(HCW), and some of them are implementing strategies in order toprovide an adequate monitoring benchmarking. To the light ofthe importance of HCW in infectious disease control, we wouldlike to take the opportunity to highlight the role of immuniza-tion, in different communicable disease, because we think thatthe efforts directed to flu should be combined to those directed tothe prevention of others vaccine preventable disease. In thiscontext, we could make the example of measles as one of themost transmittable diseases, which had undergone an apparentunderestimation, and has been recently the cause of outbreaks inhealth care institutions in Europe. In fact, it is not surprising thatHCW are at higher risk than the general population for becominginfected with different infectious diseases; however, it should benot neglected that transmission occurs within medical facilitiesbecause of HCW.