13th World Congress on Infection Prevention and Control December 14-07, 2018 Rome, Italy

Biography:

Doris Oberle is a physician and biostatistician at the pharmacovigilance department of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Langen, Germany. Her research focuses on the investigation of adverse events following immunisation.  For example, within the scope of a case-control study, she investigated the association between pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination and narcolepsy in Germany. Doris Oberle is also involved in the detection and evaluation of safety signals especially regarding newly approved pharmaceutical products like the meningococcal B vaccine.

Abstract:

Background

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) can be fatal and may lead to permanent neurological sequelae and disabilities. In January 2013, a novel vaccine against Neisseria meningitis serogroup B, 4CMenB, was approved by the European Medicines Agency. We aimed at evaluating the safety profile of this vaccine.

Methods

All adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) reported from Germany since launch on the European market through December 2016 were reviewed and analysed.

Results

Through December 2016, a total of 664 individual case safety reports (ICSR) notifying 1960 AEFI were received. A majority of vaccinees were children aged 2 to 11 years (n=280, 42.2%) as well as infants and toddlers aged 28 days to 23 months (n=170, 25.6%). General disorders and administrations site conditions was the system organ class (SOC) with the majority of AEFI (n=977, 49.8%) followed by the SOCs nervous system disorders (n=249, 12.7%) and skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders (n=191, 9.7%). Screening for immune-mediated and neurological diseases did not raise any safety signal in terms of an increased proportional reporting ratio (PRR).

Conclusions

The safety profile described in the summary of product characteristics, in general, is confirmed by data from spontaneous reporting. No safety concerns were identified.

Biography:

Doris Oberle is a physician and biostatistician at the pharmacovigilance department of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Langen, Germany. Her research focuses on the investigation of adverse events following immunisation.  For example, within the scope of a case-control study, she investigated the association between pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination and narcolepsy in Germany. Doris Oberle is also involved in the detection and evaluation of safety signals especially regarding newly approved pharmaceutical products like the meningococcal B vaccine.

Abstract:

Background

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) can be fatal and may lead to permanent neurological sequelae and disabilities. In January 2013, a novel vaccine against Neisseria meningitis serogroup B, 4CMenB, was approved by the European Medicines Agency. We aimed at evaluating the safety profile of this vaccine.

Methods

All adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) reported from Germany since launch on the European market through December 2016 were reviewed and analysed.

Results

Through December 2016, a total of 664 individual case safety reports (ICSR) notifying 1960 AEFI were received. A majority of vaccinees were children aged 2 to 11 years (n=280, 42.2%) as well as infants and toddlers aged 28 days to 23 months (n=170, 25.6%). General disorders and administrations site conditions was the system organ class (SOC) with the majority of AEFI (n=977, 49.8%) followed by the SOCs nervous system disorders (n=249, 12.7%) and skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders (n=191, 9.7%). Screening for immune-mediated and neurological diseases did not raise any safety signal in terms of an increased proportional reporting ratio (PRR).

Conclusions

The safety profile described in the summary of product characteristics, in general, is confirmed by data from spontaneous reporting. No safety concerns were identified.

Biography:

Huang Wei Ling, born in Taiwan, raised in Brazil since the age of one, graduated in medicine in Brazil, specializing in infectious and parasitic diseases, a General Practitioner and Parenteral and Enteral Medical Nutrition Therapist. Once in charge of the Hospital Infection Control Service of the City of Franca's General Hospital, she was responsible for the control of all prescribed antimicrobial medication, and received an award for the best paper presented at the Brazilian Hospital infection Control Congress in 1998.

She was coordinator of both the Infection Control and the Nutritional Support Committee in Sao Joaquim Hospital in Franca, and also worked at the infectious Sexually Transmitted Disease Reference Center. She is the owner of the Medical Acupuncture and Pain Management Clinic, and since 1997 has been presenting her work worldwide concerning the treatment of various diseases using techniques based on several medical traditions around the world.

Abstract:

Statement of the problem:  As we know osteomyelitis is a bone infection which can reach a bone by traveling through the bloodstream or spreading from nearby tissue. It can also begin in the bone itself if an injury exposes it to germs. Once considered an incurable condition, osteomyelitis can sometimes be successfully treated today by surgery to remove parts of the bone that have died and then with strong antibiotics. (Mayo) The purpose of this study was to show why the treatment of osteomyelitis is so difficult and in most cases incurable. However to improve chances of cure, we need to look at the patient in his entirety, and associate other theories that can be found within other traditions, and not only focus on the infected area. The methodology used was the presentation of two case reports, of which the first showed an infection resulting from knee fracture surgery done after a motorcycle accident that had been treated by the use of a large spectrum of antibiotics without any improvement. The second case was another hospital osteomyelitis after an exposed tibia fracture also after a motorcycle accident which had been treated profusely with antibiotics with any improvement. Findings: Both cases were treated successfully taking out all the anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drugs, and then treated by changing diet, balancing the Yin, Yang, Qi, Blood energy and removing heat retention following the theories of Oriental Medicine. In these two cases, the condition that was maintaining the symptoms of infection was exactly the aggressive use of antibiotics. Conclusion: The treatment of osteomyelitis showed in this study, demonstrated to us that we need to see the patient and not only the disease, to treat adequately the symptoms presented by the patient, and both cases were successfully treated without the use of antibiotics

Biography:

Dr Hunt is a sociologist with particular interest in ethnographic and participatory research methods.  He previously worked on the Welsh Assembly Government’s Sustainable Health Action Research Programme (SHARP), an action research initiative that focused on health inequalities and community health development.  He has combined this with a keen interest in historical sociology and the impact of class and place upon social, cultural and economic life.  Dr Hunt has experience of working with quantitative research methods and analysis

Abstract:

Background:

Infections present a very real risk of harm and sometimes death within and outside healthcare.  In recent years, there have been high profile successes in infection prevention and control, such as the dramatic reductions in MRSA bloodstream infections (which is viewed as one proxy indicator of overall harm) and Clostridium difficile in the UK (Health Protection Agency, 2013; Public Health Wales, 2012).  However, healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) continue to occur and continue to present a risk to users of healthcare.  The present study describes the ways in which engagement of health workers with infection prevention control strategies and principles, shape and inform organisational patient safety culture within isolation in surgical, medical and admission hospital settings; and vice-versa.

Research Methods:

The study adopts a mixed-methods design incorporating quantitative data utilising the Manchester Patient Safety Framework (MaPSaF).  MaPSaF assists us in seeing the levels of patient safety culture maturity in isolation settings at four district general hospitals, in one health board in Wales, UK.  These data were supplemented by ethnographic case studies, involving qualitative semi-structured interviews and periods of observation on hospital wards, thus providing a more in-depth understanding of process, experience and outcomes, from the perspectives of health workers, isolated patients and their significant others.

Conclusion:

All health workers should take ownership and responsibility for IPC.  This study offers new understandings of the meaning of ownership for health workers; of the ways in which IPC is promoted, of how IPC teams operate as new challenges arise, how their effectiveness is assessed and of the positioning of IPC within the broader context of organisational patient safety culture, within hospital isolation settings

Biography:

Yong Yang has completed his PhD at 2007 from National University of Singapore. He is the director of Epidemiology Department of a large tertiary care hospital in Singapore. He has strong experience in epidemiological study with the usage of hospital discharge database. He has conducted hospital epidemiological and clinical research on chronic diseases and infection disease using the hospital discharge database for the past 10 years. He is now developing a comprehensive hospital discharge database, which may be used to conduct epidemiological research in various fields. He has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals

Abstract:

Diabetics Mellitus (DM) has been associated with increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). However, information about the extent and risk factors for TB among Asian diabetic patients is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the rate of TB in patients with DM, and investigate the effect of DM on TB using hospital administrative database. This is an historical cohort study of hospital discharge database from 2004 to 2015 to identify cases with DM and TB using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 9/10th Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-9/10-AM) codes. Of 406751 hospitalized patients, 80493 (19.8%) patients had DM and 2358 (0.6%) patients had TB. Patients with DM had a significantly higher rate of TB (0.71% vs. 0.55%, p<0.001) compared to patients without DM. This higher rate was only present in the pulmonary TB group (0.62% vs. 0.44%, p<0.001) but not in the extrapulmonary TB group (0.11% vs. 0.08%, p=0.053). Logistic regression analyses showed that DM was a significant and independent predictor of TB (odds ratio 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3, p<0.001) after adjustment for factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, admission class, nutritional deficiency, HIV infection, and other comorbid conditions. In conclusion, DM patients were found to have higher rates of TB in this group of Asian patient population. Active screening for latent TB should be considered for DM patients

Biography:

Atika Swar has expertise in community medicine, public health surveillance, research and great passion for infection prevention and control. Has several years of expertise in the field of public health and currently building expertise in infection prevention and control. Very interested in estimating the burden of hospital acquired infections so as to contribute in prevention and reduction of their burden. Through the relevant expertise and interest, this research was conducted to establish an applicable and feasible methodology for assessment of surgical site infection rates and risk factors for low income settings like Sudan. It was among the first researches conducted in this field using similar methodology

Abstract:

SSI rate was high and active direct surveillance with post discharge follow up was a feasible tool for estimating the burden and investigating the associated risk factors. The NNIS risk index was useful for prediction of SSI. It is important to integrate admission follow up with post discharge follow up SSI surveillance

Biography:

Hanadi Salman Al-Salmi Recently holds the position of Assistant Director of Infection Control and Hospital in Epidemiology at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, and a member of the Makkah Region HealthCare Council, Team Leader PCI Standard for Joint Commission Accreditation. At the same time she has done 5 publications in collaboration with different departments and personnel such as: Risk Factors for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus

Infection among Healthcare Personnel, CDC, EID Journal, Volume 22, November 2016, Risk Factors for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection Among Healthcare Personnel" to the New England Journal of Medicine,Itemizing the Bundle: Achieving and Maintaining “ZERO” Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection For Over A Year in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia, AJIC and Taking Compliance in Hand – Hand Hygiene and Importance of Education, EMH Magazine UK.

Abstract:

Background:

Surgical site infections (SSI) is a preventable and devastating complication of cardiac surgery that is associated with significant morbidity. Unfortunately, the reported SSI rate at our centre in 2014-2015 ranged from 2.6% to 8.2%; this is above the standardized rate recommended by the National Healthcare Safety Network.

Method:

An improvement project team was formed in late 2016 to address the rate of SSI in our centre. In this study, we sought to identify risk factors of CABG SSI by using evidence-based practices in addition to a local approach to solve the problem. We performed a root-cause analysis to identify areas for potential improvement. Data collected included a process map of the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative factors that might contribute to SSI risk. In addition, we collected data on patient-related factors, hygiene practice in the operating room, operating room traffic, and compliance to the SSI bundle of care. We used the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) method to improve our CABG-SSI rate.

The root cause analysis identified significant weaknesses in the compliance to the bundle of care of SSI prevention, including:

High blood glucose (Pre, Intra and Post-operative in patients with diabetes and those without it)

Normothermia was not maintained (Pre, Intra and Post-operative)

Noncompliance with chlorhexidine gluconate pre-operative shower

Noncompliance with the timely administration of the first and second dose of pre-operative antibiotics

Noncompliance with the appropriate dosing for pre-operative antibiotics

Results:

Improvement in compliance with the above noted gaps resulted in a decreased incidence of SSI among patients with post-coronary artery bypass grafting for 5 consecutive months.

Conclusion:

CABG SSI is a preventable complication. Using evidence-based practice and structured problem solving may potentially identify risk factors. Focusing on solving the right patient process and visually representing the problem will help in identifying the potential solutions, improving quality-of-care, and reducing cost.

Biography:

Alice Njihia working as a Senior Assistant Chief Nurse in Internal Medicine department in Kenyatta National Referral and Teaching Hospital, Kenya, and have published many articles based on Infection Prevention and Control methods and also worked as Assistant Chief Nurse in Accident and Emergency Department  

Abstract:

Introduction: Needle stick injuries (NSI) are preventable global occupational hazards which are quite prevalent among Health Care Workers (HCW) who are pillars of Health Care Systems. The NSI can easily result to blood borne infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The infections have bad outcomes to the HCW such as long term illness, disability and even death. Health care workers optimal health is essential for efficient delivery of health services

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and response to NSI among Health Care Workers working at Kenyatta National Hospital. 

Methodology: The overall objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and response to needle stick injuries among HCW working at KNH. The study design was cross-sectional descriptive while data was collected by quantitative and qualitative methods. The study population was 1394 HCW who performed invasive patient procedures from where a sample of 331 was determined. Data was collected for a period of one month by self-administered structured questionnaires and was analysed by SPSS version 20.0. Chi Square was used to test association and relationship between independent and dependent variables. The findings were presented in frequencies, proportions, pie charts, tables and graphs. The expected benefits of the study findings were to identify gaps in prevalence and response to NSI.

Results: The results showed that 151(45.6%) respondents experienced NSI in their entire career while 62 (41.1%) experienced NSI in the last one year. The incidence rate was 2 NSI per HCW per year. Majority of the HCW got one NSI in both life time 78(51.7%) while in the last one year was 52(83.9%) respectively. Gender, education, profession and experience respectively were statistically associated with lifetime history of NSI, (c² =4.057, df=1, p<0.05), (c²=12.911, df=5, P<0.05), (c² =8.404, df =3, p <0 .05), (c² = 16.819, df=4, P<0.05). Majority 324(97.9%) of the respondents disposed sharps sharp in appropriate sharp bins. Administration of injections was a day to day activity by the majority 91.5% of the HCW of which 20(13.2%) of them got NSI. Majority of HCW (45.7%) got NSI while on night duty. There was statistical significant association between work experience and drawing blood samples, suturing and recapping used needles, (c² =11.953, df=4, p<0.05), (c² =13.693,  df=4,  p<0.05 and  c² =14.069,  df=4, p<0.05) respectively. Age was also related to drawing blood samples (c² =15.535,  df=3, p<0.05)

 Majority of HCW 98 (65.1%) washed NSI site with water and soap, while only 50% of the HCW reported all NSI. screening for Hepatitis B  and HIV was 36 (58.1%) and  7(11.3%) respectively. Uptake of PEP for HBV was 12 (7.9%) while for HIV was 70(46.4%). Gloves were worn routinely as precautions against NSI by 201(62.6%) of the respondents

Conclusion and Recommendations: The prevalence of NSI was found to be high among HCW at KNH; major activity at time of NSI was administration of injections with low uptake of PEP. Proper handling of needles should also be considered for the staff giving treatment via injections. More research needs to be done on prevalence, response and contributing factors to NSI for informed policy formulation and ways of addressing the gaps.

Biography:

Asha Hassan is in the final stages of completing her Doctorate in Immunology at the University of Nottingham. She is an individual with an extreme passion for humanitarian aid, particularly within the promotion of human welfare to eliminate vaccine preventable infectious diseases, in countries with poor public health provisions. Her current Ph.D. research focus is the epidemiology of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD’s), particularly Necator americanus, with a focus on the rational design of an innovative and more efficient intervention strategy against vaccine preventable NTD’s.

Outside of research, Asha has worked extensively with a variety of organizations and is due to be presenting her research at the 4th international conference of Parasitology (Prague, Czech Republic) and the 11th annual NTD conference (Nairobi, Kenya)

Abstract:

Despite the profound health implications of Necator americanus (N. americanus) infection in humans, many aspects of its interaction with the host immune system are poorly understood. In this context, we studied the direct effects of N. americanus larvae (L3) on the phenotype and function of human dendritic cells (DCs). For the first time our data show that L3 N. americanus larvae exsheathed in the presence of DCs and sequestered the immune cells onto the discarded cuticle sheath. Intriguingly, bystander DCs had negligible interaction with the emerging larvae, alluding to a disparity between the surface chemistry of the larval sheath and its cuticle. Our data also suggest that the interaction between DCs and larvae is mediated via C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) as evidenced by an inhibition in DC sequestration on the larvae cuticle after blocking DC-SIGN (dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing non-integrin) or MR (mannose receptor).

Additionally, DCs incubated with viable axenic larvae exhibited an immature phenotype as evidenced by the low expression of the maturation markers CD80, CD83, CD86, CD40, andHLA-DR. However, DCs maintained their ability to acquire a mature phenotype in response to LPS. Cytokine expression by DCs stimulated with the larvae was comparable to untreated DC,with a statistical significance in contrast to LPS treated DCs (p≤0.029 IL-6, 8 and 10). DCs co-stimulated with LPS and N. americanus exhibited an overall suppression of anti- and pro-nflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12). Conclusively, mature DCs lyse the parasite, which is thought to be mediated through DC modification of cytokine secretions in the microenvironment via paracrine signalling to directly eliminate and lyse the pathogen.These data provide new insights into early immunological events at the interface of DCs and N. americanus larvae and could explain how L3 evade immunity upon initial interaction with ntigen presenting cells; an essential measure for disease prevention, which will be published later this year

Biography:

Waleed A. Mazi is a Regional Director for Infection Prevention and Control, Taif – Saudi Arabia, and also worked in Philosophy of Medical Science, Clinical Microbiology in Sweden. He also Became Infection Prevention and Control Director, King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital – Taif, Saudi Arabia, and published many International articles on prevention of central line –associated bloodstream infection, WHO- Hand Hygiene implementation program, prevention sharp injuries in healthcare settings and molecular genotyping for epidemiological purposes and also participated in the Poster and oral presentations in many international conferences

Abstract:

Effective infection prevention and control programmes in hospitals are essential to prevent infections whenever possible. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are the most adverse event threatening hospital patient safety worldwide. Many factors contribute to the risk of HAIs. Information resources are freely available from many national and international professional health agencies. We observed reduction of device healthcare associated infections after introduced Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) /Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) basic practice recommendations in acute care hospital.

To reduce and control of central line-associated bloodstream Infection (CLABSI), catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) and ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in acute care hospital.

A prospective study to reduce HAIs was conducted in tertiary hospital in 2012. Criteria and incidence rate of CLABSI, CAUTI and VAP were defined according to NHSN guidelines. Hand hygiene observation (HHO) was conducted using the WHO “My five moments” for hand hygiene recommendations. Prevention measures were implemented using SHEA/IDSA basic practice guidelines.

We observed significantly reduction of CLABSI, CAUTI and VAP after implementation SHEA/IDSA practice guidelines.

SHEA/IDSA basic practice guidelines are effective infection prevention model. The strategic plan steps were successfully targeted the goals. It is possible to achieve and maintain zero tolerance without any additional coast

Biography:

Tatiana Ometto has her expertise in emergent viruses in wild animals. Her experience involves work on  field with wild animals, sampling, serological and molecular analyses in a BSL3+ laboratory. She has built this expertise after years working in different projects involving different emergent virus in Brazil

Abstract:

West Nile virus (WNV) has emerged in the last three decades as a significant burden to public health and a major veterinary concern in Europe and the Americas. The emergence of WNV, particularly the invasion into North America in 1999 and its subsequent spread throughout the Western Hemisphere, corroborates the view that the virus is moving southward, placing millions of individuals at risk for infection. The first report of WNV activity in South America surfaced in April 2006, when three horses died in Argentina. WNV seropositivity in horses in Brazil was reported in 2009, molecular positivity in two birds was found in 2010/2012 and the first clinical report of a human case occurs in 2014. Although, the established transmission foci in South America unknown. However, Brazil is a large tropical country with major ecological reserves and different biomes that provide ideal conditions for many arboviruses, including WNV. Brazil has the largest herd of horses in Latin America and the third largest in the world. The total population is approximately 8 million head, equalling US$3.2 billion including herd management costs. Following the introduction of WNV vaccinations for horses in the United States, the incidence of neuroinvasive disease in horses decreased, suggesting that the WNV vaccination had a substantial impact on equine health. Our discussion proposes that Brazil has a low prevalence of WNV antibodies in equids, therefore, the vaccination of horses should be discussed from an economic standpoint with a model of free demand by the owners, as the cost-benefit of the vaccination may be greater than   that of treating the animals. Many questions regarding the potential for WNV spread in Brazil remain. The objective of this discussion was to address these questions by evaluating the importance of passive immunization in horses to prevent of a possible WNV outbreak in Brazil.a

Biography:

Dr. Tomislav Kostyanev obtained his medical degree in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2007 and a specialty in medical microbiology at the Medical University of Sofia in 2012. He has also a second master degree in public health obtained in the same university. During his residency in microbiology, he worked as teaching assistant, teaching medical microbiology to students in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. Since 2013, Dr. Kostyanev has been working in the Laboratory of Medical Microbiology at the University of Antwerp, Belgium as a full-time researcher in the COMBACTE project, an EU funded initiative which aims to develop clinical and laboratory network for clinical trials of anti-invectives in Europe. He is involved in several projects including studies on development of new antibiotics against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Dr. Kostyanev had several specializations and short-term research stays in France, Spain and the United Kingdom. His professional interests are in the field of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic policy

Abstract:

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) has now been recognized as a global public health threat, causing at least 700,000 death cases every year. Therefore, it is essential that new and rapid solutions are found to effectively overcome the consequences of ABR. Many pharmaceutical companies have found difficulties to invest in antibiotic drug discovery and development in the last two decades, mainly because of low economic return of investment. The Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint undertaking (IMI JU) has addressed this issue by investing more than 660 million euro in seven projects clustered in the New Drugs for Bad Bugs programme. These projects encompass all aspects of drug development from basic science and drug discovery, through clinical development to new business models and responsible use of antibiotics.

The main objectives of the COMBACTE consortia are to deliver clinical trials in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and to build clinical and laboratory networks to optimise scientific evaluation of new antimicrobials within Europe. The COMBACTE consortium now consists of 55 academic and 8 industrial partners and spreads in 42 countries, including more than 800 hospitals. The main objective of LAB-Net, one of the four pillars of COMBACTE, is to establish a European-wide network of laboratories that plays a key role in clinical trials on anti-infectives. By being part of LAB-Net, laboratories can benefit from training programmes and activities to build laboratory capacity and infrastructure.

One of the ultimate goal of COMBACTE is to evolve into a self-sustainable clinical trial infrastructure which will support trials of anti-infectives after the formal close-out of the IMI-funded programme. The vision of such a network would be to efficiently generate rigorous evidence for new or improved diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infections and to better respond to infectious disease threats. This would be facilitated by a European multidisciplinary clinical network and innovative research approaches.

Biography:

Staffan P.E. Sylvan is a senior expert in infectious diseases and communicable disease control and prevention. He has been the county medical officer for Uppsala County, Sweden. As such he was the director of the local department of communicable disease control and prevention and was very active in undertaking campaigns concerning the containment of the spread of communicable diseases such as pandemic influenza, Chlamydia, HIV and hepatitis A, B and C. He has a long standing research career particularly in the area of hepatitis immunology. He has published more than 65 papers in reputed journals

Abstract:

Background: During the autumn 2015 the number of people seeking asylum in Sweden increased dramatically and region Jamtland/Harjedalen received over 3600 individuals. To give all these people a roof over their head it was necessary to increase the number of people living in each room, resulting in an overcrowded resident situation in some shelters comprising 1182 individuals.

There is an increased risk for rapid spread of novel strains of influenza A in confined environment, such as refugee shelters. Universal influenza vaccination is a strategy to improve prevention by increasing vaccination coverage (VC) and providing indirect protection of adults by decreasing infection and transmission among children.

Material and Methods: 5 refugee shelters were considered overcrowded, housing between 87 to 638 individuals each. Specially trained vaccination teams visited each shelter after written information in english, dari, pashto, amarinjo and arabic about influenza infection and influenza vaccination had been distributed among all asylum seekers. The vaccination was free of charge.

Results: VC among all refugees in age groups 0-65 years was 68 %. In comparison, the VC among the older general population (65 years or older) in our region (county 2) was 33 %, which was the 2nd lowest VC among 11 reporting counties in Sweden.

During the influenza season 2015/2016, 88 cases of influenza A and 29 cases of influenza B were reported in our region (population 127 169). Among these, 3 individuals with influenza A and 2 with influenza B were reported that belonged to the refugee cohort. These cases were reported before the implementation of the vaccination campaign among the overcrowded asylum seekers. After the introduction of the influenza vaccination campaign no case of influenza A and B or outbreaks of influenza was reported from the vaccinated shelters.

Conclusions: The high VC has probably had some impact on the spread of influenza and the burden of infection in the shelters. It is also possible that the high VC resulted in a protective effect for the unvaccinated individuals living in the shelters, as no case of influenza was reported from the shelters after the implementation of the vaccination campaign. This limited study also suggests that influenza vaccination free of charge, with easy access and preceded by direct adequate information regarding influenza and vaccination can result in an enhanced VC

Biography:

Sitelbanat studied B. Pharm, M. Pharm (Pharmaceutical Microbiology) at  Faculty of Pharmacy,  University of Gezira - Sudan and PhD at China Pharmaceutical  University School of Life Science and technology 2016, awarded the prize of distinct scientific research (M. Pharm) entitled (Antimicrobial Activity of fifteen medicinal plants in Hospital air contaminants) by senate board University of Gezira, Sudan, June 2008 and awarded the best poster prize entitled (Pharmaco-dynamic of peptide HM-3 and its effect on HCT-116 tumor micro-environment) in the 5th World Congress on Cancer Therapy, Innovations and Novel Approaches in Diagnosis and Treatment of different Cancers, September/ 28-30/ 2015, Atlanta, USA and also awarded the Ideal Woman Prize (Medal), Sudanese Worker Women Union, Cycle (2012-2016), General Secretariat, Government of Sudan, Under Patronage of the Sudan Vice President, May 30rd2016. She is the Deputy Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, Sudan since January/2017

Abstract:

Wound infections contribute significantly  to morbidity and mortality in surgically treated patients. Number of factors contributes to wound infection; however microorganisms are the major causes with bacteria being the most prevalent. Determination of local Bacterial sensitivity patterns to antibiotics is an important to provide a guide for an appropriate management. The present study was designed to investigate the susceptibility of etiological pathogens isolated from the Gezira Hospital for renal diseases and surgery, to different types of antimicrobial agents and the risk factors during the period between August and December 2015. The study followed prospective antimicrobial Agents

Case series for all patients admitted to the surgical wards during this period. The demographic data, diagnostic criteria, and laboratory data were collected. Out of the 200 patients recruited in the study (18%) showed evidence of sepsis yield infections. The predominant isolate was Staphylococcus aureus  which represent (31%) of the total isolated Bacteria. Cloxacillin exhibited the highest activity (87%) against Staph aureus while Cefotaxime, Co- trimoxazole and Cefalexin showed only (7%). In contrast to previous study reported that Staph aureus was 100% susceptible to Cefotaxime, this conflict may due to the production of β- lactamase or alternation of the target site with the decrease affinity to the drug and also the diabetic patients showed high incidence of wound infection compared with non diabetic. In conclusion, the rate of surgical site infection was relatively high and the predominant pathogen Staph aureus was highly susceptible to Cloxacillin and resistant to Cefixim.

Biography:

Badrelsabah Bendery: ENT specialist MSCH zagizig university, auditor certificate, utilization management, Fellowship in hospital management, work in health insurance Egypt, work now in KSA CLIC  doing this study to evaluate importance of infection control guidelines in decrease ACURTI                                                                                                                                              

Abstract:

Background

Acute upper respiratory tract infections (AURTI) can spread rapidly among health care personnel in health care settings, particularly for immune compromised persons. In this study we evaluate infection control measures guidelines. Infection control programs in skilled nursing facilities should address: surveillance for infections and antimicrobial resistance, outbreak investigation and control plan for epidemics, isolation precautions, hand hygiene, staff education, immunizations, tuberculin testing, and infection control policies to prevent specific infections. Methods: Our study conducted on 80 Health care workers in outpatient clinics which divided into two groups’ doctors and paramedical (nurses, workers, employees in clinics) age 20-55years, study method by questionnaire about guidelines of infection control, laboratory and radiology screening. Results:  we found 70% insufficient infection control auditors, 50% standard precautions of infection control measures inadequate and 20% of asymptomatic of AURTI among workers and employees in clinic especially hand hygiene technique insufficient among health care workers. Some of the nurses did not follow infection-control procedures fully.  Conclusions:  Infection control interventions should be implemented in outpatient, as well as inpatient, settings to reduce transmission among health care workers and limit progression of AURT infections outbreaks. The healthcare worker, need to be provided education to support patient safety and minimize risk for infection. Infection prevention and control, care should be taken to provide comprehensive infection control measures including contact control, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, disinfection, and environmental cleaning.      

Biography:

Ms. Zarina Bee Nazeer has completed her Diploma in Nursing (General, Psychiatric, Community) and Midwifery from Natal College of Nursing, R K Khan Campus Durban South Africa. She has passed the SAMTRAC Course by NOSA. (Safety Management and Training) (Cum Laude) in 2001.She completed the Infection Prevention & Control Course in 2011 at Netcare Nursing Academy in Durban South Africa. She has more than 28yrs experience in the healthcare setting. She is currently the Infection Control Coordinator at AFHSR in Khamis Mushayt KSA. She has been a speaker on Infection Control Topics locally and internationally. She is a presentator at AFHSR IC Mandatory Training Course for all staff. She has coordinated, co-directed and facilitated  IC educational activities and has been extensively involved in major infection control activities, projects and programs for the past 15 years, including commissioning of new facilities, developing surveillance programs and evaluating IC programs.

She is an active team player & has been instrumental in the Infection Control Service element for JCIA at AFHSR. The hospital has successfully passed the Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA February 2017).

Abstract:

Introduction

Patient Safety and Quality Patient Care is the ultimate goal of patient care in any healthcare facility. Infection Prevention and Control is the epicenter of Patient Care Delivery, therefore the Infection Control Programme in Healthcare Settings must include the IC Risk Assessment policy which must be proactively done to prevent infections and outbreaks, by assessing the potential risks which may disrupt the IC efforts.

Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA)

Infection Prevention and Control (PCI) Risk Assessment describes the Infection risks which is unique to the institution. This Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) will help the institution to assess the Complexity of the Risk identified and the possible actions to reduce the effects of the risk. The risk scoring will help determine the severity of the risk and the prioritization of each risk identified.

Risk assessment is an ongoing process because infection risk changes overtime and at times rapidly. An infection control risk assessment must consider different elements before establishing IPC policies and procedures, goals and objectives.

 A written, hospital wide comprehensive risk assessment plan is essential in any healthcare organization because it is a first step in a systematic process to create and implement PCI Plan.

Infection Control Risk Assessment Plan

The Healthcare Accreditation bodies (viz. JCIA – Standard PCI.7) has included the ICRA as a requirement for written risk assessments documenting how the healthcare facility is prioritizing patient and healthcare worker safety.

The PCI Risk Assessment will be done by the Multidisciplinary Team members which may  include representation from Infection Control ,  Environmental Health & Safety( EH&S) , Facilities & Engineering  and Continuous Quality Improvement & Patient Safety (CQI&PS) . The Infection Control Committee members will review and approve the facility wide PCI Risk Assessment and the PCI programme Plan for the set year.

Biography:

Huang Wei Ling, born in Taiwan, raised in Brazil since the age of one, graduated in medicine in Brazil, specializing in infectious and parasitic diseases, a General Practitioner and Parenteral and Enteral Medical Nutrition Therapist. Once in charge of the Hospital Infection Control Service of the City of Franca's General Hospital, she was responsible for the control of all prescribed antimicrobial medication, and received an award for the best paper presented at the Brazilian Hospital infection Control Congress in 1998.

She was coordinator of both the Infection Control and the Nutritional Support Committee in Sao Joaquim Hospital in Franca, and also worked at the infectious Sexually Transmitted Disease Reference Center. She is the owner of the Medical Acupuncture and Pain Management Clinic, and since 1997 has been presenting her work worldwide concerning the treatment of various diseases using techniques based on several medical traditions around the world. 

Abstract:

Statement of the problem:  Very few publications provide sound scientific data used to determine which components are essential for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programs in terms of effectiveness in reducing the risk of infection. In recent years, a range of regional best practice or policy principles have been developed that address what could be considered as core components of IPC programs. However there remains a major gap in relation to the availability of international best practice principles for core components of IPC programs. The purpose of this study was to show why patients still catch hospital infections despite IPC programs. A better understanding of a variety of theories is needed that could explain the physiopathology of diverse diseases described in the medical past history, which are usually disregarded clinically today. A broader view seems to show the necessity of seeing the patient as a whole; not only focusing on the disease in the prevention of these hospital infections. The methodology used was a review of these theories such as those presented by Hippocrates (“Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.”), as well as others from oriental medicine, which explain that diseases originate from three factors: external (exposure to cold, heat, humidity, wind and dryness), internal (emotional) and dietary. Findings: Having a broader view of the patient as a whole (Yin, Yang, Qi, Blood energy and Heat retention), we can understand better the formation of hospital infection which is a systemic energy reaction of our body undergoing normal hospital treatment. Conclusion: To understand better why a patient is still catching hospital infections, despite these IPC programs, we need to broaden our view observing all emotional, environmental and dietary factors, as well as studying his energy situation at the moment of admittance identifying his risk of hospital infection

Biography:

Fereshteh Shahcheraghi is the Head of the Bacteriology Department of Pasteur Institute Of Iran. She obtained her PhD in medical microbiology in 1996 and joined the Institute Pasteur in 1997 as assistant Professor.From2002-2003 she went to Japan for studying and researching on antibiotic resistance. Her main field is antibiotic resistance especially on Gram Negative Bacteria; she has several project and papers on CRE (carbapenem Resistance Enterobacteriaceae) in outpatients and in patients in Iran. She is the head of Pertussis National Reference Lab of Pasteur Institute, this Lab have collaboration with CDC of Iran for diagnosis of suspected Patients to Pertussis and research on isolated strains. Also she has international project on Pertussis. She has authored more than 60 articles in international peer-reviewed journals and several national and international projects she is also actively involved in research, directing studies of post-graduate students, post-doctoral research workers and trainees

Abstract:

Objectives: Fecal colonization by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) could serve as a reservoir for transmission of these pathogens to clinical settings, which subsequently increases clinical infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with CRE fecal colonization among inpatients.

Material and Methods: Rectal swabs from 50 patients in a university hospital were collected. CRE screening was performed by using selective media. Carbapenemase production was detected by phenotypic tests. PCR assays were used to detect carbapenemases genes. Clonal relatedness was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

Results: The prevalence of fecal colonization was 56% (28/50). Overall, 41 CRE isolates were identified, of which 38 were carbapenemase-producers. Eleven patients (39.3%) were co-colonized with CRE isolates. ICU hospitalization, prior antibiotic therapy, and mechanical ventilation were significant risk factors. The bla_OXA-48 was the most frequent carbapenemases followed by bla_NDM-1 andbla_NDM-7 enzyme. Nine carpapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) isolates co-harbored bla_NDM-1 and bla_OXA-48. Also, six CPE isolates co-harboredbla_NDM-7 and bla_OXA-48.We did not detect bla_KPC, bla_GES, bla_IMP and bla_VIM. PFGE analysis showed that E. coli clones were diverse, while K. pneumoniae categorize in 3 clusters. Cluster I was the major clone carrying bla_OXA-48and bla_CTXM-15 genes.

Conclusions: Our study as the first investigation in Iran showed CRE not only had high prevalence in fecal carriages, but also harbored varied antimicrobial resistance elements. 

Biography:

Dr. BenMohamed is a Professor of Immunology, the founder and the head of the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of California. He also holds a joint appointment with the Center of Immunology at UC Irvine and with Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center UCI Medical center. Dr. BenMohamed received his Ph.D. in Immunology from the Pasteur Institute, Paris, France in 1997 where he worked as the key developer and co-inventor of a new promising vaccine strategy that uses mucosal delivery of clinically approved lipopeptide molecules. Dr. BenMohamed has been involved in clinical immunology, humoral and cellular immune responses, epitope mapping, epitope improvement, and the development and optimization of sub-unit vaccines against several infectious diseases including malaria Plasmodium falciparum, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2). Dr. BenMohamed is an independent immunologist, with a national and international reputation in vaccine development against both infectious diseases and cancer. Dr. BenMohamed is well integrated into the scientific community within the United States as well as Europe and is actively involved in a number of professional societies including American Association of Immunologists (AAI), American Society for Microbiology (ASM), American Society for Hematology (ASH), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

Abstract:

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a prevalent human pathogen that infects over 3.72 billion individuals worldwide and can cause potentially blinding recurrent corneal herpetic disease. HSV-1 establishes latency within sensory neurons of trigeminal ganglia (TG) and TG-resident CD8+ T cells play a critical role in preventing its reactivation. The repertoire, phenotype and function of protective CD8+ T cells are unknown. Bolstering the apparent feeble numbers of CD8+ T cells in TG remains a challenge for immunotherapeutic strategies. In this study, a comprehensive panel of 467 HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8+ T cell epitopes were predicted from the entire HSV-1 genome. CD8+ T cell responses to these genome-wide epitopes were compared in HSV-1 seropositive symptomatic (SYMP) individuals (with a history of numerous episodes of recurrent herpetic disease) vs. asymptomatic (ASYMP) individuals (who are infected but never experienced any recurrent herpetic disease). Frequent polyfunctional HSV-specific effector memory IFN-+CD107a/b+CD44highCD62LlowCD8+ TEM cells were detected in ASYMP individuals and were mainly directed against three “ASYMP” epitopes. In contrast, SYMP individuals have more mono-functional central memory CD44highCD62LhighCD8+ TCM cells. Furthermore, therapeutic immunization with an innovative prime/pull vaccine, based on priming with multiple “ASYMP” epitopes (prime) and neurotropic TG delivery of the T-cell attracting chemokine CXCL-10 (pull), boosted the number and function of CD44highCD62LlowCD8+ TEM and tissue-resident CD103highCD8+ TRM cells in TG of latently infected HLA-A*0201 Tg mice and reduced recurrent ocular herpes following UV-B induced reactivation. These findings have profound implications in the development of T-cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies to treat blinding recurrent herpes infection and disease.

$Footnotes: This work is supported by Public Health Service Research R01 Grants EY026103, EY019896 and EY024618 from National Eye Institute (NEI) and R21 Grant AI110902 from National Institutes of allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), by The Discovery Center for Eye Research (DCER) and by a Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) grant.

Biography:

Than Linh Quyen has started her scientific research career for 3 years, firstly as research assistant in DIANOVA A/S, Denmark on development of isothermal amplification technologies. She currently is a PhD student in Bio-Lab-Chip group at Department of Micro and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark. She continues her research of interests on isothermal amplification technologies, DNA microarray, microfluidics and Lab on a chip for online rapid detection of the infectious

Abstract:

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has received great interest and is wildly used for point of care (POC) diagnostics based nucleic acid detection of pathogens. For example, DNA dye is an indispensable component in real-time LAMP reaction. Several DNA dyes work well for real-time PCR, but they have inhibition effect in LAMP reaction. Hence, the selection of dyes is urgent need for development of rapid, accurate, sensitive real-time LAMP based quantification and detection of pathogens. In this study, we have investigated twenty four DNA dyes for rapid real-time LAMP detection of Salmonella enteritidis based on inhibition effects. The real-time LAMP reactions were performed with 24 dyes at various concentrations ranged from 0.5 µM to 10 µM. Among the 24 dyes tested, SYTO dye group (except SYTO 60 and SYTO 62), Miami dye group (except Miami Red), and Boxto were the best since non-inhibition effect on the real-time LAMP reaction was observed. Application of one of the best dyes, the SYTO 9, in the real-time LAMP reaction, a detection limit of 3.86 copies of hilA gene for Salmonella spp. within 30 min at 65 °C was archived. The identification of the best dyes for rapid real-time LAMP detection will contribute important information for development of POC real-time LAMP systems for robust, sensitive and rapid online or at site detection of the pathogens. 

Biography:

Ndabong Michael was born on March 19, 1993 at Fondera of the Republic of Cameroon. I am a 4^th year medical student at the University of Buea and currently carrying out research work on HIV/AIDS in West Africa

Abstract:

Some degree of interaction has been demonstrated recently between HIV/AIDS and falciparum malaria co-infection in studies carried out in certain parts of Africa, although with conflicting results. However, not much has been done in Cameroon. In order to investigate the interaction, a clinical and laboratory study was carried out in the urban town of Yaoundé the capital city of Cameroon on 480 subjects (15-49 years of age) from March – September, 2015.

Information on the knowledge of practices and attitudes towards both infections was also obtained. Analysis of the questionnaire indicated that participants generally had poor knowledge on HIV and malaria. The prevalence of malaria, HIV and co-infection was 78.8%, 11.7% and 7.9% respectively. The mean temperature of co-infected patients (37.5± 0.007) was higher compared with that of patients infected with HIV (36.7± 0.13). Co-infected patients were significantly more anaemic (t=2.275, p=0.026) and had low red blood cell counts (t=-2.681, p=0.001) than those with mono-infections. The mean parasite density was higher in co-infected patients (1630.97± 231.02) when compared with patients solely diagnosed with malaria (1217.44±67.07) (x²=7.65, p=0.0251). WBC count was lower in co-infected patients compared with patients infected with malaria or HIV only (x²=2.24, p=0.488). The mean CD4 count in co-infected subjects (317.94± 45.00cells/mm³) was lower than in those having HIV only (321.37±24.63cells/mm³), but this difference was not statistically significant (t=-1.521, p=0.265). The follow-up mean CD4 count (350.11 ±30.34) in co-infected patients increased compared with the initial count (31.6±17.82)(x²=-1.613, =0.069). The mean parasite density (109.09±41.08/µl) for co-infected patients after follow-up was significantly lower than the initial value (1630.79±23.102/µl) (t=6.12, p<0.001). Therefore HIV and malaria co-infection in the study site was generally associated with anaemia, high fever, high parasite density, lower RBC and WBC count and reduced CD4 counts

Biography:

Redemptah Yeda has her expertise in enteric pathogens, in-vitro malaria culture, sensitivity testing, molecular assays and analysis. She has 5 years of experience in research from centre of disease control (CDC) on enteric work and malaria experience from Walter Reed Project (WRP). Currently am a Master of Science student in Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Diarrhea is preventable and treatable by early recognition of dehydration, increased fluids, breastfeeding and timely treatment.  Despite the advances to understand management and pathogenesis, globally it’s estimated that diarrhea accounts for 1.5 million deaths annually. 800,000 children die annually in sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya, infectious diseases are on the rise due to poverty, illiteracy, inadequate safe drinking water and poor sanitation Flood prone areas have high incidence of diarrhea. However, there is no active surveillance to monitor the incidence and also understand the effect of seasons on the incidence. No study has been carried out on the preparedness of the health facilities for the treatment of Diarrhea. The purpose of this study: To investigate the incidence and preparedness for treatment of diarrhea in epidemic prone floods areas in Kisumu County. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: This was a retrospective study come across sectional study. A key informative interview tool was used to collect data among community health workers and the hospital leads. A conceptual frame work was used to focus on the interaction between incidence and mortality with relation to environment. Findings: Diarrhea is common among the adults compared to other age categories. Conclusion & Significance: Despite the challenges in controlling diarrhea, adults experience more cases. Over the last 20 years diarrhea studies have mainly on the under five However, there is limited information on the epidemiology of diarrhea among adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Recommendations Research is required to establish scientific models to predict diarrhea outbreaks