Most outbreaks associated with contaminated antiseptics and disinfectants had been attributed to user errors, as identified in our previous review in 2007. Although numerous regulations and guidelines have been established for proper use of antiseptics and disinfectants since then, such outbreaks continue to occur. To address this issue, we conducted a literature review of outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks linked to contaminated antiseptics and disinfectants, aiming to update the outbreak characteristics and propose new prevention strategies.

We searched the published literature from 2006 to 2024 via the PubMed database.

Among 2,307 publications identified, twenty-one outbreaks and 4 pseudo-outbreaks were reviewed. Among the outbreaks, seventeen (81%) were linked to antiseptics including chlorhexidine or low-level disinfectants including quaternary ammonium compounds. A median of 12 individuals (range: 3–256) developed infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, or catheter-related infections, resulting from direct use of contaminated mouthwashes and skin antiseptics on patients, leading to 55 fatalities. Thirteen (62%) outbreaks were attributed to intrinsically contaminated products, which led to product recall and regulatory changes. Seven (33%) were linked to extrinsically contaminated antiseptics or disinfectants, all associated with improper practices in preparation and storage. Control measures included use of sterile water for preparation, disinfection or replacement of dispensers and containers, and prohibition of using solutions prepared in the hospital laboratory.

To avoid outbreaks associated with contaminated antiseptics and disinfectants, healthcare personnel should understand the risks of contaminated antiseptics and disinfectants, and prevention strategies to avoid extrinsic contamination.

To assess the frequency of and motivations for acute respiratory illness (ARI) presenteeism in healthcare personnel (HCP) during two waves of COVID-19.

Survey.

Large academic medical center, both ambulatory and acute care settings.

All HCPs (n = 11,429) at the University of North Carolina Medical Center were eligible for two voluntary, electronic surveys: pre-Omicron (n = 591, recall period March 2020 - December 2021) and Omicron BA.1 (n = 385, recall period January - April 2022).

We compared self-reported ARI presenteeism (working despite feeling feverish plus cough and/or sore throat) and motivators across time and demographics. We also estimated effects of workplace perceptions and culture on ARI presenteeism with log-binomial regression, adjusting for age, gender, HCP role, and patient interaction.

In the pre-Omicron and Omicron BA.1 eras, 24% and 34% of respondents respectively reported at least one instance of ARI presenteeism. In both eras, clinical frontline HCP were more likely to report ARI presenteeism than other roles, as were HCP primarily providing direct patient care vs not. Pre-Omicron motivators included disciplinary action and sick leave concerns, whereas workplace culture predominated during Omicron. Feeling professional obligation to attend work and observing colleague presenteeism increased ARI presenteeism in both eras. During Omicron, COVID-19 burnout, fatigue, and unclear call-out procedures increased ARI presenteeism.

ARI presenteeism was common and had diverse motivations, including workplace culture, disciplinary action, and sick leave. Efforts to reduce presenteeism should address these factors and prioritize frontline clinical personnel with direct patient interaction.

We conducted a quantitative analysis of the microbial burden and prevalence of epidemiologically important pathogens (EIP) found on long-term care facilities (LTCF) environmental surfaces.

Microbiological samples were collected using Rodac plates (25cm2/plate) from resident rooms and common areas in five LTCFs. EIP were defined as MRSA, VRE, C. difficile and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative rods (GNRs).

Rooms of residents with reported colonization had much greater EIP counts per Rodac (8.32 CFU, 95% CI 8.05, 8.60) than rooms of non-colonized residents (0.78 CFU, 95% CI 0.70, 0.86). Sixty-five percent of the resident rooms and 50% of the common areas were positive for at least one EIP. If a resident was labeled by the facility as colonized with an EIP, we only found that EIP in 30% of the rooms. MRSA was the most common EIP recovered, followed by C. difficile and MDR-GNR.

We found frequent environmental contamination with EIP in LTCFs. Colonization status of a resident was a strong predictor of higher levels of EIP being recovered from his/her room.

Growing numbers of students now seek mental health support from their higher education providers. In response, a number of universities have invested in non-clinical well-being services, but there have been few evaluations of these. This research addresses a critical gap in the existing literature.

This study examined the impact of introducing non-clinical well-being advisers on student mental health and help-seeking behaviour at a large UK university.

Survey data collected pre–post service introduction in 2018 (n = 5562) and 2019 (n = 2637) measured prevalence of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7), and low mental well-being (Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), alongside student support-seeking behaviour. Logistic regression models investigated changes in outcome measures. Administrative data (2014–2020) were used to investigate corresponding trends in antidepressant prescribing at the onsite health service, student counselling referrals and course withdrawal rates.

Adjusted models suggested reductions in students’ levels of anxiety (odds ratio 0.86, 95% CI 0.77–0.96) and low well-being (odds ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.75–0.94) in 2019, but not depression symptoms (odds ratio 1.05, 95% CI 0.93–1.17). Statistical evidence showed reduced student counselling referrals, with antidepressant prescribing and course withdrawal rates levelling off. Student perception of the availability and accessibility of university support improved.

Our findings suggest a non-clinical well-being service model may improve student perception of support, influence overall levels of anxiety and low well-being, and reduce clinical need. The current study was only able to examine changes over the short term, and a longer follow-up is needed.

Music festivals have become an increasingly popular form of mass-gathering event, drawing an increasing number of attendees across the world each year. While festivals exist to provide guests with an enjoyable experience, there have been instances of serious illness, injury, and in some cases death. Large crowds, prolonged exposure to loud music, and high rates of drug and alcohol consumption can pose a dangerous environment for guests as well as those looking after them.

A retrospective review of electronic patient records (EPRs) at the 2022 Glastonbury Festival was undertaken. All patients who attended medical services on-site during the festival and immediately after were included. Patient demographics, diagnosis, treatment received, and discharge destination were obtained and analyzed.

A total of 2,828 patients received on-site medical care. The patient presentation rate (PPR) was 13.47 and the transport-to-hospital rate (TTHR) was 0.30 per 1,000 guests. The most common diagnoses were joint injuries, gastrointestinal conditions, and blisters. Only 164 patients (5.48%) were diagnosed as being intoxicated. Overall, 552 patients (19.52%) were prescribed a medication to take away and 268 (9.48%) had a dressing for a minor wound. One patient (0.04%) underwent a general anesthetic and no patients required cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Most patients were discharged back to the festival site (2,563; 90.66%).

Minor conditions were responsible for many presentations and most patients only required mild or non-invasive interventions, after which they could be safely discharged back to the festival. Older adults were diagnosed with a different frequency of conditions compared to the overall study population, something not reported previously. Intoxicated patients only accounted for a very small amount of the medical workload.

It remains unclear whether cognitive reserve can attenuate dementia risk among people with different genetic predispositions.

We aimed to examine the association between cognitive reserve and dementia, and further to explore whether and to what extent cognitive reserve may modify the risk effect of genetic factors on dementia.

Within the UK Biobank, 210 631 dementia-free participants aged ≥60 years were followed to detect incident dementia. Dementia was ascertained through medical and death records. A composite cognitive reserve indicator encompassing education, occupation and multiple cognitively loaded activities was created using latent class analysis, categorised as low, moderate and high level. Polygenic risk scores for Alzheimer's disease were constructed to evaluate genetic risk for dementia, categorised by tertiles (high, moderate and low). Data were analysed using Cox models and Laplace regression.

In multi-adjusted Cox models, the hazard ratio (HR) of dementia was 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61–0.70) for high cognitive reserve compared with low cognitive reserve. In Laplace regression, participants with high cognitive reserve developed dementia 1.62 (95% CI 1.35–1.88) years later than those with low cognitive reserve. In stratified analysis by genetic risk, high cognitive reserve was related to more than 30% lower dementia risk compared with low cognitive reserve in each stratum. There was an additive interaction between low cognitive reserve and high genetic risk on dementia (attributable proportion 0.24, 95% CI 0.17–0.31).

High cognitive reserve is associated with reduced risk of dementia and may delay dementia onset. Genetic risk for dementia may be mitigated by high cognitive reserve. Our findings underscore the importance of enhancing cognitive reserve in dementia prevention.

Hospitals play a significant and important role in funding high-cost medicines so patients can access treatments they need. High-cost medicines are often specialty medicines, which contribute to a significant and increasing portion of the hospital budget. It is imperative that these expensive medicines are governed and managed with a fair, standardized evidence-based process. We aim to provide a framework for Drugs and Therapeutics Committees (DTCs).

During 2021, Guiding Principles were developed following a literature review and survey of current practices by DTCs in Australia. An Expert Advisory Group (EAG) was convened, comprising individuals with expertise in quality use of medicines, evidence-based medicine and medicines governance. The guiding principles were drafted by the EAG, in consultation with a range of stakeholders and relevant external organizations. All feedback was collated, reviewed and discussed to refine the content of the final Guiding Principles released in January 2022.

Seven overarching principles provide key recommendations for the governance of high-cost medicines:

1. (i) A definition of high‑cost medicines should be determined and clearly articulated for use by each medicines governance committee.

2. (ii) Review of high-cost medicines requires members with relevant expertize to facilitate good and effective decision-making.

3. (iii) The committee should engage directly with the applicant prior to review to ensure a full understanding of the rationale for the request.

4. (iv) consistent, robust and transparent procedure for the assessment of high-cost medicine applications should be defined and implemented for use by each medicines governance committee to ensure fair process.

5. (v) Ethical considerations fundamentally underpin deliberations around high-cost medicines.

6. (vi) The decisions and outcomes of the decision making should be transparent and appropriately communicated to the various audiences.

7. (vii) The high-quality assessment of high-cost medicines requires appropriate training and resourcing.

These national Guiding Principles promote consistent, evidence-based use of high-cost medicines and provide a framework for DTCs to assess and achieve effective governance for the quality use of high‑cost medicines.