FORUM FORUM KNOWLEDGE STUDIES New pathogens on the rise? References 1. https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/156741/WHO-kann-Berichte-zu-Ausbruch-mit-humanem-Metapneumovirus-in-China-nicht-bestaetigen (accessed on 10.02.2025) 2. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/human-metapneumovirus-(hmpv)-infection (accessed on 10.02.2025) 3. https://www.openpr.de/news/1276284/FSME-Co-Forscherinnen-entdecken-in-den-Alpen-neues-Zeckenvirus-idw.html (accessed on10.02.2025) 4. Nowotny N et al. (2025) Viruses 17: 122. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17010122 5. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chikungunya (accessed on 10.02.2025) 6. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/chikungunya-monthly (accessed on10.02.2025) New index to assess the quality of hand hygiene Glove Use and Hand Disinfection The indications for the use of disposable medical gloves in healthcare facilities are often unclear. In Germany, the Commission for Infection Prevention in Medical Facilities and in Care and Integration Assistance Facilities and Companies (KRINKO) therefore published a statement in 2024 [1]. Researchers at the German Consulting Center for Infection prevention and Control in Freiburg, Germany took this as an opportunity to develop an index of glove hand hygiene (GU) and hand disinfection (HD) - the so-called GUHDI [2]. This can be used as an additional measure to assess the quality of hand hygiene. How is the GUHDI calculated? The GUHDI assumes that two gloves count as one glove use. It is calculated as follows GHD per patient day divided by HD per patient day. While a GHDI of 1 indicates that one HD occurs per GHD, a GHDI of 0.5 indicates two HDs per GHD - and so on. The researchers piloted the GUHDI in three hospitals with a total of 1100 beds and concluded that the index can be collected with little to moderate additional effort. Optimal GUHDI to be determined Since in practice there are more indications for HD than for GU, the GUHDI should be less than 0.5. However, studies have yet to determine an optimal range. When the GUHDI is incorporated into a comprehensive surveillance programme, it can provide meaningful data for the improvement of hand hygiene practices. References 1. Hoch B, Schulz-Stübner S (2024) J Infect Prev: 17571774241297671. https://doi. org/10.1177/17571774241297671 2. Robert Koch-Institut (2024) Epidemiol Bull 10: 3–15. https://www.rki.de/ DE/Aktuelles/Publikationen/Epidemiologisches-Bulletin/2024/10_24.pdf?__ blob=publicationFile&v=2 (accessed on 10.02.2025) Human metapneumovirus (hMPV)1,2 • Occurs seasonally worldwide, especially in children. Currently more common in China (outbreak not confirmed by WHO). • Cold symptoms such as cough, fever, runny nose. Risk groups (young children, elderly, immunocompromised, chronically ill) may become seriously ill. Rarely fatal. • Droplet and aerosol transmission. Alpine chamois encephalitis virus (ACEV)3,4 • So far detected in three chamois in Austria and Italy (2017 and 2023) • Neurological disease leading to death. • Transmitted by ticks. It is unclear whether it is transmitted to other species or to humans. Currently no evidence of zoonotic risk. Chikungunya virus5,6 • Occurs mainly in South America (current focus Brazil with > 400,000 cases in 2024) and parts of Asia. • Sudden onset of fever, severe joint pain, possibly other general symptoms Rarely fatal. • Transmitted by tiger mosquito. Extremely low risk within Europe. : GUHDI GHD per patient day divided by HD per patient day 14
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