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Journal articleMing DK, Sorawat S, Chanh HQ, et al., 2020,
Continuous physiological monitoring using wearable technology to inform individual management of infectious diseases, public health and outbreak responses
, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol: 96, Pages: 648-654, ISSN: 1201-9712Optimal management of infectious diseases is guided by up-to-date information at the individual and public health level. For infections of global importance including emerging pandemics such as COVID-19 or prevalent endemic diseases such like dengue, identifying patients at risk of severe disease and clinical deterioration can be challenging given the majority present with a mild illness. In our article, we describe the use of wearable technology for continuous physiological monitoring in healthcare. Deployment of wearables in hospital settings for the management of infectious diseases, or in the community to support syndromic surveillance during outbreaks could provide significant, cost effective advantages and improve healthcare delivery. We highlight a range of promising technologies employed by wearable devices and discuss the technical and ethical issues relating to implementation in the clinic, with specific focus on low- and middle- income countries. Finally, we propose a set of essential criteria for the roll-out of wearable technology for clinical use.
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Journal articlePetersen E, Wasserman S, Lee S-S, et al., 2020,
COVID-19-We urgently need to start developing an exit strategy
, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, Vol: 96, Pages: 233-239, ISSN: 1201-9712- Author Web Link
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- Citations: 40
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Journal articleRawson TM, Moore L, Castro Sanchez E, et al., 2020,
COVID-19 and the potential long term impact on antimicrobial resistance
, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Vol: 75, Pages: 1681-1684, ISSN: 0305-7453The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 respiratory virus has required an unprecedented response to control the spread of the infection and protect the most vulnerable within society. Whilst the pandemic has focused society on the threat of emerging infections and hand hygiene, certain infection control and antimicrobial stewardship policies may have to be relaxed. It is unclear whether the unintended consequences of these changes will have a net-positive or -negative impact on rates of antimicrobial resistance. Whilst the urgent focus must be on allaying this pandemic, sustained efforts to address the longer-term global threat of antimicrobial resistance should not be overlooked.
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Journal articlePatel A, Charani E, Ariyanayagam D, et al., 2020,
New-onset anosmia and ageusia in adult patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
, Clinical Microbiology and Infection, ISSN: 1198-743XOBJECTIVES: We investigated the prevalence of anosmia and ageusia in adult patients with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of infection with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: This was a retrospective observational analysis of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 admitted to hospital or managed in the community and their household contacts across a London population during the period March 1st to April 1st, 2020. Symptomatology and duration were extracted from routinely collected clinical data and follow-up telephone consultations. Descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: Of 386 patients, 141 (92 community patients, 49 discharged inpatients) were included for analysis; 77/141 (55%) reported anosmia and ageusia, nine reported only ageusia and three only anosmia. The median onset of anosmia in relation to onset of SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) symptoms (as defined by the Public Health England case definition) was 4 days (interquartile range (IQR) 5). Median duration of anosmia was 8 days (IQR 16). Median duration of COVID-19 symptoms in community patients was 10 days (IQR 8) versus 18 days (IQR 13.5) in admitted patients. As of April 1, 45 patients had ongoing COVID-19 symptoms and/or anosmia; 107/141 (76%) patients had household contacts, and of 185 non-tested household contacts 79 (43%) had COVID-19 symptoms with 46/79 (58%) reporting anosmia. Six household contacts had anosmia only. CONCLUSIONS: Over half of the positive patients reported anosmia and ageusia, suggesting that these should be added to the case definition and used to guide self-isolation protocols. This adaptation may be integral to case findings in the absence of population-level testing. Until we have successful population-level vaccination coverage, these steps remain critical in the current and future waves of this pandemic.
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Journal articleRawson TM, Moore L, Zhu N, et al., 2020,
Bacterial and fungal co-infection in individuals with coronavirus: A rapid review to support COVID-19 antimicrobial prescribing
, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Vol: 71, Pages: 2459-2468, ISSN: 1058-4838BackgroundTo explore and describe the current literature surrounding bacterial/fungal co-infection in patients with coronavirus infection.MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched using broad based search criteria relating to coronavirus and bacterial co-infection. Articles presenting clinical data for patients with coronavirus infection (defined as SARS-1, MERS, SARS-COV-2, and other coronavirus) and bacterial/fungal co-infection reported in English, Mandarin, or Italian were included. Data describing bacterial/fungal co-infections, treatments, and outcomes were extracted. Secondary analysis of studies reporting antimicrobial prescribing in SARS-COV-2 even in the absence of co-infection was performed.Results1007 abstracts were identified. Eighteen full texts reported bacterial/fungal co-infection were included. Most studies did not identify or report bacterial/fungal coinfection (85/140;61%). 9/18 (50%) studies reported on COVID-19, 5/18 (28%) SARS-1, 1/18 (6%) MERS, and 3/18 (17%) other coronavirus.For COVID-19, 62/806 (8%) patients were reported as experiencing bacterial/fungal co-infection during hospital admission. Secondary analysis demonstrated wide use of broad-spectrum antibacterials, despite a paucity of evidence for bacterial coinfection. On secondary analysis, 1450/2010 (72%) of patients reported received antimicrobial therapy. No antimicrobial stewardship interventions were described.For non-COVID-19 cases bacterial/fungal co-infection was reported in 89/815 (11%) of patients. Broad-spectrum antibiotic use was reported.ConclusionsDespite frequent prescription of broad-spectrum empirical antimicrobials in patients with coronavirus associated respiratory infections, there is a paucity of data to support the association with respiratory bacterial/fungal co-infection. Generation of prospective evidence to support development of antimicrobial policy and appropriate stewardship interventions specific for the COVID-19 pandemic are urgently requi
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Journal articleAufegger L, Serou N, Chen S, et al., 2020,
Evaluating users' experiences of electronic prescribing systems in relation to patient safety: a mixed methods study
, BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, Vol: 20, ISSN: 1472-6947BackgroundUser interface (UI) design features such as screen layout, density of information, and use of colour may affect the usability of electronic prescribing (EP) systems, with usability problems previously associated with medication errors. To identify how to improve existing systems, our aim was to explore prescribers’ perspectives of UI features of a commercially available EP system, and how these may affect patient safety.MethodsTwo studies were conducted, each including ten participants prescribing a penicillin for a test patient with a penicillin allergy. In study 1, eye-gaze tracking was used as a means to explore visual attention and behaviour during prescribing, followed by a self-reported EP system usability scale. In study 2, a think-aloud method and semi-structured interview were applied to explore participants’ thoughts and views on prescribing, with a focus on UI design and patient safety.ResultsStudy 1 showed high visual attention toward information on allergies and patient information, allergy pop-up alerts, and medication order review and confirmation, with less visual attention on adding medication. The system’s usability was rated ‘below average’. In study 2, participants highlighted EP design features and workflow, including screen layout and information overload as being important for patient safety, benefits of EP systems such as keeping a record of relevant information, and suggestions for improvement in relation to system design (colour, fonts, customization) and patient interaction.ConclusionsSpecific UI design factors were identified that may improve the usability and/or safety of EP systems. It is suggested that eye-gaze tracking and think-aloud methods are used in future experimental research in this area. Limitations include the small sample size; further work should include similar studies on other EP systems.
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Journal articleJauneikaite E, Ferguson T, Mosavie M, et al., 2020,
Staphylococcus aureus colonisation and acquisition of skin and soft tissue infection amongst Royal Marines recruits: A prospective cohort study
, Clinical Microbiology and Infection, Vol: 26, Pages: 381.e1-381.e6, ISSN: 1198-743XObjectives: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a serious health issue for military personnel. Of particular importance are those caused by MRSA and PVL-positive S. aureus (PVL-SA), as they have been associated with outbreaks of SSTIs. A prospective observational study was conducted in Royal Marines recruits to investigate the prevalence of PVL-SA carriage and any association with SSTIs.Methods: 1,012 RM recruits were followed through a 32-week training programme, with nose and throat swabs obtained at weeks 1, 6, 15 and 32. S. aureus isolates were characterised by antibiotic susceptibility testing, spa typing, presence of mecA/C and PVL genes. Retrospective review of the clinical notes for SSTI acquisition was conducted.Results: S. aureus colonisation decreased from week-1 to week-32 (41% to 26%, p<0.0001). Of 1,168 S. aureus isolates, 3/1168 (0.3%) were MRSA and 10/1168 (0.9%) PVL-positive (all MSSA) and 169/1168 (14.5%) were resistant to clindamycin. Isolates showed genetic diversity with 238 different spa types associated with 25 MLST clonal complexes. SSTIs were seen in 35% (351/989) of recruits with 3 training days lost per recruit. SSTI acquisition rate was reduced amongst persistent carriers (p<0.0283). Conclusions: Nose and throat carriage of MRSA and PVL-SA was low amongst recruits, despite a high incidence of SSTIs being reported particularly cellulitis. Carriage strains were predominantly MSSA with a marked diversity of genotypes. Persistent nose and/or throat carriage was not associated with SSTI acquisition. Putative person-to-person transmission within troops was identified based on spa typing requiring further research to confirm and explore potential transmission routes.
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Journal articleAbbas M, Abbas M, Holmes A, et al., 2020,
Surgical site infections following elective surgery
, The Lancet Infectious Diseases -
Journal articleCollin SM, Lamb P, Jauneikaite E, et al., 2019,
Hospital clusters of invasive Group B Streptococcal disease: a systematic review
, Journal of Infection, Vol: 79, Pages: 521-527, ISSN: 0163-4453Objectives: To characterize outbreaks of invasive Group B Streptococcal (iGBS) disease in hospitals.Methods: Systematic review using electronic databases to identify studies describing iGBS outbreaks/clusters or cross-infection/acquisition in healthcare settings where ‘cluster’ was defined as ≥2 linked cases. PROSPERO CRD42018096297.Results: Twenty-five references were included describing 30 hospital clusters (26 neonatal, 4 adult) in 11 countries from 1966 to 2019. Cross-infection between unrelated neonates was reported in 19 clusters involving an early-onset (<7 days of life; n = 3), late-onset (7–90 days; n = 13) index case or colonized infant (n = 3) followed by one or more late-onset cases (median serial interval 9 days (IQR 3–17, range 0–50 days, n = 45)); linkage was determined by phage typing in 3 clusters, PFGE/MLST/PCR in 8, WGS in 4, non-molecular methods in 4. Postulated routes of transmission in neonatal clusters were via clinical personnel and equipment, particularly during periods of crowding and high patient-to-nurse ratio. Of 4 adult clusters, one was attributed to droplet spread between respiratory cases, one to handling of haemodialysis catheters and two unspecified.Conclusions: Long intervals between cases were identified in most of the clusters, a characteristic which potentially hinders detection of GBS hospital outbreaks without enhanced surveillance supported by genomics.
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Conference paperAliabadi S, Honeyford K, Jauneikaite E, et al., 2019,
Risk factors for E. coli Susceptibility in Bloods Stream Infections in England Between 2013-2017
, Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS, Pages: 111-111, ISSN: 1101-1262
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