In this post, we will be taking a closer look at some of the most popular infection prevention & epidemiology-related articles recently published across medical journals.

Empowering patients through a perioperative prevention bundle to reduce surgical site infections in colorectal surgery

  • American Journal of Infection Control
  • April 2025
  • Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a major complication following colorectal surgeries, with occurrence rates varying between 5.4% and 30%. This research sought to assess the effect of a perioperative prevention bundle on reducing the incidence of SSIs in patients undergoing colorectal procedures. A prospective cohort study, with a before-and-after comparison, was carried out between April 2022 and April 2023. The intervention included patient education, the use of chlorhexidine baths both before and after surgery, and a required glove change before fascial closure. The personalized nature of the approach likely contributed to strong adherence, encouraging patients to become more involved in their own care.
  • The adoption of a perioperative prevention bundle, which prioritized patient education and active participation, successfully lowered the rates of SSIs and reduced rehospitalization rates following colorectal surgeries.
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Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infection in Children, 1992-2023

  • JAMA Network Open
  • April 2025
  • Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a major complication following colorectal surgeries, with occurrence rates varying between 5.4% and 30%. This research sought to assess the effect of a perioperative prevention bundle on reducing the incidence of SSIs in patients undergoing colorectal procedures. A prospective cohort study, with a before-and-after comparison, was carried out between April 2022 and April 2023. The intervention included patient education, the use of chlorhexidine baths both before and after surgery, and a required glove change before fascial closure. The personalized nature of the approach likely contributed to strong adherence, encouraging patients to become more involved in their own care.
  • The adoption of a perioperative prevention bundle, which prioritized patient education and active participation, successfully lowered the rates of SSIs and reduced rehospitalization rates following colorectal surgeries.
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Incidence and risk factors of surgical site infection following cesarean section: a prospective cohort study at Jimma university medical center

  • BMC Infectious Diseases
  • April 2025
  • Surgical site infection (SSI) after cesarean section (CS) is a significant contributor to high maternal morbidity and mortality rates. This prospective cohort study evaluated the incidence and risk factors for the onset of SSI following CS among women at Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC). Key risk factors identified include the duration of labor, BMI, procedure time, and the timing of treatment. Women with high BMI and those admitted via referral require additional care. Close monitoring and follow-up are crucial for improving outcomes.
  • To effectively reduce SSI rates after CS, targeted interventions are necessary. These include strengthening antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines, enhancing surveillance for at-risk patients, and promoting awareness of risk factors. Continuous training in infection prevention methods is essential to prevent and minimize SSIs in cesarean section patients.
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Preventing Orthopedic Infections

  • Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
  • April 2025
  • Orthopedic infections carry substantial morbidity, mortality, and financial burden, making effective prevention strategies essential. These strategies can be implemented at various stages: preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative. They involve addressing medical risk factors, decolonization and skin preparation, antimicrobial prophylaxis, and the use of irrigation and topical antibiotics to reduce infection risks.
  • Optimizing surgical techniques and ensuring careful execution throughout the procedure are also crucial in preventing infections. These combined interventions across different stages of the surgical process contribute significantly to minimizing the risk of orthopedic infections and improving patient outcomes.
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Serotype epidemiology and case-fatality risk of invasive pneumococcal disease; a nationwide population study from Switzerland, 2012-2022

  • Emerging Microbes & Infections
  • April 2025
  • Switzerland introduced the thirteen-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in 2011, and while cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on serotype epidemiology remains unclear. The study aimed to assess how the introduction of PCV13 and the COVID-19 pandemic influenced IPD trends and case fatality risk (CFR).
  • Data from nationwide surveillance spanning from 2012 to 2022 was analyzed using Poisson and logistic regression to examine trends and identify serotypes linked to higher case fatality rates. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had only minimal and temporary effects on serotype distribution. Continued use of vaccines with broader serotype coverage is expected to further reduce the burden and mortality of IPD.
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Healthcare-associated COVID-19 infections and mortality

  • The Journal of Hospital Infection
  • April 2025
  • Assessing the impact of healthcare-associated COVID-19 infections (HAIs) and the resulting mortality is essential for evaluating the need for infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies in healthcare settings. The study aimed to investigate the occurrence of HAIs and their associated mortality among hospitalized patients in Norway. Mortality rates were consistently higher among HAI patients compared to those with community-acquired infections (CAIs), with the greatest difference observed shortly after infection.
  • Vaccination played a significant role in reducing mortality, lowering both all-cause and COVID-19-related mortality risks. HAIs consistently resulted in higher mortality compared to CAIs, particularly during the Omicron phase. These findings underscore the critical importance of IPC measures and vaccination in reducing the impact of healthcare-associated infections.
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The presence of Clostridioides difficile in faeces before and after faecal microbiota transplantation and its relation with recurrent C. difficile infection and the gut microbiota in a Dutch cohort

  • Clinical Microbiology and Infection
  • April 2025
  • Study objectives include investigating the presence of Clostridioides difficile in the feces of patients with recurrent C. difficile infection (rCDI) before and after faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), as well as identifying risk factors for both fecal C. difficile and recurrence of C. difficile infection (CDI).
  • Eradication of C. difficile is not necessary for clinical cure of rCDI through FMT; however, its reduction is linked to a decreased prevalence of early CDI recurrence. Factors such as completing a full course of pre-FMT vancomycin (at least 10 days) and avoiding post-FMT antibiotics also contribute to improved outcomes.
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Effects of preoperative topical levofloxacin on conjunctival microbiome in patients undergoing intravitreal injections

  • PloS One
  • March 2025
  • Endophthalmitis is a severe eye infection that can develop following intravitreal injections, with topical antibiotics commonly used as a preventive measure. However, the effects of these antibiotics on the conjunctival microbiome are not fully understood.
  • Prophylactic topical levofloxacin has been shown to alter the conjunctival microbiome, with inconsistent impacts on the abundance of pathogenic bacteria. Despite this, its clinical effectiveness in preventing endophthalmitis remains uncertain, and further research is needed to clarify its role in infection prevention.
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Selective decontamination regimens in French ICUs: association with reduced infection and resistance emergence

  • Annals of Intensive Care
  • March 2025
  • Selective decontamination (SD) has shown favorable results in randomized controlled trials for preventing ICU-acquired infections, yet its implementation remains limited in many ICUs. This study aimed to assess the impact of SD implementation across a large network of French ICUs.
  • SD implementation was associated with a reduction in the incidence of ICU-acquired infections and the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), although it did not significantly affect mortality rates.
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There you have it - a look at some of the most popular infection prevention & epidemiology articles recently released. Sign up for alerts and stay informed on the latest published guidelines and articles.

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