BACKGROUND:In Victoria, Australia public sector residential aged care services (PSRACS) annual healthcare worker (HCW) influenza vaccination programs are supplied influenza vaccines at no cost by the state government, with performance HCW influenza vaccination targets in place since 2014. We evaluated trends in healthcare worker (HCW) influenza vaccination coverage in Victorian PSRACS from 2018 to 2025. METHODS:Annual HCW influenza vaccination surveillance data submitted to the state coordinating centre were analysed from 2018 to 2025. All employed staff were classified as vaccinated, medically contraindicated, declined, or unknown. Data were stratified into pre-pandemic (2018-2019), pandemic (2020-2023), and post-pandemic (2024-2025) periods. RESULTS:Between 165 and 177 PSRACS reported staff vaccination data annually, with increasing staff numbers post-pandemic. Vaccination coverage increased during the pandemic and was sustained above 97% from 2020 onwards, except in 2021. Declination rates decreased and remained ≤0.4% from 2020. CONCLUSION:HCW influenza vaccination coverage in Victorian PSRACS increased since the COVID-19 pandemic and has exceeded state performance targets, highlighting the effectiveness of no cost vaccination, accessible workplace vaccination programs and supportive policy settings.
Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission continues to be a global public health concern, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income (LMI) countries. Although Pacific Island countries have historically reported low HIV prevalence, both Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Fiji have experienced increasing HIV transmission rates since 2010. In January 2025, the Government of Fiji officially declared an HIV outbreak, following a 300% increase in new cases during 2024 (UNAIDS, 2025a). This outbreak poses a significant threat to the broader Pacific region, highlighting the requirement for a coordinated response to decrease disease transmission (Pacific Heads of Health, 2025). This scoping review aims to examine the evidence on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of healthcare workers (HCWs) in LMI Pacific Island countries toward people living with HIV (PLWH) to better inform policy and identify research gaps. Methods A scoping review of the literature was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework (2005), guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist (Page et al., 2021). A systematic search of six databases and grey literature sources was conducted. Results The initial search identified 111 articles. Following the title and abstract screen and full article review by two independent researchers, a total of seven articles met the inclusion criteria. Data was extracted into a data extraction table, and the quality of evidence was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) (Hong et al., 2018). Conclusion This review highlights a significant gap in recent literature regarding HCWs KAP toward PLWH in Pacific Island communities. The available evidence suggests the need for ongoing professional development to address negative attitudes and practices, enhance HCW safety, and improve the quality of care. The findings provide synthesised evidence to support policy recommendations and emphasise the need for further research.
BACKGROUND:Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections, and its resistance patterns can vary by hospital setting, care unit, and time. This study compared resistance patterns of P. aeruginosa isolates recovered from blood cultures at two tertiary university hospitals in Türkiye and Hungary. METHODS:This retrospective, multicenter and cross-sectional surveillance study included the first eligible bloodstream P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICU wards between 2020 and 2023. Class-based resistance patterns to carbapenems, cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones, as well as multidrug resistance (MDR), were evaluated using predefined criteria. Annual trends and center-by-year interactions were analyzed using log-binomial regression, while independent associations and exploratory period differences were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS:A total of 703 patients were included (Turkish center = 180, Hungarian center = 523). Multivariate analyses identified independent associations of ward type with four resistance outcomes, center with cephalosporin resistance; year with fluoroquinolone resistance and MDR; and gender with fluoroquinolone resistance. Cephalosporin, fluoroquinolone, and MDR resistance declined significantly over time, whereas the decrease in carbapenem resistance was borderline at the Hungarian center. No significant annual trends were observed at the Turkish center, and the center-by-year interactions were nonsignificant. Exploratory analyses showed lower resistance in 2022-2023 than in 2020-2021 in Hungary but not in Türkiye. CONCLUSION:Resistance patterns in bloodstream P. aeruginosa isolates varied by center, care setting and time. ICU-focused surveillance and locally tailored stewardship strategies may support the management of these infections.
INTRODUCTION:Life expectancy has risen significantly in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) with the introduction of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) modulators. This has resulted in new infection challenges for PwCF, including the increasing employment of dentures, which have been shown to harbour CF-related bacterial pathogens. HYPOTHESIS/GAP STATEMENT:To date, there is no evidence-based infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance, specific to the CF community, on how to optimally clean and disinfect dentures in PwCF, including the efficacy of denture cleaning formulations against CF pathogens. AIM:To examine the in vitro bactericidal activity of two leading brands of denture cleaning formulations against planktonic suspensions of CF-related bacterial pathogens. METHODOLOGY:CF and bronchiectasis-related bacterial pathogens were employed in this study, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Burkholderia multivorans, Burkholderia cenocepacia and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Planktonic suspensions of each organism was exposed to denture cleaning fluid for 20 min and recovery of surviving cells attempted through direct plating and enhanced enrichment methods. RESULTS:Pseudomonas aeruginosa was able to survive for the suggested manufacturers' exposure time (3 min). All bacteria were unable to be recovered following 20 min exposure to each of the denture cleaning formulations, as well as following enrichment in nutrient broth at both 24 h and 48 h, indicating that both formulations were completely bactericidal to all organisms tested, after exposure for 20 min. CONCLUSION:This study indicates that the five clinically important species of CF bacterial pathogens tested were not able to remain culturable for 20 min in planktonic form, in commonly used retainer/denture-cleaning formulations widely available on the UK High Street. Survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was possible if exposed for the 3 min, as indicated with the instructions of these products. Employment of successful evidence-based cleaning and disinfection regimens of retainers/dentures in people with CF will help break the chain of transmission of CF pathogens, which is especially important during eradication treatments for first isolates, thereby avoiding re-infection. Clinically, the findings of this study are important to the small number of younger individuals with CF who wear dentures, and to CF adolescents and young people with CF who wear retainers, as well as providing data for an emerging aging CF population, where dentures will become more common. Further work is however required to establish the most effective retainer/denture cleaning regimen, as well as to examine the more complex survival dynamics of these organisms on naturally derived retainer/denture biofilm, associated with dental plaque.
BACKGROUND:NTM soft tissue infection outbreaks in Venezuela (2006) exposed failures of locally marketed high-level disinfectants (HLDs), with only international products meeting standards. After renewed NTM outbreaks in 2024, we re-evaluated locally manufactured products claiming HLD, sterilant, or sporicidal activity. METHODS:We collected 14 locally marketed disinfectants: 11 labeled HLD and three labeled intermediate-level. Active ingredients included QACs, glutaraldehyde, organic acids, alcohols, and a strong base. Efficacy was tested using EN 14348 (mycobactericidal) and EN 17126 (sporicidal) under clean and dirty conditions. HLD required ≥4-log10 spore reduction; intermediate-level required 4-log10 mycobacteria reduction. FINDINGS:Only one glutaraldehyde-based product met HLD criteria. Three correctly labeled intermediate-level disinfectants showed mycobactericidal activity under both conditions. One HLD-labeled product demonstrated only mycobactericidal activity, warranting reclassification as intermediate-level. All other products failed, especially under organic load, and should be classified as low-level disinfectants. CONCLUSIONS:Despite label claims, most locally marketed disinfectants failed efficacy standards, revealing a critical regulatory gap. For hospital disinfection, we recommend product selection rely on independently verified efficacy data, not manufacturer claims. Similar deficiencies likely exist elsewhere, underscoring the need for systematic regional testing to ensure effective infection control.
