Outbreaks of nosocomial infections in Poland in the years 2011-2015

INTRODUCTION: In hospitals outbreaks of nosocomial infections are recorded i.e. the occurrence of at least two clearly related cases of infections. In these outbreaks not only patients but also hospital staff are getting infected. Due to the fact, that nosocomial infections are inseparably related to the hospitalisation of the patients, there is a need to build a culture of active surveillance of emerging infections and their reporting to the authorities of the State Sanitary Inspection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This article was developed on the basis of the information gathered in the report about the occurrence of outbreaks in entities carrying out the medical activities. This report is the result of the analysis of the preliminary reports submitted by the hospitals in the cases where there was a suspicion of or an epidemic outbreak and the final reports of the epidemic outbreak suppressions. RESULTS: In the years 2011-2015 in all hospitals in Poland a total number of 1 912 outbreaks of nosocomial infections was reported; in those outbreaks 15 282 patients and 1 226 medical personnel were infected. The biggest numbers of outbreaks of nosocomial infections were reported in the voivodeships: Masovia and Silesia. The most frequently etiological factor was Clostridium difficile; it caused 519 hospital outbreaks. Out of the viral factors, most of the outbreaks were due to the rotavirus - 359 of such instances. In addition to the numerous bacterial and viral factors, the outbreaks of nosocomial infections were also caused by fungi and parasites.

Viral hepatitis C in Poland in the Silesian Province between 2005-2014.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Viral hepatitis C remains one of the major health and social problems related to infectious diseases in Poland. The aim of the study was assessment of the registered changes in the incidence of HCV in the Silesian Province of western Poland during the last 10 years, including age, gender and place of residence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of the HCV incidence between 2005-2014 in the Silesian Province. The crude and standardized incidence rates were calculated for males and females in each year. Subsequently, the territorial diversity of the epidemiological situation in the districts was assessed by calculating the average incidence rate over the entire study period. RESULTS: Incidence rates calculated according to the case definition of 2005 ranged between 5.95/100000 in 2005 to 10.36/100000 in 2014. Analysis of the structure of the incidence showed that during the analyzed period, the majority of hepatitis C cases were related to males (52.5%) rather than females (47.5%), and hepatitis C was more prevalent in younger males (aged 20-49) and older females (aged over 50). After excluding the effect of age, the standardized rates were twice as low, compared to the crude incidence rates. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in the HCV incidence rate was observed in males and females. It is obvious that the detection of additional cases will entail the need to provide funding for the treatment of more patients, which should be included in the map of regional health needs in the coming years. Our study demonstrates the temporal and spatial variability of HCV incidence in the Silesian Province of Poland. The observed increase in the crude and standardized rates suggests that the current registry system of HCV in Poland is more effective now. The current situation is comparable with the data in other EU countries.

The epidemiological situation of chickenpox in the Silesian voivodeship in the years 2011-2015 in view of data of the situation in Poland / Sytuacja epidemiologiczna ospy wietrznej na terenie województwa slaskiego w latach 2011-2015 w swietle danych dotyczacych sytuacji w Polsce

INTRODUCTION: Despite the availability of preventive vaccination against chickenpox, this form of prevention is rarely used and is not available to the entire population of children. In order to evaluate an acquired immunity against the virus Varicella-Zoster examining of the presence of specific IgG antibodies to VZV in serum or plasma is required. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological situation of chickenpox in Slaskie Voivodeship in 2011-2015. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The evaluation of the epidemiological situation of chickenpox in the past five years was based on analysis of data from the bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland" for the period 2011-2014 and 2015 data, received from the Provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations. Analysis of the vaccinated population was made on the basis of data available in the bulletin "Vaccinations in Poland" for the period 2011-2014 and 2015 data obtained from the NIPH-PZH. Samples of patients from Slaskie were tested with the use of Novalisa Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) IgG - ELISA (Novatec Immunodiagnostic GMBH, Germany). Samples were delivered to the Laboratory of the Provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in the course of 2011-2015. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2015, in Slaskie, 136 094 chickenpox cases were registered (14% of all occurring in Poland). Based on the number of cases, Slaskie is ranked second place, just after Mazowieckie, in which during the same period of time 143 392 illness were registered. The average annual incidence in Slaskie was 591 per 100 thousand residents. Between 2011 and 2015, a total of 360 serum samples were examined. The percentage of positive IgG in each year ranged between 59.6 and 75.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Promoting vaccination and preventing the sick children to contact the healthy ones as well as the protection of adults susceptible to infection can improve the epidemiological situation regarding incidences of chickenpox. Thanks to vaccines the risk of incidence of chickenpox can be reduced or even the incidences can be prevented. Information about acquired immunity, acquired before the pregnancy, allows to take the action in order to protect the mother from getting chickenpox in form of a preventive vaccination.