Dtsch Arztebl Int
-
The German Standing Committee on Vaccination Recommendations (Ständige Impfkommission, STIKO) recommends standard vaccination against pneumococcal infections for all persons aged 60 or older, and for all persons of any age with an increased health risk. It is not known how many persons in the target group in Germany have actually been vaccinated. ⋯ The rate of pneumococcal vaccination in adults in Germany is too low; at best, it is comparable to that of influenza vaccination. These results should be validated by nationwide monitoring of the pneumococcal vaccination program. For example, questions about pneumococcal vaccination could be included in the GEDA study (German Health Update) that is conducted annually by the Robert Koch Institute.
-
In 2011, German hospitals treated approximately 205 000 patients suffering from acute poisoning. Change is seen over time both in the types of poisoning that occur and in the indications for specific treatment. ⋯ Most exposures to poisons can be treated with general emergency care and, if necessary, with symptomatic intensive-care measures. Poison information centers help ensure that cases of poisoning are dealt with efficiently. The data they collect are a useful aid to toxicological assessment and can serve as a point of departure for research projects.
-
The spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), particularly E. faecium, in hospitals leads to many cases of colonization, but only sporadic infections. Detailed and valid risk assessment is needed so that patients at risk can be protected from VRE infection. The principal aims of risk assessment must include not only lowering VRE-associated morbidity and mortality in patients at risk, but also refraining from unnecessary anti-infective measures among those who are not at risk. ⋯ The chain of infection can be broken by improved and consistently applied standard hygienic measures (hand and surface disinfection). Some patients are nonetheless at elevated risk of VRE infection. In specific clinical situations, the optimal protection of these patients against VRE infection demands the obligatory enforcement of stricter hygienic measures (contact isolation).