SummarySince 1992, the Belgian network for the surveillance of nosocomial infections runs a syste... more SummarySince 1992, the Belgian network for the surveillance of nosocomial infections runs a system of voluntary surveillance of surgical wound infections, including the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis patterns. From 1992 to 1995, the global rate of prophylaxis was 71%, calculated on 44,728 interventions from 72 hospitals, but in 11.4% of operations for which prophylaxis is indicated, it was not given. On the other hand, prophylaxis was prescribed in 55.6% of operations where it was not indicated. At least 4 out of 10 courses were inappropriate with respect to indication, duration or day of administration. Fifteen percent of all courses exceeded 2 days (28% in genitourinary surgery, and 20% in abdominal surgery). In orthopedic surgery, recommended indications were not followed in 42% of operations.To improve the prescribing of antibiotic prophylaxis in Belgium, local surveillance of prophylaxis patterns and the implementation of guidelines describing good practices should be priorities at the hospital...
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are emerging worldwide, representing a major thr... more Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are emerging worldwide, representing a major threat for public health. Early CPE detection is crucial in order to prevent infections and the development of reservoirs/outbreaks in hospitals. In 2008, most of the CPE strains reported in Belgium were imported from patients repatriated from abroad. Actually, this is no longer the case. A surveillance was set up in Belgian hospitals (2012) in order to explore the epidemiology and determinants of CPE, including the link with international travel/hospitalization. The present article describes travel-related CPE reported in Belgium. Different other potential sources for importation of CPE are discussed. Only 12% of all CPE cases reported in Belgium (2012-2013) were travel related (with/without hospitalization). This is undoubtedly an underestimation (missing travel data: 36%), considering the increasing tourism, the immigration from endemic countries, the growing number of foreign patients u...
To assess the effect of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization on morbid... more To assess the effect of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization on morbidity and mortality of nursing home residents. Three-year cohort study from 2000 to 2003. Twenty-three nursing homes of all types and regions in the northern part of Belgium (Flanders). Two thousand eight hundred fourteen nursing home residents. The consequences of MRSA colonization on mortality and hospitalization were studied, adjusting for potential confounders. Dates and cause of death and hospitalization were collected every 6 months during 3 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index, the risk for 36-month mortality remained significantly higher in MRSA carriers (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-1.8) than in noncarriers. The effect of MRSA on mortality was dependent on the degree of cognitive impairment, with the highest effect in patients with severe cognitive impairment (adjusted HR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1-2.8) and absen...
Summary Vacuoles isolated from the latex of Chelidonium majus contain high specific activities of... more Summary Vacuoles isolated from the latex of Chelidonium majus contain high specific activities of lysosomal enzymes. Electron micrographs of differentiating laticifers suggest a function of vacuoles in cellular lytic processes. Isolated vacuoles contain the alcaloids that cause the orange-yellow colour of the latex. Addition of sanguinarine to a suspension of isolated vacuoles results in its rapid absorption and accumulation in the vacuolar sap. This process does not require energy. It involves the exchange between sanguinarine and other alcaloids present in the vacuolar sap. These results are discussed in terms of an ion-trap mechanism of alcaloid accumulation.
SummarySince 1992, the Belgian network for the surveillance of nosocomial infections runs a syste... more SummarySince 1992, the Belgian network for the surveillance of nosocomial infections runs a system of voluntary surveillance of surgical wound infections, including the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis patterns. From 1992 to 1995, the global rate of prophylaxis was 71%, calculated on 44,728 interventions from 72 hospitals, but in 11.4% of operations for which prophylaxis is indicated, it was not given. On the other hand, prophylaxis was prescribed in 55.6% of operations where it was not indicated. At least 4 out of 10 courses were inappropriate with respect to indication, duration or day of administration. Fifteen percent of all courses exceeded 2 days (28% in genitourinary surgery, and 20% in abdominal surgery). In orthopedic surgery, recommended indications were not followed in 42% of operations.To improve the prescribing of antibiotic prophylaxis in Belgium, local surveillance of prophylaxis patterns and the implementation of guidelines describing good practices should be priorities at the hospital...
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are emerging worldwide, representing a major thr... more Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are emerging worldwide, representing a major threat for public health. Early CPE detection is crucial in order to prevent infections and the development of reservoirs/outbreaks in hospitals. In 2008, most of the CPE strains reported in Belgium were imported from patients repatriated from abroad. Actually, this is no longer the case. A surveillance was set up in Belgian hospitals (2012) in order to explore the epidemiology and determinants of CPE, including the link with international travel/hospitalization. The present article describes travel-related CPE reported in Belgium. Different other potential sources for importation of CPE are discussed. Only 12% of all CPE cases reported in Belgium (2012-2013) were travel related (with/without hospitalization). This is undoubtedly an underestimation (missing travel data: 36%), considering the increasing tourism, the immigration from endemic countries, the growing number of foreign patients u...
To assess the effect of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization on morbid... more To assess the effect of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization on morbidity and mortality of nursing home residents. Three-year cohort study from 2000 to 2003. Twenty-three nursing homes of all types and regions in the northern part of Belgium (Flanders). Two thousand eight hundred fourteen nursing home residents. The consequences of MRSA colonization on mortality and hospitalization were studied, adjusting for potential confounders. Dates and cause of death and hospitalization were collected every 6 months during 3 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index, the risk for 36-month mortality remained significantly higher in MRSA carriers (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-1.8) than in noncarriers. The effect of MRSA on mortality was dependent on the degree of cognitive impairment, with the highest effect in patients with severe cognitive impairment (adjusted HR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1-2.8) and absen...
Summary Vacuoles isolated from the latex of Chelidonium majus contain high specific activities of... more Summary Vacuoles isolated from the latex of Chelidonium majus contain high specific activities of lysosomal enzymes. Electron micrographs of differentiating laticifers suggest a function of vacuoles in cellular lytic processes. Isolated vacuoles contain the alcaloids that cause the orange-yellow colour of the latex. Addition of sanguinarine to a suspension of isolated vacuoles results in its rapid absorption and accumulation in the vacuolar sap. This process does not require energy. It involves the exchange between sanguinarine and other alcaloids present in the vacuolar sap. These results are discussed in terms of an ion-trap mechanism of alcaloid accumulation.
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Papers by Beatrice Jans