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Assessing the impact of a cleaning programme on environmental hygiene in labour and neonatal wards: an exploratory study in The Gambia (2024)
Journal Article
Okomo, U., Gon, G., Darboe, S., Sey, I. C. M., Nkereuwem, O., Leigh, L., Camara, N., Makalo, L., Keita, A., Dancer, S. J., Graham, W., & Aiken, A. M. (2024). Assessing the impact of a cleaning programme on environmental hygiene in labour and neonatal wards: an exploratory study in The Gambia. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 13(1), Article 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-024-01393-6

Background: Effective surface cleaning in hospitals is crucial to prevent the transmission of pathogens. However, hospitals in low- and middle-income countries face cleaning challenges due to limited resources and inadequate training. Methods: We ass... Read More about Assessing the impact of a cleaning programme on environmental hygiene in labour and neonatal wards: an exploratory study in The Gambia.

Hospital cleaning: past, present, and future (2023)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J. (2023). Hospital cleaning: past, present, and future. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 12(1), Article 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-023-01275-3

Introduction: The importance of hospital cleaning for controlling healthcare-associated infection (HAI) has taken years to acknowledge. This is mainly because the removal of dirt is inextricably entwined with gender and social status, along with lack... Read More about Hospital cleaning: past, present, and future.

COVID-19 and Airborne Transmission: Science Rejected, Lives Lost. Can Society Do Better? (2023)
Journal Article
Morawska, L., Bahnfleth, W., Bluyssen, P. M., Boerstra, A., Buonanno, G., Dancer, S. J., Floto, A., Franchimon, F., Haworth, C., Hogeling, J., Isaxon, C., Jimenez, J. L., Kurnitski, J., Li, Y., Loomans, M., Marks, G., Marr, L. C., Mazzarella, L., Melikov, A. K., Miller, S., …Wierzbicka, A. (2023). COVID-19 and Airborne Transmission: Science Rejected, Lives Lost. Can Society Do Better?. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 76(10), 1854-1859. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciad068

This is an account that should be heard of an important struggle: the struggle of a large group of experts who came together at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to warn the world about the risk of airborne transmission and the consequences of i... Read More about COVID-19 and Airborne Transmission: Science Rejected, Lives Lost. Can Society Do Better?.

Measurement of SARS-CoV-2 in air and on surfaces in Scottish hospitals (2022)
Journal Article
Loh, M., Yaxley, N., Moore, G., Holmes, D., Todd, S., Smith, A., …Cherrie, J. W. (2023). Measurement of SARS-CoV-2 in air and on surfaces in Scottish hospitals. Journal of Hospital Infection, 133, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2022.11.019

Background There are still uncertainties in our knowledge of the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus present in the environment; where it can be found, and potential exposure determinants, limiting our ability to effectively model and compare interventions f... Read More about Measurement of SARS-CoV-2 in air and on surfaces in Scottish hospitals.

Insights into the Spectrum of Activity and Mechanism of Action of MGB-BP-3 (2022)
Journal Article
Hind, C., Clifford, M., Woolley, C., Harmer, J., McGee, L. M., Tyson-Hirst, I., Tait, H. J., Brooke, D. P., Dancer, S. J., Hunter, I. S., Suckling, C. J., Beveridge, R., Parkinson, J. A., Sutton, J. M., & Scott, F. J. (2022). Insights into the Spectrum of Activity and Mechanism of Action of MGB-BP-3. ACS Infectious Diseases, 8(12), 2552-2563. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00445

MGB-BP-3 is a potential first-in-class antibiotic, a Strathclyde Minor Groove Binder (S-MGB), that has successfully completed Phase IIa clinical trials for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile associated disease. Its precise mechanism of action... Read More about Insights into the Spectrum of Activity and Mechanism of Action of MGB-BP-3.

What were the historical reasons for the resistance to recognizing airborne transmission during the COVID‐19 pandemic? (2022)
Journal Article
Jimenez, J. L., Marr, L. C., Randall, K., Ewing, E. T., Tufekci, Z., Greenhalgh, T., Tellier, R., Tang, J. W., Li, Y., Morawska, L., Mesiano‐Crookston, J., Fisman, D., Hegarty, O., Dancer, S. J., Bluyssen, P. M., Buonanno, G., Loomans, M. G. L. C., Bahnfleth, W. P., Yao, M., Sekhar, C., …Prather, K. A. (2022). What were the historical reasons for the resistance to recognizing airborne transmission during the COVID‐19 pandemic?. Indoor Air, 32(8), Article e13070. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.13070

The question of whether SARS‐CoV‐2 is mainly transmitted by droplets or aerosols has been highly controversial. We sought to explain this controversy through a historical analysis of transmission research in other diseases. For most of human history,... Read More about What were the historical reasons for the resistance to recognizing airborne transmission during the COVID‐19 pandemic?.

Ethanol is indispensable for virucidal hand antisepsis: memorandum from the alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) Task Force, WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, and the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany (2022)
Journal Article
Kramer, A., Arvand, M., Christiansen, B., Dancer, S., Eggers, M., Exner, M., Müller, D., Mutters, N. T., Schwebke, I., & Pittet, D. (2022). Ethanol is indispensable for virucidal hand antisepsis: memorandum from the alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) Task Force, WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, and the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 11(1), Article 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-022-01134-7

Background: The approval of ethanol by the Biocidal Products Regulation has been under evaluation since 2007. This follows concern over alcohol uptake from ethanol-based hand rubs (EBHR). If ethanol is classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprot... Read More about Ethanol is indispensable for virucidal hand antisepsis: memorandum from the alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) Task Force, WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety, and the Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.

A Better Disinfectant for Low-Resourced Hospitals? A Multi-Period Cluster Randomised Trial Comparing Hypochlorous Acid with Sodium Hypochlorite in Nigerian Hospitals: The EWASH Trial (2022)
Journal Article
Gon, G., Dansero, L., Aiken, A. M., Bottomley, C., Dancer, S. J., Graham, W. J., Ike, O. C., Lewis, M., Meakin, N., Okafor, O., Uwaezuoke, N. S., & Okwor, T. J. (2022). A Better Disinfectant for Low-Resourced Hospitals? A Multi-Period Cluster Randomised Trial Comparing Hypochlorous Acid with Sodium Hypochlorite in Nigerian Hospitals: The EWASH Trial. Microorganisms, 10(5), Article 910. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10050910

Environmental hygiene in hospitals is a major challenge worldwide. Low-resourced hospitals in African countries continue to rely on sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as major disinfectant. However, NaOCl has several limitations such as the need for daily d... Read More about A Better Disinfectant for Low-Resourced Hospitals? A Multi-Period Cluster Randomised Trial Comparing Hypochlorous Acid with Sodium Hypochlorite in Nigerian Hospitals: The EWASH Trial.

Safe design and maintenance of bone marrow transplant units: a narrative review (2022)
Journal Article
Inkster, T., Peters, C., & Dancer, S. (2022). Safe design and maintenance of bone marrow transplant units: a narrative review. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 28(8), 1091-1096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2022.03.032

Background Patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation or chemotherapy for cancer are profoundly immunosuppressed. They are at risk for both endogenous and exogenous infections and require enhanced protection from infection while in hospital. O... Read More about Safe design and maintenance of bone marrow transplant units: a narrative review.

Practical Indicators for Risk of Airborne Transmission in Shared Indoor Environments and Their Application to COVID-19 Outbreaks (2022)
Journal Article
Peng, Z., Rojas, A. P., Kropff, E., Bahnfleth, W., Buonanno, G., Dancer, S., Kurnitski, J., Li, Y., Loomans, M., Marr, L., Morawska, L., Nazaroff, W., Noakes, C., Querol, X., Sekhar, C., Tellier, R., Greenhalgh, T., Bourouiba, L., Boerstra, A., Tang, J., …Jimenez, J. (2022). Practical Indicators for Risk of Airborne Transmission in Shared Indoor Environments and Their Application to COVID-19 Outbreaks. Environmental Science and Technology, 56(2), 1125-1137. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c06531

Some infectious diseases, including COVID-19, can undergo airborne transmission. This may happen at close proximity, but as time indoors increases, infections can occur in shared room air despite distancing. We propose two indicators of infection ris... Read More about Practical Indicators for Risk of Airborne Transmission in Shared Indoor Environments and Their Application to COVID-19 Outbreaks.

Probabilistic microsimulation to examine the cost-effectiveness of hospital admission screening strategies for carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in the United Kingdom (2021)
Journal Article
Manoukian, S., Stewart, S., Dancer, S. J., Mason, H., Graves, N., Robertson, C., Leonard, A., Kennedy, S., Kavanagh, K., Parcell, B., & Reilly, J. (2022). Probabilistic microsimulation to examine the cost-effectiveness of hospital admission screening strategies for carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in the United Kingdom. European Journal of Health Economics, 23(7), 1173-1185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-021-01419-5

Background Antimicrobial resistance has been recognised as a global threat with carbapenemase- producing-Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) as a prime example. CPE has similarities to COVID-19 where asymptomatic patients may be colonised representing a source... Read More about Probabilistic microsimulation to examine the cost-effectiveness of hospital admission screening strategies for carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in the United Kingdom.

Healthcare-acquired clusters of COVID-19 across multiple wards in a Scottish health board (2021)
Journal Article
Dancer, S., Cormack, K., Loh, M., Coulombe, C., Thomas, L., Pravinkumar, S., Kasengele, K., King, M., & Keaney, J. (2022). Healthcare-acquired clusters of COVID-19 across multiple wards in a Scottish health board. Journal of Hospital Infection, 120, 23-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.11.019

Background Healthcare-acquired COVID-19 has been an additional burden on hospitals managing increasing numbers of patients with SARS-CoV-2. One acute hospital (W) among three in a Scottish healthboard experienced an unexpected surge of COVID-19 clus... Read More about Healthcare-acquired clusters of COVID-19 across multiple wards in a Scottish health board.

Modeling fomite‐mediated SARS‐CoV‐2 exposure through personal protective equipment doffing in a hospital environment (2021)
Journal Article
King, M., Wilson, A. M., Weir, M. H., López‐García, M., Proctor, J., Hiwar, W., Khan, A., Fletcher, L. A., Sleigh, P. A., Clifton, I., Dancer, S. J., Wilcox, M., Reynolds, K. A., & Noakes, C. J. (2022). Modeling fomite‐mediated SARS‐CoV‐2 exposure through personal protective equipment doffing in a hospital environment. Indoor Air, 32(1), Article e12938. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12938

Self-contamination during doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a concern for healthcare workers (HCW) following SARS-CoV-2-positive patient care. Staff may subconsciously become contaminated through improper glove removal; so, quantifyin... Read More about Modeling fomite‐mediated SARS‐CoV‐2 exposure through personal protective equipment doffing in a hospital environment.

Dirty QWERTY: there's no ESC! (2021)
Journal Article
Ledwoch, K., Dancer, S., Otter, J., & Maillard, J. (2021). Dirty QWERTY: there's no ESC!. Journal of Hospital Infection, 117, 184-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.08.002

We were delighted to see our study on hospital keyboards receiving interest from Prof. Vos' research group in their recent letter. Clearly, both our groups are passionate about infection prevention, and ways to improve the safety in hospitals in UK a... Read More about Dirty QWERTY: there's no ESC!.

Epidemiology of healthcare-associated infection reported from a hospital-wide incidence study: considerations for infection prevention and control planning (2021)
Journal Article
Stewart, S., Robertson, C., Pan, J., Kennedy, S., Dancer, S., Haahr, L., Manoukian, S., Mason, H., Kavanagh, K., Cook, B., & Reilly, J. (2021). Epidemiology of healthcare-associated infection reported from a hospital-wide incidence study: considerations for infection prevention and control planning. Journal of Hospital Infection, 114, 10-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.03.031

Background The measure of disease frequency most widely used to report healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is the point-prevalence survey. Incidence studies are rarely performed due to time and cost constraints; they show which patients are affect... Read More about Epidemiology of healthcare-associated infection reported from a hospital-wide incidence study: considerations for infection prevention and control planning.

Impact of healthcare-associated infection on length of stay (2021)
Journal Article
Stewart, S., Robertson, C., Pan, J., Kennedy, S., Haahr, L., Manoukian, S., Mason, H., Kavanagh, K., Graves, N., Dancer, S., Cook, B., & Reilly, J. (2021). Impact of healthcare-associated infection on length of stay. Journal of Hospital Infection, 114, 23-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.02.026

Background Increased length of stay (LOS) for patients is an important measure of the burden of healthcare-associated infection (HAI). Aim To estimate the excess LOS attributable to HAI. Methods This was a one-year prospective incidence study of... Read More about Impact of healthcare-associated infection on length of stay.

Personalized infection prevention and control: dentifying patients at risk of healthcare-associated infection (2021)
Journal Article
Stewart, S., Robertson, C., Kennedy, S., Kavanagh, K., Haahr, L., Manoukian, S., Mason, H., Dancer, S., Cook, B., & Reilly, J. (2021). Personalized infection prevention and control: dentifying patients at risk of healthcare-associated infection. Journal of Hospital Infection, 114, 32-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.03.032

Background Few healthcare-associated infection (HAI) studies focus on risk of HAI at the point of admission. Understanding this will enable planning and management of care with infection prevention at the heart of the patient journey from the point... Read More about Personalized infection prevention and control: dentifying patients at risk of healthcare-associated infection.

Bed-days and costs associated with the inpatient burden of healthcare-associated infection in the UK (2021)
Journal Article
Manoukian, S., Stewart, S., Graves, N., Mason, H., Robertson, C., Kennedy, S., Pan, J., Kavanagh, K., Haahr, L., Adil, M., Dancer, S., Cook, B., & Reilly, J. (2021). Bed-days and costs associated with the inpatient burden of healthcare-associated infection in the UK. Journal of Hospital Infection, 114, 43-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.027

Background Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality resulting in excess costs. Aim To investigate the impact of all types of HAI on the inpatient cost of HAI using different approaches. Methods T... Read More about Bed-days and costs associated with the inpatient burden of healthcare-associated infection in the UK.

Evaluating the post-discharge cost of healthcare-associated infection in NHS Scotland (2021)
Journal Article
Manoukian, S., Stewart, S., Graves, N., Mason, H., Robertson, C., Kennedy, S., Pan, J., Haahr, L., Dancer, S., Cook, B., & Reilly, J. (2021). Evaluating the post-discharge cost of healthcare-associated infection in NHS Scotland. Journal of Hospital Infection, 114, 51-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.026

Background Whereas the cost burden of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) extends beyond the inpatient stay into the post-discharge period, few studies have focused on post-discharge costs. Aim To investigate the impact of all types of HAI on... Read More about Evaluating the post-discharge cost of healthcare-associated infection in NHS Scotland.

Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among dental health care workers in Northern Germany (StaphDent study) (2021)
Journal Article
Lerche, N., Holtfreter, S., Walther, B., Semmler, T., Al’Sholui, F., Dancer, S. J., Daeschlein, G., Hübner, N., Bröker, B. M., Papke, R., Kohlmann, T., Baguhl, R., Seifert, U., & Kramer, A. (2021). Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among dental health care workers in Northern Germany (StaphDent study). International Journal of Medical Microbiology, 311(6), Article 151524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmm.2021.151524

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can colonize dental patients and students, however, studies on the prevalence of MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) among dental health care workers (DHCW) including use of personal pr... Read More about Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among dental health care workers in Northern Germany (StaphDent study).

What is the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 from the use of public toilets? (2021)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J., Li, Y., Hart, A., Tang, J. W., & Jones, D. L. (2021). What is the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 from the use of public toilets?. Science of the Total Environment, 792, 148341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148341

Public toilets and bathrooms may act as a contact hub point where community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs between users. The mechanism of spread would arise through three mechanisms: inhalation of faecal and/or urinary aerosol from an individual... Read More about What is the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 from the use of public toilets?.

A paradigm shift to combat indoor respiratory infection (2021)
Journal Article
Morawska, L., Allen, J., Bahnfleth, W., Bluyssen, P. M., Boerstra, A., Buonanno, G., …Yao, M. (2021). A paradigm shift to combat indoor respiratory infection. Science, 372(6543), 689-691. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg2025

There is great disparity in the way we think about and address different sources of environmental infection. Governments have for decades promulgated a large amount of legislation and invested heavily in food safety, sanitation, and drinking water fo... Read More about A paradigm shift to combat indoor respiratory infection.

What is the relationship between indoor air quality parameters and airborne microorganisms in hospital environments? A systematic review and meta‐analysis (2021)
Journal Article
Hiwar, W., King, M., Shuweihdi, F., Fletcher, L. A., Dancer, S. J., & Noakes, C. J. (2021). What is the relationship between indoor air quality parameters and airborne microorganisms in hospital environments? A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Indoor Air, 31(5), 1308-1322. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12846

Airborne microorganisms in hospitals have been associated with several hospital‐acquired infections (HAIs), and various measures of indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2), particle mass concen... Read More about What is the relationship between indoor air quality parameters and airborne microorganisms in hospital environments? A systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Can we do better? A guide to pandemics – some Dos and Don'ts for the next one (2021)
Journal Article
Tang, J. W., Kwok, K. O., Loh, T. P., Lee, C. K., Heraud, J., & Dancer, S. J. (2021). Can we do better? A guide to pandemics – some Dos and Don'ts for the next one. Journal of Infection, 83(1), 119-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2021.04.017

Specific features of any rapidly spread pathogen needs early recognition and assessment for possible pandemic potential. These include: inter-person transmissibility and exponential spread, which results in significant morbidity, mortality. These a... Read More about Can we do better? A guide to pandemics – some Dos and Don'ts for the next one.

How dirty is your QWERTY? The risk of healthcare pathogen transmission from computer keyboards (2021)
Journal Article
Ledwoch, K., Dancer, S., Otter, J., Kerr, K., Roposte, D., & Maillard, J. (2021). How dirty is your QWERTY? The risk of healthcare pathogen transmission from computer keyboards. Journal of Hospital Infection, 112, 31-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.02.021

Introduction Healthcare environmental surfaces may be contaminated with micro-organisms that cause healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). Special attention is paid to near-patient surfaces but sites outside the patient zone receive less attention... Read More about How dirty is your QWERTY? The risk of healthcare pathogen transmission from computer keyboards.

Systematic review on use, cost and clinical efficacy of automated decontamination devices (2021)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J., & King, M. (2021). Systematic review on use, cost and clinical efficacy of automated decontamination devices. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 10(1), Article 34 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-021-00894-y

Background More evidence is emerging on the role of surface decontamination for reducing hospital-acquired infection (HAI). Timely and adequate removal of environmental pathogens leads to measurable clinical benefit in both routine and outbreak situ... Read More about Systematic review on use, cost and clinical efficacy of automated decontamination devices.

Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) (2021)
Journal Article
Tang, J. W., Bahnfleth, W. P., Bluyssen, P. M., Buonanno, G., Jimenez, J. L., Kurnitski, J., Li, Y., Miller, S., Sekhar, C., Morawska, L., Marr, L. C., Melikov, A. K., Nazaroff, W. W., Nielsen, P. V., Tellier, R., Wargocki, P., & Dancer, S. J. (2021). Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Journal of Hospital Infection, 110, 89-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.12.022

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused untold disruption and enhanced mortality rates around the world. Understanding the mechanisms for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is key to preventing further spread but there is confusion over the meaning of “airborne” wh... Read More about Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

The Clean pilot study: evaluation of an environmental hygiene intervention bundle in three Tanzanian hospitals (2021)
Journal Article
Gon, G., Kabanywanyi, A. M., Blinkhoff, P., Cousens, S., Dancer, S. J., Graham, W. J., Hokororo, J., Manzi, F., Marchant, T., Mkoka, D., Morrison, E., Mswata, S., Oza, S., Penn-Kekana, L., Sedekia, Y., Virgo, S., Woodd, S., & Aiken, A. M. (2021). The Clean pilot study: evaluation of an environmental hygiene intervention bundle in three Tanzanian hospitals. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 10(1), Article 8 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-020-00866-8

Background Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are estimated to affect up to 15% of hospital inpatients in low-income countries (LICs). A critical but often neglected aspect of HAI prevention is basic environmental hygiene, particularly surface c... Read More about The Clean pilot study: evaluation of an environmental hygiene intervention bundle in three Tanzanian hospitals.

Why is mock care not a good proxy for predicting hand contamination during patient care? (2020)
Journal Article
King, M., Wilson, A., López-García, M., Proctor, J., Peckham, D., Clifton, I., Dancer, S., & Noakes, C. (2021). Why is mock care not a good proxy for predicting hand contamination during patient care?. Journal of Hospital Infection, 109, 44-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.11.016

Healthcare worker (HCW) behaviours, such as the sequence of their contacts with surfaces and hand hygiene moments, are important for understanding disease transmission. Aim To propose a method for recording sequences of HCW behaviours during mock v... Read More about Why is mock care not a good proxy for predicting hand contamination during patient care?.

Transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 by inhalation of respiratory aerosol in the Skagit Valley Chorale superspreading event (2020)
Journal Article
Miller, S. L., Nazaroff, W. W., Jimenez, J. L., Boerstra, A., Buonanno, G., Dancer, S. J., Kurnitski, J., Marr, L. C., Morawska, L., & Noakes, C. (2021). Transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 by inhalation of respiratory aerosol in the Skagit Valley Chorale superspreading event. Indoor Air, 31(2), 314-323. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12751

During the 2020 COVID‐19 pandemic, an outbreak occurred following attendance of a symptomatic index case at a weekly rehearsal on 10 March of the Skagit Valley Chorale (SVC). After that rehearsal, 53 members of the SVC among 61 in attendance were con... Read More about Transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 by inhalation of respiratory aerosol in the Skagit Valley Chorale superspreading event.

Covid-19 exposes the gaps in infection prevention and control (2020)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J. (2020). Covid-19 exposes the gaps in infection prevention and control. Infection, Disease & Health, 25(4), 223-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2020.08.005

• Covid-19 has highlighted how little we really know about controlling infection. • The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has ignited a tsunami of interest in basic hygiene. • Despite a shaky evidence base, hygienic activities have propelled infection control on... Read More about Covid-19 exposes the gaps in infection prevention and control.

Influence of ventilation use and occupant behaviour on surface microorganisms in contemporary social housing (2020)
Journal Article
Sharpe, T., McGill, G., Dancer, S. J., King, M., Fletcher, L., & Noakes, C. J. (2020). Influence of ventilation use and occupant behaviour on surface microorganisms in contemporary social housing. Scientific Reports, 10(1), Article 11841 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68809-2

In the context of increasingly airtight homes, there is currently little known about the type and diversity of microorganisms in the home, or factors that could affect their abundance, diversity and nature. In this study, we examined the type and pre... Read More about Influence of ventilation use and occupant behaviour on surface microorganisms in contemporary social housing.

COVID-19 and use of non-traditional masks: how do various materials compare in reducing the risk of infection for mask wearers? (2020)
Journal Article
Wilson, A., Abney, S., King, M., Weir, M., López-García, M., Sexton, J., Dancer, S., Proctor, J., Noakes, C., & Reynolds, K. (2020). COVID-19 and use of non-traditional masks: how do various materials compare in reducing the risk of infection for mask wearers?. Journal of Hospital Infection, 105(4), 640-642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.05.036

Abstract not available.

Evaluation of World Health Organization–Recommended Hand Hygiene Formulations (2020)
Journal Article
Suchomel, M., Eggers, M., Maier, S., Kramer, A., Dancer, S. J., & Pittet, D. (2020). Evaluation of World Health Organization–Recommended Hand Hygiene Formulations. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 26(9), 2064-2068. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2609.201761

As a result of the coronavirus disease pandemic, commercial hand hygiene products have become scarce and World Health Organization (WHO) alcohol-based hand rub formulations containing ethanol or isopropanol are being produced for hospitals worldwide.... Read More about Evaluation of World Health Organization–Recommended Hand Hygiene Formulations.

How can airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors be minimised? (2020)
Journal Article
Morawska, L., Tang, J. W., Bahnfleth, W., Bluyssen, P. M., Boerstra, A., Buonanno, G., Cao, J., Dancer, S., Floto, A., Franchimon, F., Haworth, C., Hogeling, J., Isaxon, C., Jimenez, J. L., Kurnitski, J., Li, Y., Loomans, M., Marks, G., Marr, L. C., Mazzarella, L., …Yao, M. (2020). How can airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors be minimised?. Environment International, 142, Article 105832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105832

During the rapid rise in COVID-19 illnesses and deaths globally, and notwithstanding recommended precautions, questions are voiced about routes of transmission for this pandemic disease. Inhaling small airborne droplets is probable as a third route o... Read More about How can airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors be minimised?.

Bacterial Transfer To Fingertips During Sequential Surface Contacts With And Without Gloves (2020)
Journal Article
King, M., López‐García, M., Atedoghu, K. P., Zhang, N., Wilson, A. M., Weterings, M., Hiwar, W., Dancer, S. J., Noakes, C. J., & Fletcher, L. A. (2020). Bacterial Transfer To Fingertips During Sequential Surface Contacts With And Without Gloves. Indoor Air, 30(5), 993-1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12682

Bacterial transmission from contaminated surfaces via hand contact plays a critical role in disease spread. However, the fomite‐to‐finger transfer efficiency of microorganisms during multiple sequential surface contacts with and without gloves has no... Read More about Bacterial Transfer To Fingertips During Sequential Surface Contacts With And Without Gloves.

Dynamic Transmission of Staphylococcus Aureus in the Intensive Care Unit (2020)
Journal Article
Adams, C. E., & Dancer, S. J. (2020). Dynamic Transmission of Staphylococcus Aureus in the Intensive Care Unit. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(6), Article 2109. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17062109

Staphylococcus aureus is an important bacterial pathogen. This study utilized known staphylococcal epidemiology to track S. aureus between patients, surfaces, staff hands and air in a ten-bed intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: Patients, air and surf... Read More about Dynamic Transmission of Staphylococcus Aureus in the Intensive Care Unit.

Measuring environmental contamination in critical care using dilute hydrogen peroxide (DHP) technology: An observational cross-over study (2020)
Journal Article
Oon, A., Reading, E., Ferguson, J., Dancer, S., & Mitchell, B. (2020). Measuring environmental contamination in critical care using dilute hydrogen peroxide (DHP) technology: An observational cross-over study. Infection, Disease & Health, 25(2), 107-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2019.12.005

Background The environment has an important role in the transmission of healthcare associated infections. This has encouraged interest in novel methods to improve hygiene in hospitals. One such technology is the use of hydrogen peroxide to decontami... Read More about Measuring environmental contamination in critical care using dilute hydrogen peroxide (DHP) technology: An observational cross-over study.

Do pneumatic tube transport systems transmit potential pathogens? A hygienic risk assessment in a university hospital (2019)
Journal Article
Khaznadar, L., Dancer, S., Petersmann, A., Seifert, U., Below, H., Papke, R., Suchomel, M., Kohlmann, T., & Kramer, A. (2020). Do pneumatic tube transport systems transmit potential pathogens? A hygienic risk assessment in a university hospital. Journal of Hospital Infection, 104(3), 374-380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2019.11.009

Background Prompted by an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in a medical facility, this study examined a pneumatic tube transport system (PTS) as a potential transmission channel. Method Samples from the receiving station and en... Read More about Do pneumatic tube transport systems transmit potential pathogens? A hygienic risk assessment in a university hospital.

Hand antisepsis without decreasing efficacy by shortening the rub-in time of alcohol-based handrubs to 15 seconds (2019)
Journal Article
Harnoss, J., Dancer, S., Kaden, C., Baguhl, R., Kohlmann, T., Papke, R., Zygmunt, M., Assadian, O., Suchomel, M., Pittet, D., & Kramer, A. (2020). Hand antisepsis without decreasing efficacy by shortening the rub-in time of alcohol-based handrubs to 15 seconds. Journal of Hospital Infection, 104(4), 419-424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2019.09.004

Background A previous study among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses showed that the antibacterial efficacy of alcohol-based handrubs (ABHR) can be achieved in 15 s instead of 30 s with a significant increase in the frequency of hand antisep... Read More about Hand antisepsis without decreasing efficacy by shortening the rub-in time of alcohol-based handrubs to 15 seconds.

Emergence of an Australian-like pstS-null vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium clone in Scotland (2019)
Journal Article
Lemonidis, K., Salih, T. S., Dancer, S. J., Hunter, I. S., & Tucker, N. P. (2019). Emergence of an Australian-like pstS-null vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium clone in Scotland. PLOS ONE, 14(6), Article e0218185. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218185

Multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST) is widely used to monitor the phylogeny of microbial outbreaks. However, several strains of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) with a missing MLST locus (pstS) have recently emerged in Australia, wi... Read More about Emergence of an Australian-like pstS-null vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium clone in Scotland.

Tracking Staphylococcus aureus in the intensive care unit using Whole-Genome Sequencing (2019)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J., Adams, C. E., Smith, J., Pichon, B., Kearns, A., & Morrison, D. (2019). Tracking Staphylococcus aureus in the intensive care unit using Whole-Genome Sequencing. Journal of Hospital Infection, 103(1), 13-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2019.04.016

Background: Staphylococcus aureus remains an important bacterial pathogen worldwide. This study utilized known staphylococcal epidemiology to track S. aureus between different ecological reservoirs in one ten-bed intensive care unit (ICU). Methods... Read More about Tracking Staphylococcus aureus in the intensive care unit using Whole-Genome Sequencing.

Four Steps to Clean Hospitals: Look; Plan; Clean; and Dry (2018)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J., & Kramer, A. (2019). Four Steps to Clean Hospitals: Look; Plan; Clean; and Dry. Journal of Hospital Infection, 103(1), e1-e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018.12.015

Background Now that cleaning and decontamination are recognised as integral to infection control, it is timely to examine the process in more detail. This is because cleaning practices vary widely within healthcare districts and it is likely that bo... Read More about Four Steps to Clean Hospitals: Look; Plan; Clean; and Dry.

Protracted diagnosis of ACNES: a costly exercise (2018)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J., Macpherson, S. G., & de Beaux, A. C. (2018). Protracted diagnosis of ACNES: a costly exercise. Journal of Surgical Case Reports, 2018(9), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1093/jscr/rjy230

This case report summarizes the course of events leading to diagnosis and eventual repair of anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) in a 58-year-old female. The time period elapsing from initial symptoms to final operative repair was 9... Read More about Protracted diagnosis of ACNES: a costly exercise.

Beware Biofilm! Dry biofilms containing bacterial pathogens on multiple healthcare surfaces; a multicentre study (2018)
Journal Article
Ledwoch, K., Dancer, S., Otter, J., Kerr, K., Roposte, D., Rushton, L., Weiser, R., Mahenthiralingam, E., Muir, D., & Maillard, J. (2018). Beware Biofilm! Dry biofilms containing bacterial pathogens on multiple healthcare surfaces; a multicentre study. Journal of Hospital Infection, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018.06.028

Background Wet biofilms associated with medical devices have been widely studied and their link with healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) is well recognized. Little attention has been paid to the presence of dry biofilms on environmental surface... Read More about Beware Biofilm! Dry biofilms containing bacterial pathogens on multiple healthcare surfaces; a multicentre study.

Estimating excess length of stay due to healthcare-associated infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis of statistical methodology (2018)
Journal Article
Manoukian, S., Stewart, S., Dancer, S., Graves, N., Mason, H., McFarland, A., Robertson, C., & Reilly, J. (2018). Estimating excess length of stay due to healthcare-associated infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis of statistical methodology. Journal of Hospital Infection, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018.06.003

Background Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) affects millions of patients worldwide. HAI is associated with increased healthcare costs, owing primarily to increased hospital length of stay (LOS) but calculating these costs is complicated due to... Read More about Estimating excess length of stay due to healthcare-associated infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis of statistical methodology.

Is there an association between airborne and surface microbes in the critical care environment? (2018)
Journal Article
Smith, J., Adams, C., King, M., Noakes, C., Robertson, C., & Dancer, S. (2018). Is there an association between airborne and surface microbes in the critical care environment?. Journal of Hospital Infection, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018.04.003

Background There are few data and no accepted standards for air quality in the intensive care unit (ICU). Any relationship between airborne pathogens and hospital-acquired infection (HAI) risk in the ICU remains unknown. Aim First, to correlate en... Read More about Is there an association between airborne and surface microbes in the critical care environment?.

Quantifying the relative effect of environmental contamination on surgical ward MRSA incidence: An exploratory analysis (2018)
Journal Article
Lee, X. J., Pettitt, A. N., & Dancer, S. J. (2018). Quantifying the relative effect of environmental contamination on surgical ward MRSA incidence: An exploratory analysis. Infection, Disease & Health, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2018.02.005

Background: To investigate and quantify the contribution of environmental contamination towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) incidence observed in a hospital ward using stochastic modelling. Methods: A non-homogeneous Poisson pr... Read More about Quantifying the relative effect of environmental contamination on surgical ward MRSA incidence: An exploratory analysis.

How Does a Photocatalytic Antimicrobial Coating Affect Environmental Bioburden in Hospitals? (2018)
Journal Article
Reid, M., Whatley, V., Spooner, E., Nevill, A. M., Cooper, M., Ramsden, J. J., & Dancer, S. J. (2018). How Does a Photocatalytic Antimicrobial Coating Affect Environmental Bioburden in Hospitals?. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 39(4), 398-404. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2017.297

BACKGROUND The healthcare environment is recognized as a source for healthcare-acquired infection. Because cleaning practices are often erratic and always intermittent, we hypothesize that continuously antimicrobial surfaces offer superior control of... Read More about How Does a Photocatalytic Antimicrobial Coating Affect Environmental Bioburden in Hospitals?.

Control of Antimicrobial Resistance Requires an Ethical Approach (2017)
Journal Article
Parsonage, B., Hagglund, P. K., Keogh, L., Wheelhouse, N., Brown, R. E., & Dancer, S. J. (2017). Control of Antimicrobial Resistance Requires an Ethical Approach. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.02124

Ethical behavior encompasses actions that benefit both self and society. This means that tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) becomes an ethical obligation, because the prospect of declining anti-infectives affects everyone. Without preventive act... Read More about Control of Antimicrobial Resistance Requires an Ethical Approach.

Variation in hospital cleaning practice and process in Australian hospitals: A structured mapping exercise (2017)
Journal Article
Mitchell, B. G., Farrington, A., Allen, M., Gardner, A., Hall, L., Barnett, A. G., Halton, K., Page, K., Dancer, S. J., Riley, T. V., Gericke, C. A., Paterson, D. L., & Graves, N. (2017). Variation in hospital cleaning practice and process in Australian hospitals: A structured mapping exercise. Infection, Disease & Health, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2017.08.001

Background The purpose of this paper is to highlight the range of cleaning practices and processes in 11 Australian hospitals and to discuss the challenges this variation poses to the implementation of clinical trials or changes to hospital cleaning... Read More about Variation in hospital cleaning practice and process in Australian hospitals: A structured mapping exercise.

What's trending in infection control? (2017)
Journal Article
Mitchell, B. G., Petrie, D., Morton, L., & Dancer, S. J. (2017). What's trending in infection control?. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 38(9), 1098-1102. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2017.130

OBJECTIVE To explore the trends in infection control peer-reviewed journals, mainstream media, and blogs written by infection control professionals DESIGN Narrative and scoping reviews METHODS Narrative and scoping reviews were performed to identify... Read More about What's trending in infection control?.

Infection control: evidence-based common sense (2016)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J. (2016). Infection control: evidence-based common sense. Infection, Disease & Health, 21(4), 147-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idh.2016.10.003

When compared against classical sciences, infection control is very much the ‘new kid-on-the-block’. This means that activities directed by infection prevention and control are more likely to reflect ‘common sense’ rather than robust evidence. Indeed... Read More about Infection control: evidence-based common sense.

Antibiotic prescribing: the consequences of getting it wrong (2016)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J. (2016). Antibiotic prescribing: the consequences of getting it wrong. Clinical Focus Primary Care, 10(2), 62-71

Antibiotics were one of the most important discoveries last century. As with all drugs, however, they are associated with adverse effects. This article reviews how inappropriate antibiotic prescribing not only fails to cure an infected patient; it ma... Read More about Antibiotic prescribing: the consequences of getting it wrong.

Disastrous performance of NanoCote/Aqua Based antimicrobial paint in a hospital setting (2016)
Journal Article
Ramsden, J., Reid, M., Whatley, V., & Dancer, S. (2016). Disastrous performance of NanoCote/Aqua Based antimicrobial paint in a hospital setting. Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry, 16(3), 131-136. https://doi.org/10.4024/16ra16a.jbpc.16.03

Attempts are being made to incorporate copper into clear varnish in order to coat environmental surfaces in hospitals with the long-term goal of reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAI). The performance of a nanocopper-containing polyacrylic emu... Read More about Disastrous performance of NanoCote/Aqua Based antimicrobial paint in a hospital setting.

What are the threats from antimicrobial resistance for maternity units in low- and middle- income countries? (2016)
Journal Article
Graham, W. J., Afsana, K., Campbell, O. M. R., Graham, W. J., Morrison, E., Dancer, S., Afsana, K., Aulakh, A., Campbell, O. M. R., Cross, S., Ellis, R., Enkubahiri, S., Fekad, B., Gon, G., Idoko, P., Moore, J., Saxena, D., Velleman, Y., & Woodd, S. (2016). What are the threats from antimicrobial resistance for maternity units in low- and middle- income countries?. Global Health Action, 9(1), 33381. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v9.33381

No abstract available.

Is it worth screening elective orthopaedic patients for carriage of Staphylococcus aureus ? A part-retrospective case–control study in a Scottish hospital (2016)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J., Christison, F., Eslami, A., Gregori, A., Miller, R., Perisamy, K., …Graves, N. (2016). Is it worth screening elective orthopaedic patients for carriage of Staphylococcus aureus ? A part-retrospective case–control study in a Scottish hospital. BMJ Open, 6(9), Article e011642. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011642

Background With recent focus on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) has been overlooked. MSSA infections are costly and debilitating in orthopaedic surgery. Methods We broadened MR... Read More about Is it worth screening elective orthopaedic patients for carriage of Staphylococcus aureus ? A part-retrospective case–control study in a Scottish hospital.

Dos and don’ts for hospital cleaning (2016)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J. (2016). Dos and don’ts for hospital cleaning. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases, 29(4), 415-423. https://doi.org/10.1097/qco.0000000000000289

Purpose of review: More evidence is emerging on the role of cleaning and decontamination for reducing hospital-acquired infection. Timely and adequate removal of environmental pathogens leads to measurable clinical benefits for patients. This article... Read More about Dos and don’ts for hospital cleaning.

Researching effective approaches to cleaning in hospitals: protocol of the REACH study, a multi-site stepped-wedge randomised trial (2016)
Journal Article
Hall, L., Farrington, A., Mitchell, B. G., Barnett, A. G., Halton, K., Allen, M., Page, K., Gardner, A., Havers, S., Bailey, E., Dancer, S. J., Riley, T. V., Gericke, C. A., Paterson, D. L., & Graves, N. (2016). Researching effective approaches to cleaning in hospitals: protocol of the REACH study, a multi-site stepped-wedge randomised trial. Implementation Science, 11(1), Article 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-016-0406-6

Background The Researching Effective Approaches to Cleaning in Hospitals (REACH) study will generate evidence about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a novel cleaning initiative that aims to improve the environmental cleanliness of hospita... Read More about Researching effective approaches to cleaning in hospitals: protocol of the REACH study, a multi-site stepped-wedge randomised trial.

Missing a trick? Response to: ‘Disinfectant wipes are appropriate to control microbial bioburden from surfaces’ (2015)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. (2016). Missing a trick? Response to: ‘Disinfectant wipes are appropriate to control microbial bioburden from surfaces’. Journal of Hospital Infection, 92(2), 208-209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2015.10.020

Letter to Editor. Refers to - J.-Y. Maillard, S.A. Sattar, C. Bradley Missing a trick? Response to: ‘Disinfectant wipes are appropriate to control microbial bioburden from surfaces’ Journal of Hospital Infection, Volume 92, Issue 2, February 201... Read More about Missing a trick? Response to: ‘Disinfectant wipes are appropriate to control microbial bioburden from surfaces’.

Oral streptogramins in the management of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. (2003)
Journal Article
Dancer, S. J., Robb, A., Crawford, A., & Morrison, D. (2003). Oral streptogramins in the management of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 51, 731-735. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkg143

Objectives: Chronic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in debilitated patients are difficult to treat. We studied the clinical efficacy and safety of an oral streptogramin, pristinamycin, for these patients. Patients an... Read More about Oral streptogramins in the management of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections..