Latest News
StAR-3: First monitoring of antimicrobial stewardship in Swiss hospitals
At the end of 2024, an initial survey of Antimicrobial Stewardship activities in Swiss hospitals was conducted. This survey forms the basis for long-term monitoring of activities.
Monitoring carried out in 2024 shows that 86% of hospitals have antimicrobial stewardship activities in place. The majority of these hospitals monitor antibiotic use and have evidence-based guidelines for antibiotic treatment or perioperative antibiotic use. Half of the hospitals with stewardship activities have a formal antimicrobial stewardship program.
Hospitals are advised implement formal Antimicrobial Stewardship programs and to improve the effectiveness of antimicrobial stewardship activities by appointing a stewardship lead and allocating resources. A handbook on antimicrobial stewardship supports staff in implementing antimicrobial stewardship activities in hospitals.
Detailed results can be found on the project website.
StAR-3: Seven working groups launched
The January 2025 newsletter reported that seven project proposals had been selected as part of a call for project proposals. The working groups have now been launched. They are currently developing these implementation aids, which will be made available to hospitals at the end of 2026 as part of the comprehensive handbook (second edition).
Information on the working groups can be found on the project website.
StAR-3: support for the implementation of infectious disease guidelines
(for hospitals in German-speaking Switzerland)
The StAR-3 working group “A Guidelines Collaborative, HOCH Health Ostschweiz” supports hospitals in German-speaking Switzerland in implementing infectious disease recommendations. Participating hospitals will benefit from free access to the www.Guidelines.ch platform and existing infectious disease guidelines. They will also be able to draw on the network's extensive expertise when adapting the recommendations to their hospital's needs.
Are you interested in this offer? You can find more information on the working group website.
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The project «StAR-3: Implementing ASP in Swiss Hospitals» is a three-year project that started in September 2023. It is supported by the FOPH as part of the Swiss Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance (StAR). H + Die Spitäler der Schweiz and the Swiss conference of the Cantonal Ministers of Public Health (GDK-CDS) are involved as observers. Further information can be found on the project website. |
Counter-statement comparison of foreign prices for laboratory analyses
The section «Clinical Microbiology» of the Swiss Society of Microbiology supports the recent statement from FAMH on the diagnostic price comparison to foreign countries.
More info find here
StAR-3: Publication of the Handbook for the Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) in Swiss Hospitals
Swissnoso and six organizations - ISS, SSHH, GSASA, SSM, ANRESIS and FMH - have jointly developed the StAR-3 project: Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Swiss Hospitals.
The common objective is to develop a handbook to support hospitals in implementing such programs. The project is being implemented with the participation of numerous stakeholders - doctors, hospital pharmacists, microbiologists and social scientists - in interdisciplinary working groups. We are pleased to share with you the 1st version of this handbook.
Links to handbook site: GE: https://swissnoso.ch/forschung-entwicklung/umsetzung-star/handbuch-erste-ausgabe-pdf
FR: https://swissnoso.ch/fr/recherche-developpement/mise-en-oeuvre-de-la-star/handbuch-erste-ausgabe-pdf
Links to video on youtube: GE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPycH623ScA
FR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnT-mEAA8gY
Statement of the CCCM-SSM : increase in frequency of acute Parvovirus B19 infection.
SAC reactivation
The Coordination Commission for Clinical Microbiology (CCCM) is delighted to announce the resumption of Swiss Antibiogram Committee (SAC) meetings. The 21st session is scheduled for Friday, January 26th, at the Sorell Hotel in Bern. A reorganization of SAC is underway due to several withdrawals, including the departure of the previous chair, Prof. Zbinden. In this regard, we extend our gratitude to Prof. R. Zbinden for his dedicated chairmanship over the past 13 years. The CCCM has appointed PD Dr. Stefano Mancini (IMM, UZH) to assume the coordination of the SAC. The election and officialization of the new coordinator will take place post the upcoming meeting. Minutes from SAC meetings will be documented and made publicly available at the dedicated page https://swissmicrobiology.ch/en/sections/clinical-microbiology/swiss-antibiotic-committee-sac . If you have questions or issues that you would like to be addressed in the next SAC meeting, please write Dr. Mancini at the following e-mail:
IVDR
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/18/2910
EFBS: Übersetzung Empfehlung zu baulich-technischen Sicherheitsmassnahmen in BSL3-Laboratorien ist online
Cette recommandation concrétise les exigences relatives à une sélection de mesures de sécurité de nature constructive s’appliquant aux laboratoires de diagnostic et de recherche dans lesquels sont réalisées des activités de classe 3 avec des microorganismes. Elle se veut une aide non contraignante sur le plan juridique et s’adresse aux personnes qui planifient, construisent, exploitent, évaluent et inspectent de telles mesures de sécurité, à savoir les bureaux d’études et d’architecture, les maîtres d’ouvrage, les directions d’entreprises et de laboratoires, mais également les responsables de la biosécurité dans les laboratoires et les autorités.
Les chapitres introductifs définissent les termes principaux et indiquent quelles sont les bases juridiques, les normes et les réglementations en la matière. Le chapitre 4 explique quelles mesures de sécurité de nature constructive sont prises en compte et de quelle manière elles sont élaborées. Le chapitre 5 constitue le point essentiel de cette recommandation et décrit en détail les mesures de sécurité sélectionnées. Les chapitres 6 et 7 fournissent des informations auxquelles les différents groupes cibles doivent prêter attention, et le chapitre 8 donne des indications relatives à l’entretien des mesures de sécurité discutées.
Wie an der Sitzung besprochen, haben wir nun die Übersetzungen der Empfehlung zu baulich-technischen Sicherheitsmassnahmen in BSL3-Laboratorien auf unserer Webseite publiziert. Ihr findet sie einerseits auf der Startseite unter «News» mit folgenden Unterseiten:
- Empfehlung der EFBS zu baulich-technischen Sicherheitsmassnahmen in BSL-3-Laboratorien, Mai 2022 - Eidgenössische Fachkommission für biologische Sicherheit EFBS (admin.ch)
- Recommandation de la CFSB relative aux mesures de sécurité en matière de construction dans les laboratoires BSL3 - Commission fédérale d'experts pour la sécurité biologique CFSB (admin.ch)
- Raccomandazione della CFSB sulle misure di sicurezza tecnico-strutturali in laboratori BSL3 - Commissione federale per la sicurezza biologica CFSB (admin.ch)
- Recommendation of the SECB on structural-technical safety measures in BSL-3 laboratories - Swiss Expert Committee for Biosafety SECB (admin.ch)
Anderseits sind sie auch direkt bei den Empfehlungen zu finden:
- Empfehlungen der EFBS - Eidgenössische Fachkommission für biologische Sicherheit EFBS (admin.ch)
- Recommandations de la CFSB - Commission fédérale d'experts pour la sécurité biologique CFSB (admin.ch)
- Raccomandazioni della CFSB - Commissione federale per la sicurezza biologica CFSB (admin.ch)
- Recommendations of the SECB - Swiss Expert Committee for Biosafety SECB (admin.ch)
The SSM endorses the Swiss Sepsis Action Plan
Monkeypox : summary from the Emerging Infection Task Force (EiTaf)
MONKEYPOX outbreak - summary and diagnostic capacity
Statement of the CCCM on price Supervisor’s cost claim- March 2022
The Swiss Antibiogram Committee has issued a position paper to help Swiss clinical microbiology labs to implement EUCAST 2019 guidelines.
Role of the commission
This commission is dedicated to all topics which are related to medical microbiology. It collaborates with public authorities (e.g., the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health) and other organisations to promote good standards in clinical microbiology laboratories and to solve problems.
Activities
- defining requirements for quality control and external quality assessment for the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases
- organisation of courses within the framework of the FAMH curriculum in clinical microbiology
- organisation of continuous education courses in clinical microbiology e.g. the "Réunions informelles" and the "Club de pathologie" meetings
- teaching clinical microbiology to physicians who perform microbiological analyses in their practice
- collaboration with authorities with regard to the list of analysis and pricing
- Support for the introduction of the European breakpoints of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibilty Testing (EUCAST) by the Swiss Antibiogramm Committee.