Search Results (968)

Invasive candidiasis (IC), characterized by the most common clinical manifestation of candidemia, is a fungal infection with a high mortality rate and a significant impact on global public health. It is estimated that each year there are between 227,000 and 250,000 hospitalizations related to IC, with more than 100,000 associated deaths. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LA&C), the absence of a standardized surveillance system has led to multicenter studies documenting incidences ranging from 0.74 to 6.0 cases per 1000 hospital admissions, equivalent to 50,000–60,000 hospitalizations annually, with mortality rates of up to 60% in certain high-risk groups. Armed conflicts and structural violence in LA&C cause forced displacement, the collapse of health systems, and poor living conditions—such as overcrowding, malnutrition, and lack of sanitation—which increase vulnerability to opportunistic infections, such as IC. Insufficient specialized laboratories, diagnostic technology, and trained personnel impede pathogen identification and delay timely initiation of antifungal therapy. Furthermore, the empirical use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and the limited availability of echinocandins and lipid formulations of amphotericin B have promoted the emergence of resistant non-albicans strains, such as Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, and, in recent outbreaks, Candidozyma auris. Full article

Objectives: Norovirus outbreaks occur in densely populated environments, such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, and schools. On 22 October 2022, an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis was reported at a kindergarten in Korea. An epidemiologic investigation was conducted to identify the source of the infection and prevent further spread. Methods: Rectal swab and environmental samples were collected for bacterial and viral testing. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 114 kindergarteners at the kindergarten. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess associations of contact with the primary case, as well as food and water consumption. Results: Of the kindergarteners, 28 out of 114 (24.6%) met the case definition. The primary case occurred on 19 October, and subsequent cases began on 21 October. Sharing the same four-year-old class as the primary case (RR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.35–4.87), being in the same regular class (RR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.27–4.41), being on the same floor during after-school class (RR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.74–7.00), and attending the same English class (RR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.05–3.72) were statistically significant. Consumption of drinking water on the third floor and fourth floor on 20 October had significantly higher and lower RRs, respectively. Norovirus was detected in 9 out of 18 rectal swab samples (50.0%). Conclusions: This norovirus outbreak at the kindergarten was presumed to have been caused by person-to-person transmission from the primary case. Isolation and restriction of symptomatic children in kindergartens should be thoroughly implemented. Additionally, enhanced surveillance among family members of affected individuals is necessary to prevent further outbreaks. Full article

This study presents an extended approach to compartmental modeling of infectious disease spread, focusing on regional heterogeneity within affected areas. Using classical SIS, SIR, and SEIR frameworks, we simulate the dynamics of COVID-19 across two major regions of Ukraine—Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv—during the period 2020–2024. The proposed mathematical model incorporates regionally distributed subpopulations and applies a system of differential equations solved using the classical fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. The simulations are validated against real-world epidemiological data from national and international sources. The SEIR model demonstrated superior performance, achieving maximum relative errors of 4.81% and 5.60% in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, respectively, outperforming the SIS and SIR models. Despite limited mobility and social contact data, the regionally adapted models achieved acceptable accuracy for medium-term forecasting. This validates the practical applicability of extended compartmental models in public health planning, particularly in settings with constrained data availability. The results further support the use of these models for estimating critical epidemiological indicators such as infection peaks and hospital resource demands. The proposed framework offers a scalable and computationally efficient tool for regional epidemic forecasting, with potential applications to future outbreaks in geographically heterogeneous environments. Full article

Objectives: Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), a Gram-negative organism, is a well-recognized cause of hospital outbreaks, often linked to a contaminated shared source, such as multidose medications. In this study, we report an outbreak of Bcc infections in a tertiary care hospital, associated with the intrinsic contamination of a prepared solution used in interventional radiology (IR) procedures. Additionally, we provide a detailed explanation of the interventions implemented to control and interrupt the outbreak. Methods: Records from the infection control committee from 1 January 2023 to 31 October 2024 were screened to identify cases with Bcc growth in cultured blood, urine, or respiratory samples. Clinical and laboratory data were collected in March 2025. Bacterial identification was performed using conventional methods and MALDI-TOF (Bruker Daltonics, Bremen, Germany). Controls were matched to cases by ward, date of initial growth, and duration of hospitalization. Demographic and clinical data of these patients were systematically collected and analyzed. Microbiological cultures were obtained from environmental objects of concern and certain medications. Results: A total of 82 Burkholderia species were identified. We enrolled 77 cases and 77 matched controls. The source of contamination was identified in ready-to-use intravenous medications (remifentanil and magnesium preparations) in the IR department. These preparations were compounded in advance by the team and were used repeatedly. Although the outbreak originated from contaminated IV medications used in IR, secondary transmission likely affected 28 non-IR patients via fomites, shared environments, and possible lapses in isolation precautions. The mortality rate among the cases was 16.9%. Infection with Bcc was associated with prolonged intensive care unit stays (p = 0.018) and an extended overall hospitalization duration (p < 0.001); however, it was not associated with increased mortality. The enforcement of contact precautions and comprehensive environmental decontamination successfully reduced the incidence of the Bcc outbreak. No pathogens were detected in cultures obtained after the disinfection. Conclusions: The hospital transmission of Bcc is likely driven by cross-contamination, invasive medical procedures, and the administration of contaminated medications. Implementing stringent infection control measures such as staff retraining, updated policies on medication use, enhanced environmental decontamination, and strict adherence to isolation precautions has proven effective in curbing the spread of virulent and transmissible Bcc. Full article

Background/objectives: Proteus mirabilis is a frequent causative agent of urinary and wound infections in both community and hospital settings. It develops resistance to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) due to the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) or plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases (p-AmpCs). Recently, carbapenem-resistant isolates of P. mirabilis emerged due to the production of carbapenemases, mostly belonging to Ambler classes B and D. Here, we report an outbreak of infections due to carbapenem-resistant P. mirabilis that were observed in a psychiatric hospital in Zagreb, Croatia. The characteristics of ESBL and carbapenemase-producing P. mirabilis isolates, associated with an outbreak, were analyzed. Materials and methods: The antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the disk-diffusion and broth dilution methods. The double-disk synergy test (DDST) and inhibitor-based test with clavulanic and phenylboronic acid were applied to screen for ESBLs and p-AmpCs, respectively. Carbapenemases were screened by the modified Hodge test (MHT), while carbapenem hydrolysis was investigated by the carbapenem inactivation method (CIM) and EDTA-carbapenem-inactivation method (eCIM). The nature of the ESBLs, carbapenemases, and fluoroquinolone-resistance determinants was investigated by PCR. Plasmids were characterized by PCR-based replicon typing (PBRT). Selected isolates were subjected to molecular characterization of the resistome by an Inter-Array Genotyping Kit CarbaResisit and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Results: In total, 20 isolates were collected and analyzed. All isolates exhibited resistance to amoxicillin alone and when combined with clavulanic acid, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefepime, imipenem, ceftazidime–avibactam, ceftolozane–tazobactam, gentamicin, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin. There was uniform susceptibility to ertapenem, meropenem, and cefiderocol. The DDST and combined disk test with clavulanic acid were positive, indicating the production of an ESBL. The MHT was negative in all except one isolate, while the CIM showed moderate sensitivity, but only with imipenem as the indicator disk. Furthermore, eCIM tested positive in all of the CIM-positive isolates, consistent with a metallo-β-lactamase (MBL). PCR and sequencing of the selected amplicons identified VIM-1 and VIM-4. The Inter-Array Genotyping Kit CarbaResist and WGS identified β-lactam resistance genes bla_VIM, bla_CTX-M-15, and bla_TEM genes; aminoglycoside resistance genes aac(3)-IId, aph(6)-Id, aph(3″)-Ib, aadA1, armA, and aac(6′)-IIc; as well as resistance genes for sulphonamides sul1 and sul2, trimethoprim dfr1, chloramphenicol cat, and tetracycline tet(J). Conclusions: This study revealed an epidemic spread of carbapenemase-producing P. mirabilis in two wards in a psychiatric hospital. Due to the extensively resistant phenotype (XDR), therapeutic options were limited. This is the first report of carbapenemase-producing P. mirabilis in Croatia. Full article

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic connective tissue disorder characterized by bone fragility, most often caused by pathogenic variants in type I collagen genes. In this context, we aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with OI who were hospitalized for coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 in Brazil between 2020 and 2024. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis using data from the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS, which stands for the Portuguese Sistema Único de Saúde) through the Open-Data-SUS platform. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of OI and hospitalization due to COVID-19 were included. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to evaluate demographic, clinical, and outcome-related variables. We included all hospitalized COVID-19 cases with a confirmed diagnosis of OI between 2020 and 2024. Results: Thirteen hospitalized patients with OI and COVID-19 were identified. Most were adults (9; 69.2%), male (7; 53.8%), self-identified as White (9; 69.2%), and all were residents of urban areas (13; 100.0%). The most frequent symptoms were fever (10; 76.9%), cough (9; 69.2%), oxygen desaturation (9; 69.2%), dyspnea (8; 61.5%), and respiratory distress (7; 53.8%). Two patients had heart disease, one had chronic lung disease, and one was obese. As for vaccination status, five patients (38.5%) had been vaccinated against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Four patients (30.8%) required admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), and six (46.2%) required noninvasive ventilatory support. Among those admitted to the ICU, only two required invasive mechanical ventilation. The clinical outcome was death in two cases (15.4%). Both patients were male, White, and had not been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. One was 47 years old, was not admitted to the ICU, but required noninvasive ventilation. Despite the underlying condition most patients had favorable outcomes, consistent with an international report. Conclusions: This is the first report to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with OI hospitalized for COVID-19 in Brazil, providing initial insights into how a rare bone disorder intersects with an acute respiratory infection. The generally favorable outcomes observed—despite the underlying skeletal fragility—suggest that individuals with OI are not necessarily at disproportionate risk of severe COVID-19, particularly when appropriately monitored. The occurrence of deaths only among unvaccinated patients underscores the critical role of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in this population. Although pharmacological treatment data were unavailable, the potential protective effects of bisphosphonates and vitamin D merit further exploration. These findings support the need for early preventive strategies, systematic vaccination efforts, and dedicated clinical protocols for rare disease populations during infectious disease outbreaks. Full article

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) has emerged as a critical human pathogen, causing high mortality rates among hospitalized patients and frequently triggering nosocomial outbreaks. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii poses a pressing threat to public health. To date, no commercially available vaccine against A. baumannii has been developed for clinical use. messenger RNA (mRNA)–lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines have emerged as a promising vaccination strategy. Methods: In this work, we developed two mRNA vaccines targeting SmpA-PLD and the fusion protein of outer membrane proteins OmpK and Omp22. The mRNA was encapsulated in LNP and administered to BALB/c mice. We evaluated humoral and cellular immune responses, bacterial burden, inflammation, and protective efficacy against A. baumannii infection in a sepsis model. Results: These mRNA vaccines triggered robust humoral and cellular immune responses in BALB/c mice, reduced bacterial burden and inflammation in sepsis models, and provided significant protection against A. baumannii infection. Notably, the OmpK-Omp22 vaccine exhibited superior protective efficacy, reducing bacterial loads in various organs and improving survival rates in the sepsis model compared to the SmpA-PLD vaccine. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate mRNA-LNP vaccine technology as a versatile and promising platform for the development of innovative therapeutics against A. baumannii, with the potential to mitigate acute disease and promote bacterial decolonization. These findings pave the way for the development of urgently needed and effective antibacterial vaccines. Full article

Botulism is a severe muscle paralysis disease mediated by the botulinum toxin. Here, we reported a foodborne botulism case caused by Clostridium botulinum subtype A5(b3) from self-packaged vacuum spicy rabbit heads. Treatment for this case was delayed due to misdiagnosis and insufficient diagnostic capacity in three hospitals, which resulted in progressive clinical deterioration, and eventually, the patient was transferred to Shandong Public Health Clinical Center for specialized therapy. The case was suspected as foodborne botulism by the Qilu Medical-Prevention Innovation Integration pathway and multi-disciplinary consultation. An epidemiological investigation and laboratory confirmation revealed that the botulinum neurotoxin originated from vacuum-packaged spicy rabbit heads distributed via interprovincial cold chain logistics. After treatment with botulism antiserum, the patient’s condition significantly improved, and they were discharged after recovery. We revealed that this foodborne botulism outbreak was caused by the Clostridium botulinum A5(b3) subtype from food by whole-genome sequencing and SNP typing. All the strains belonged to Group I carrying the botulinum neurotoxin gene classified as the ha cluster. Toxin A was confirmed by MBA and other methods, while toxin B was non-functional due to the truncated bont/B gene. Other virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes were also detected. Our findings indicate that self-packaged vacuum meat products represent an emerging risk factor for botulism transmission when stored improperly. Importantly, the recurrent misdiagnosis in this case underscored the urgent need to enhance the training of healthcare professionals in medical institutions to improve the diagnostic accuracy and clinical management of botulism. Full article

Background: Starting in early 2022, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron has driven large outbreaks in China, a predominantly infection-naive population with high inactivated vaccine coverage. This unique context provided a substantially less-confounded opportunity to evaluate how vaccination, public health, and social measures influenced severity. Methods: We systematically reviewed 86 studies (224 severity estimates) published from 2022 to 2024, reporting symptom and clinical severity outcomes (fever, cough, and sore throat; symptomatic, severe/critical, and fatal illness) of Omicron infections in China. Using meta-regression, we evaluated the associations of study setting, age group, vaccination status, predominant subvariants, and Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) indices, including the Government Response Index (GRI), Containment and Health Index (CHI), and the Stringency Index (SI), with infection outcomes, adjusting for key confounders. Results: We found the primary or booster series of inactivated vaccines conferred strong protection against severe/critical illness (pooled relative risk (RR) 0.17 [95% CI: 0.09–0.33]) but did not reduce symptom frequency (RR 0.99 [95% CI: 0.95–1.02]). Each 10-unit increase in GRI or CHI was associated with 7% (95% CI: 1–12%) and 6% (95% CI: 1–10%) lower odds of symptomatic infection and 3% (95% CI: 1–4%) lower odds of severe/critical illness. Later subvariants (BA.5, BF.7, and XBB) showed 24–38% higher odds of upper respiratory symptoms versus BA.1. Conclusions: The data collection context significantly impacted severity estimates, with higher estimates from emergency hospitals. Overall, inactivated vaccines provided strong protection against severe/critical outcomes while stringent public health measures were associated with lower severity. Our findings underscore the importance of consistent and standardized protocols to produce reliable estimates of SARS-CoV-2 severity in evolving epidemiological contexts. Full article

Against the backdrop of frequent public health emergencies caused by infectious diseases, it is urgent to evaluate the importance of urban epidemic prevention by integrating population mobility networks. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation index system is constructed based on a population mobility network, and the improved entropy weight method and analytic hierarchy process are used to obtain the comprehensive weights. The weight imbalance problem of traditional methods is solved by introducing community structure weighting and subjective weight. We establish a Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)-based evaluation model named city importance evaluation based on the division of communities and TOPSIS (CICT) for the importance of urban epidemic prevention and simulate the model using data from 297 cities in China. It can rank indicators that affect the importance of cities in infectious disease prevention and control and identify key cities for infectious disease prevention and control. The influence of various indicators on the evaluation objectives vary during different investigation periods, but the entropy weights of confirmed cases, hospital beds, and practicing (assistant) physicians remain at a high level. Cities with a high number of confirmed cases consistently rank at the top in the comprehensive evaluation, but this model can also identify potential key cities with fewer confirmed cases. These cities require key management during the outbreak of infectious diseases. The evaluation model can scientifically assess the epidemic prevention significance of cities, improve the efficiency of public health emergency management, and provide quantitative support for formulating urban epidemic control strategies, promoting resource optimization allocation, and implementing targeted measures. Full article

Background: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are particularly vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections, which can significantly worsen clinical outcomes. The aim of the study was to identify the cause of bacteremia in a group of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and find out the source of the outbreak to prevent further spread. Methods: Pathogen identification in blood cultures and sensitivity testing were carried out using the automated VITEK2 system. A total of 110 samples were tested; these were collected from patients’ colonization sites and from surfaces, materials and fluids used in the setting. Furthermore, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were employed to characterize the isolates. Results: Achromobacter xylosoxidans was detected in the blood of nine hospitalized patients and in cotton used for disinfection; all isolates presented an identical antibiotic resistance pattern, and all carried the bla_OXA-114 gene which is intrinsic to this species. Infection control measures were implemented promptly. With one exception, all patients recovered and were discharged in good health. Conclusions: This outbreak underscores the urgent need for investigation and control of hospital infections, as bacteremia is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, hospitalization time, and cost. It also highlights the importance of close collaboration among healthcare professionals. Full article

Background: COVID-19 has led to significant global morbidity and mortality, with clinical outcomes varying widely among individuals. Understanding the impact of comorbidities on COVID-19 outcomes is essential for improving patient management. To date, analyses of comorbidities affecting COVID-19 severity in a heterogeneous Swiss cohort across multiple outbreak waves are unavailable. The objective of this study was to explore the role of comorbidities on COVID-19 severity in hospitalized patients from a diverse Swiss cohort and to evaluate the association between comorbidities and specific in-hospital complications. Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-center study included adult patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 for at least one night at the Cantonal Hospital Baselland, Switzerland (KSBL), between March 2020 and December 2021. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for age and gender were performed to analyze the association between comorbidities and critical condition (defined as severe disease or in-hospital death) and complications. Results: A total of 1124 patients were included in the study (median age 66, range 19–100 years, 60% male). A total of 76% of patients had at least one comorbidity. The most common comorbidities were arterial hypertension (47%), obesity (27%), and diabetes mellitus (24%). Overall, 16% of patients experienced a critical condition, and 25.5% had any type of complication. Patients without comorbidities had the lowest rates of critical condition (5.3%) and complications (10.2%). Obesity (OR 2.01, p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.67, p = 0.004), arterial hypertension (OR 1.65, p = 0.006), arrhythmia (OR1.87, p = 0.003), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 2.72, p < 0.001) were found to be associated with critical condition. The most frequently observed complication was acute kidney failure, affecting 17.1% of the study population, while patients with arrhythmia showed the highest overall complication rate (42%). Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with previous research, confirming the relevance of specific comorbidities as key risk factors for critical COVID-19 outcomes. Among all comorbid conditions evaluated, asthma appeared to have the least impact on disease severity. Future research should focus on the impact of the combination of comorbidities on the disease severity of COVID-19, as well as the long-term effects of COVID-19 for patients with certain comorbidities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are two highly prevalent chronic conditions that often coexist in older adults. Their interaction may influence clinical outcomes, particularly during external stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and temporal trends of PD among hospitalized patients with T2DM in Spain (2017–2023), evaluate sex-based differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes, examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify predictors of PD diagnosis and in-hospital mortality (IHM). Methods: We conducted a retrospective, nationwide study using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database (RAE-CMBD). Adults aged ≥40 years hospitalized with T2DM were included. PD cases were identified using ICD-10 codes. Joinpoint regression assessed temporal trends, and multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with PD and IHM. Results: Among 5.1 million T2DM-related hospitalizations, 107,931 (2.41%) involved PD. PD prevalence increased over time, particularly among women. Men accounted for most PD cases and were younger than their female counterparts. Depression and anxiety were more frequent in women and associated with PD in both sexes. IHM peaked at 14.6% in 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 outbreak. Predictors of IHM included older age, higher comorbidity burden, dementia, and COVID-19 diagnosis. Conclusions: The coexistence of PD and T2DM in hospitalized patients is associated with clinical complexity and increased mortality. Personalized, multidisciplinary care is essential to address sex-specific patterns, psychiatric comorbidities, and vulnerability to systemic stressors. Full article

Dengue has been a serious public health concern in Nepal since the past few years, with concurrent big outbreaks occurring in 2022–2024. This cross-sectional study was conducted among febrile patients visiting hospitals in Mahottari district in southern Nepal. A total of 2141 dengue-suspected patients were investigated by routine laboratory assays and serological and molecular techniques, including real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Among them, 455 (21.3%) were confirmed as dengue cases. The majority of dengue cases (435, 95.6%) had a primary dengue infection. The total bilirubin level was significantly higher in secondary dengue infection than in primary (p = 0.032). The major dengue virus (DENV) serotypes responsible for this outbreak were DENV-1 (45.5%) and DENV-2 (40.9%), while 13.6% patients had DENV-3 infection. DENV-3 infection showed a significantly higher viral load (median: 7.71 Log₁₀ copies/mL; range: 6.48–7.94) compared to DENV-1 (6.72 Log₁₀ copies/mL; 5.49–7.17) and DENV-2 (4.76 Log₁₀ copies/mL; 2.32–6.96). Adult patients exhibited a significantly higher viral load than children (p = 0.035). NS1- and IgM-positive as well as admitted patients had a higher viral load (p < 0.05). Co-circulation of multiple serotypes (DENV-1, -2, -3) was confirmed with the first introduction of DENV-1 and DENV-3 in Mahottari and surrounding areas in the 2023 outbreak. Identification of the circulating DENV serotypes is crucial to understanding the epidemiological trend and dynamics of population immunity. These findings underscore the need of nation-wide integrated surveillance, including genomic data generation, in Nepal for disease control, prevention, and potential vaccine implication. Full article

Background and Objectives: Infectious disease outbreaks are a major challenge for public health systems worldwide, especially for healthcare workers (HCWs). Taif city, in Saudi Arabia, has a high population density and is a tourist destination, which puts it at a high risk of infectious disease outbreaks. Despite its geographical importance, no previous study has been conducted that focuses on assessing the preparedness of healthcare workers in Taif city for managing infectious disease outbreaks. Therefore, we aimed to assess the overall level of preparedness among HCWs in healthcare facilities across Taif city and identify the challenges they face when managing infectious disease outbreaks. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from October to December 2024 among 294 healthcare workers, using a structured questionnaire. We assessed the sociodemographic characteristics, infection prevention and control (IPC) training received by HCWs, the level of preparedness for managing infectious disease outbreaks, and their level of knowledge (low, moderate, or high). The association between sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge from having received IPC training and the level of preparedness was assessed using binary logistic regression. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Around 31.7% of the participants were aged 31–40 years, with 59.2% of them being female. Among the HCWs we assessed, 44.6% were nurses and 31.3% of the HCWs were from hospitals with a bed capacity of over 500. Only 16.3% of HCWs felt fully prepared on a personal level and only 20.7% believed their facility was fully prepared for managing an outbreak. A low level of knowledge was reported among 71.8% of the participants. The odds of having received IPC training were significantly higher among HCWs aged 41–50 years (AOR = 15.7; 95% CI = 4.26–58.1), for those working in the inpatient department (AOR = 6.3; 95% CI = 1.46–27.05), and for those with a moderate level of knowledge (AOR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.03–0.5). The odds of being fully prepared for an infectious disease outbreak were significantly higher for males (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.18–5.63) and those working in the in-patient department (AOR = 6.87; 95% CI = 1.7–27.8) and significantly lower for those with a low level of knowledge (AOR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.06–0.61). Conclusion: Even though many HCWs have undergone IPC training, our findings highlight gaps in both knowledge and overall preparedness among healthcare workers in Taif city. Regular refresher courses, improved resource allocation, and implementing scenario-based emergency drills may help in improving the overall knowledge and preparedness of HCWs. Full article