New Swiss guidelines on scientific integrity: a step in the right direction, but still not enough

The new Code is a step in the right direction and a valuable initiative but it is still not enough. Further and more specific guidance in this area will be needed in the coming years to promote effectively a culture of scientific integrity.

Cutting edges in Clostridioides difficile infections

Traditional therapeutic options for treatment of C. difficile infection include metronidazole or vancomycin. Newer therapy options such as fidaxomicin, the administration of monoclonal antibodies or faecal microbiota transplantation demonstrate significant advantages over traditional therapies.

Frequency of home visits where general practitioners are exposed to a problem different from that foreseen – a Swiss cross-sectional study

When a home visit is considered, patients’ suspected health problems are important for correct triage, the decision for or against the visit and allocation of the visit to a general practitioner (GP) or a nurse practitioner. In this study, about one out of seven health problems from pre-visit and post-visit assessments were unconfirmed and unforeseen, respectively.

Differences in insulin dosing in women with type 1 diabetes before and after the menopause

The menstrual cycle increases insulin requirements in a subset of women with type 1 diabetes as a result of reduced insulin action through sexual hormones. If exposure to sexual hormones declines during the menopause, adaptions of insulin dosing may be required.

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 crisis on young Swiss men participating in a cohort study

The crisis had a considerable impact on the psychological well-being of this sample of young Swiss men. Those living alone and those who had shown COVID-19 symptoms themselves or had known someone with symptoms may have felt a greater psychological impact from the crisis.

Awareness of vaccine-preventable diseases and self-reported immune status of Swiss dental healthcare workers

The Swiss dental healthcare workers participating in this study had a medium level of awareness towards vaccinations. A considerable number of participants was unaware of their immunisation status.

Prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health in a community-based population – results from the Swiss Longitudinal Cohort Study (SWICOS)

Relevant proportions of the participants might optimize their cardiovascular health by optimised blood pressure and cholesterol control, by stopping smoking, by increasing physical activity and by eating a healthier diet.

Expert guidance for COVID-19 vaccine deployment in Switzerland: a Delphi process

The modified Delphi process allowed to rapidly synthesise views from a broad panel of experts on sensitive topics, and could be considered for a broad range of issues during public health crises. 

Intensive care triage under exceptional resource scarcity

Since 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has created additional challenges for intensive care units. Therefore, the SAMS prepared an annex on triage decisions under exceptional resource scarcity, supplementing the 2013 guidelines. The document has been updated several times and is meanwhile less strongly focused on COVID-19 patients.