Objective: To describe and cautiously compare two cross-sectional snapshots of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use (AU) at the same Greek tertiary hospital in 2012 and 2022. Design: Secondary analysis of two cross-sectional point-prevalence surveys using European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control protocol versions 4.3 and 6.1. Setting: A public tertiary-care university referral hospital in northwestern Greece. Patients: Eligible inpatients present in participating wards before 08:00; 276 patients were included in 2012 and 391 in 2022. Methods: Patient-level HAI prevalence was the primary comparison, and AU prevalence was secondary. Infection site, microbiological, susceptibility, antimicrobial indication, and prophylaxis findings were analyzed descriptively because only aggregate outputs were available. Results: HAI prevalence was 23/276 (8.3%) in 2012 and 48/391 (12.3%) in 2022 (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92–2.36; P = .126). AU prevalence was 147/276 (53.3%) and 206/391 (52.7%), respectively (PR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.86–1.14; P = .937). Pneumonia was the most frequently recorded infection-site category in both surveys. Surgical prophylaxis exceeded 1 day in 51/58 (87.9%) courses in 2012 and 47/48 (97.9%) in 2022. Protocol-year carbapenem non-susceptibility markers were frequent among small numbers of tested isolates. Conclusions: Both snapshots showed substantial HAI and AU burdens. The observed HAI difference cannot be separated from changes in patient mix, season, the COVID-19 pandemic, surveillance practices, and protocol definitions. Prolonged surgical prophylaxis was highly prevalent at both survey dates and represents a clear stewardship target.

Background: Problematic smartphone use may threaten student well-being, especially among nursing students who rely on smartphones for academic and clinical activities. This study estimated potential problematic smartphone use among Greek nursing students, examined its association with quality of life (QoL), and explored whether contextual factors modified these associations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 331 nursing students in Greece from September to November 2025. Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire including sociodemographic data, the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: The mean SAS-SV score was 29.30 ± 9.69, and 18.9% of students screened positive for potential problematic smartphone use. Mean overall QoL and general health satisfaction were 3.80 ± 0.78 and 3.97 ± 0.88, respectively. Higher SAS-SV scores were associated with lower physical, psychological, and environmental QoL, but not with social QoL. Years of study moderated only the association with environmental QoL. Conclusions: Problematic smartphone use was associated with poorer physical, psychological, and environmental QoL among Greek nursing students. These domain-specific findings extend existing evidence and support integrating digital well-being, self-regulation, and sleep-hygiene strategies into nursing education and student-support services.

Introduction: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and healthcare-associated infections, with rising global incidence and severity due to the emergence of hypervirulent strains. Methods: This review synthesizes recent literature on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies related to C. difficile infection (CDI). Sources were selected from peer-reviewed journals, clinical guidelines, and emerging research between 2020 and 2025. Results: Advances in molecular diagnostics have improved the accuracy and speed of CDI detection. New therapeutic options such as fidaxomicin offer narrower-spectrum antibiotic activity with reduced recurrence rates. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a highly effective option for recurrent CDI. Preventive efforts, including antibiotic stewardship programs and early-phase vaccine trials, show potential in reducing infection rates. Discussion: The management of CDI is evolving rapidly with the integration of precision diagnostics, targeted therapies, and microbiome-based interventions. Preventive strategies are critical, particularly in healthcare settings where C. difficile persists in the environment. Continued research and coordinated public health efforts are essential to reduce disease burden, improve outcomes, and limit transmission. Conclusions: Clostridioides difficile infections remain a major healthcare challenge with rising incidence and recurrent cases. Fidaxomicin has become the preferred first-line therapy. Microbiota-based therapies (like FMT, Rebyota, and Vowst) are highly effective for recurrent CDI prevention. Diagnostic strategies have improved with multi-step testing enhancing accuracy and reducing overtreatment. Future focus lies in vaccines, targeted antimicrobials, and stricter prevention through antibiotic stewardship and hygiene.

Introduction: Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and healthcare-associated infections, with rising global incidence and severity due to the emergence of hypervirulent strains. Methods: This review synthesizes recent literature on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic strategies related to C. difficile infection (CDI). Sources were selected from peer-reviewed journals, clinical guidelines, and emerging research between 2020 and 2025. Results: Advances in molecular diagnostics have improved the accuracy and speed of CDI detection. New therapeutic options such as fidaxomicin offer narrower-spectrum antibiotic activity with reduced recurrence rates. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a highly effective option for recurrent CDI. Preventive efforts, including antibiotic stewardship programs and early-phase vaccine trials, show potential in reducing infection rates. Discussion: The management of CDI is evolving rapidly with the integration of precision diagnostics, targeted therapies, and microbiome-based interventions. Preventive strategies are critical, particularly in healthcare settings where C. difficile persists in the environment. Continued research and coordinated public health efforts are essential to reduce disease burden, improve outcomes, and limit transmission. Conclusions: Clostridioides difficile infections remain a major healthcare challenge with rising incidence and recurrent cases. Fidaxomicin has become the preferred first-line therapy. Microbiota-based therapies (like FMT, Rebyota, and Vowst) and Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein (LBP) are highly effective for recurrent CDI prevention. Diagnostic strategies have improved with multi-step testing, enhancing accuracy and reducing overtreatment. Future focus lies in vaccines, targeted antimicrobials, and stricter prevention through antibiotic stewardship and hygiene.