Current knowledge on XXXX transmission: a systematic literature review.

@entity1 @entity2927 @entity4430 @entity130 @entity1201
Summary BACKGROUND: The transmission pathways of @entity4430 are not fully understood. Solid evidence exists for an increased risk for individuals living in close contact with @entity1201 @entity1 but the existence of @entity2927 , environmental reservoirs and @entity130 -related transmission has also been established. PURPOSE: To assess the current state of knowledge on @entity4430 transmission, we conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature pertaining to this topic. METHOD: Major electronic bibliographic databases were searched for relevant peer-reviewed articles published up to January 2014. No restrictions on study types, @entity1 and location were applied, and all outcomes demonstrated to contribute to the transmission of @entity4430 were considered. Included studies were grouped by mode of transmission, namely (i) @entity1 -to- @entity1 via aerosols or direct contact; (ii) direct inoculation (e.g. injury); and (iii) transmission to @entity1 from environmental or zoonotic reservoirs, and by insects. The importance of the different transmission pathways and the strength of the evidence were assessed considering the number of publications describing similar findings, the consistency of the findings and the methodological quality of the studies. RESULTS: A total of 79 relevant articles were retained out of 3,805 hits resulting from the application of the search strategy. Solid evidence for transmission among contacts exists, and for @entity2927 in the southern States of the USA. Based on the extant evidence, skin-to-skin contact, aerosols/droplets and shedding of bacteria into the environment and subsequent infection, e.g. through dust or small wounds, all remain possible options. CONCLUSION: No study has unequivocally demonstrated the mechanisms by which @entity4430 bacteria travel from one case of @entity1201 to another.
