Leadership & Mission

The European Committee on Infection Control (EUCIC) aims to strengthen infection control and preventive measures in European countries to reduce the burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). It is governed by a Steering Committee (SC), three Boards (Advisory, Stakeholders, and Education), thematic Working Groups, and National Committees (NC) working to guide EUCIC forward.

Mission

HAIs are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Over the last decade, the increasing rate of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has steadily increased among common HAI pathogens creating severe invasive infections. To address this issue, EUCIC was founded with the aim of tackling HAIs across Europe through the creation of a gold standard for infection control. This is achieved through the main goals of the committee:

  • To harmonise infection control and preventive measures in all European countries and to reduce morbidity and mortality related to HAI
  • Development of new educational tools as well as specific guidelines and expert opinion with ‘real life’ applicability are a major focus
  • Research will be coordinated through dedicated networking

The people at EUCIC

The EUCIC Steering Committee includes an ESCMID-appointed chair, two country advisory board representatives, a clinical coordinator, and a scientific coordinator.

Position

Name

Affiliation

Conflict of Interest

EUCIC Chairperson

Evelina Tacconelli

University of Verona

Treasurer and Financial Support Officer

Alexander W. Friedrich

University Hospital Münster

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Scientific Coordinator

Nico T. Mutters

Bonn University Hospital

Advisory Board Representative Bulgaria

Rossitza Vatcheva-Dobrevska

University Hospital Queen Joanna ISUL

Advisory Board Representative Spain

Juan Pablo Horcajada

Hospital del Mar

The Advisory Board provides national perspectives to EUCIC on issues relating to infection control and antimicrobial resistance.

Country

Address

Austria

Elisabeth Presterl

Medical University Vienna, Vienna Austria

Azerbaijan

Akiv Gurbanov

Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku Azerbaijan

Belgium

Hilde Jansens

Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium

Bulgaria

Rossitza Vatcheva-Dobrevska

University Hospital Queen Joanna ISUL, Sofia, Bulgaria

Croatia (alternating)

Rok Civljak

Fran Mihaljevic University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia

Croatia (alternating)

Edita Susic

Public Health Institute of Šibenik-Knin County, Sibenik, Croatia

Denmark

Bente Olesen

Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark

France

Vincent Pascal Jarlier

Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, Paris, France

Germany (alternating)

Frauke Mattner

Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGmbH, Cologne, Germany

Greece

Athanasios Tsakris

Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Hungary

Gyula Prinz

Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Israel

Yehuda Carmeli

Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

Italy

Annibale Raglio

Società Italiana Multidisciplinare Prevenzione Infezioni Organizzazioni Sanitari, Scanzorociate, Italy

Kosovo

Lul Raka

National Institute of Public Health of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosovo

Malta (alternating)

Ermira Tartari

Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

Malta (alternating)

Michael A. Borg

Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta

Netherlands

Andreas Voss

University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Norway

Per Espen Akselsen

Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

Poland

Aleksander Deptula

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland

Portugal

Maria da Graca Domingues Rocha

Faculdade de Medicina de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

Republic of Ireland

Deirdre Brady

Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh, Dublin, Ireland

Republic of North Macedonia (alternating)

Zvonko Milenkovic

Macedonian Infectious Diseases Society, Skopje, North Macedonia

Republic of North Macedonia (alternating)

Snezana Stojkovska

University clinic of Infectious diseases, Skopje, North Macedonia

Republic of Moldova

Nadejda Burca Morarescu

National Center of Public Health, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Romania

Daniela Pitigoi

National Institute of Infectious Diseases Prof Dr Matei Bals, Bucharest, Romania

Serbia

Biljana Carevic

Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

Slovenia

Tatjana Lejko-Zupanc

University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Spain

Juan P. Horcajada

Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

Sweden

Anders Johansson

Umeå University, Umea, Sweden

Turkey

Önder Ergönül

Koc University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

Ukraine

Irina Kolesnikova

Ukraine

United Kingdom

Alison Helen Holmes

Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

United States

Loreen Herwaldt

University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, United States

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The stakeholders board includes one representative per major international stakeholder with an interest in infection control and antimicrobial resistance. It includes representatives from various key European organisations and is being updated as new organisations provide representatives.

Position

Address

ECDC

Anna-Pelagia Magiorakos

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden

ECDC

Dominique L. Monnet

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden

ESGAP

Céline Pulcini

University of Lorraine, Nancy, France

ESGNI

Margreet C. Vos

ErasmusMC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

EUNETIPS

Silvio Brusaferro

Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy

Healthcare Infection Society (HIS)

Elisabeth Jane Ridgway

Royal Hallamshire Hospital, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

International Federation of Infection Control

Birgit Ross

Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Germany

Trainee Association of ESCMID (TAE)

Aleksandra Barac

Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

WHO Headquarters

Benedetta Allegranzi

World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

WHO Regional Office for Europe

Ana Paula COUTINHO REHSE

WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark

World Alliance Against Antibiotic Resistance (WAAAR)

Jean CARLET

Consultant, Creteil, France

ESGARS

Cansu Cimen Van Dijck

University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany

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Each National Committee consist of 5–10 experts suggested by relevant national societies within the fields of clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, public health, hospital hygiene and infection control. Major goals of the National Committee are to provide the Advisory Board with relevant networks within the countries, help in defining and overcoming major limits in local implementation and feasibility of IC guidance, and liaise closely with other relevant national infection control committees.

Austria

Name

Affiliation

City

Franz Allerberger

Österreichische Gesellschaft Für Antimikrobielle Chemotherapie (ÖGACH)

Vienna

Rosa Bellmann-Weiler

Österreichische Gesellschaft Für Infektionskrankheiten Und Tropenmedizin (ÖGIT)

Innsbruck

Heinz Burgmann

Österreichische Gesellschaft Für Infektionskrankheiten Und Tropenmedizin (ÖGIT)

Vienna

Andrea Grisold

Österreichische Gesellschaft Für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie Und Präventivmedizin (ÖHMP)

Graz 

Markus Hell

Österreichische Gesellschaft Für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie Und Präventivmedizin (ÖHMP)

Salzburg 

Oskar Janata

Österreichische Gesellschaft Für Antimikrobielle Chemotherapie (ÖGACH)

Vienna

Cornelia Lass-Flörl

Österreichische Gesellschaft Für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie Und Präventivmedizin (ÖHMP)

Innsbruck

Agnes Wechsler-Fördös

Österreichische Gesellschaft Für Antimikrobielle Chemotherapie (ÖGACH)

Vienna

Christoph Wenisch

Österreichische Gesellschaft Für Infektionskrankheiten Und Tropenmedizin (ÖGIT)

Vienna

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Azerbajian

Name

Affiliation

City

Sadraddin Atakishizade

Azerbaijan Medical University

Baku

Fidan Bagirova

Azerbaijan Medical University

Baku

Ramin Bayramli                                   

Azerbaijan Medical University

Baku

Zakir Garayev

Azerbaijan Medical University

Baku

Yagut Garayeva

Central Clinic Hospital

Baku

Emil Gasimov

Azerbaijan Medical University

Baku

Samir Javadov

Azerbaijan Medical University

Baku

Vidadi Narimanov 

Azerbaijan Medical University

Baku

Maryam Qasimova  

Azerbaijan Medical University

Baku

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Belgium

Name

Affiliation

City

Hilde Jansens

Belgian Infection Control Society

Edegem

Denis PIERARD

Belgische Vereniging voor Infectiologie en Klinische Microbiologie (BVIKM)

Brussels

Bulgaria

Name

Affiliation

City

Liliana Deleva

Bulgarian Association For Prevention And Infection Control (BAPIC “Bulnoso”)

Plovdiv

Nina Gatcheva

Bulgarian Association For Prevention And Infection Control (BAPIC “Bulnoso”)

Plovdiv

Ani Kevorkyan

Bulgarian Association For Prevention And Infection Control (BAPIC “Bulnoso”)

Plovdiv

Mariana Murdjeva

Medical University-Plovdiv

Plovdiv

Violeta Voynova Georgieva

Bulgarian Association For Prevention And Infection Control (BAPIC “Bulnoso”)

Sofia

Stefana Sabtcheva

National Oncology Centre

Sofia

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Croatia

Name

Affiliation

City

Ana Budimir

Croatian Society For Clinical Microbiology

Zagreb

Durdica Cekinovic

Croatian Society For Infectious Diseases

Rijeka

Rok Civljak

Croatian Society For Infectious Diseases

Zagreb

Mirna Ladavac

Croatian Society For Clinical Microbiology

Pula

Marina Payerl Pal

Croatian Society For Clinical Microbiology

Cakovec

Ljiljana Betica Radic

Croatian Society For Infectious Diseases

Dubrovnik

Arjana Tambic

Croatian Society For Clinical Microbiology

Zagreb

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Cyprus

Name

Affiliation

City

George Petrikkos

European University Cyprus

Engomi

Konstantinos Tsioutis

European University Cyprus

Nicosia

Maria Koliou-Mazeri

European University Cyprus

Nicosia

Linos Hadjihannas

Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus 

Nicosia

Nikos Spernovasilis

University Hospital of Heraklion

Heraklion

Michalis Mendris

Limassol General Hospital

Limassol

Markella Markou

University of Nicosia Medical School

Nicosia

Maria Alexandrou

Larnaca General Hospital

Larnaka

Despo Constantinou

University of Nicosia Medical School

Nicosia

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Denmark

Name

Affiliation

City

Mette Detlefsen

Danish Society of Infection Control Nurses

Odense

Hanne Hvingelby

Danish Society of Infection Control Nurses

Holstebro

Brian Kristensen

Danish Society for Clinical Microbiology

Copenhagen 

Ina Sleimann Petersen

Danish Society for Clinical Microbiology

Hvidovre 

Lisbeth Kyndi BERGEN

Danish Society for Hospital Hygiene and Sterile Supply

Copenhagen 

France

Name

Affiliation

City

Philippe Berthelot

Société Française d'Hygiène Hospitalière (SF2H)

St.-etienne

Vincent Jarlier

Société Française De Microbiologie (SFM)

Paris

Christian Rabaud

Société De Pathologie Infectieuse De Langue Française (SPILF)

Nancy

Germany

Name

Affiliation

City

Markus Dettenkofer 

Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Infektiologie (DGI)

Ismaning

Roland Schulze-Röbbecke

Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Infektiologie (DGI)

Aachen

Elisabeth Meyer

Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Infektiologie (DGI)

Berlin

Sebastian Lemmen

Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Infektiologie (DGI)

Aachen

Walter Popp

Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Krankenhaushygiene (DGKH)

Essen

Birgit Ross

Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Krankenhaushygiene (DGKH)

Essen 

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Greece

Name

Affiliation

City

Kostoula Arvaniti

Papageorgiou Hospital

Thessaloniki

Stelios Assimakopoulos

University of Patras Medical School

Patras

Eirini Astrinaki

University Hospital of Heraklion 

Heraklion 

Flora Kontopidou

MITERA Children's Hospita

Athens

Moyssis Lelekis

University Hospital of Heraklion

Heraklion 

Symeon Metallidis

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki

Aggelos Pefanis

General Hospital of Athens "Sotiria"

Athens

Aggeliki Poulou

General Hospital of Serres

Serres

Spyros Pournaras

Attikon University General Hospital

Athens

Georgia Vrioni

University of Ahens

Athens

Olympia Zarkotou

Tzaneio General  Hospital of Piraeus

Athens

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Italy

Name

Affiliation

City

Antonella Agodi

Società Italiana Di Igiene (SITI)

Catania

Silvia Bagnato

Societa Italiana Multidisciplinare Per La Prevenzione Delle Infezioni Nelle Organizzazioni Sanitarie (SIMPIOS) 

Torino

Silvio Brusaferro

Società Italiana Di Igiene (SITI)

Udine

Giulia De Angelis

Societa Italiana Multidisciplinare Per La Prevenzione Delle Infezioni Nelle Organizzazioni Sanitarie (SIMPIOS)

Rome

Francesco Luzzaro

Associazione Dei Microbiologi Clinici Italiani (AMCLI)

Rome

Maria Mongardi

Società Scientifica Nazionale Infermieri Specialisti Nel Rischio Infettivo (ANIPIO)

Verona

Emanuela Omodeo Salè

Società Italiana Di Farmacologia Ospedaliera (SIFO)

Milan

Rosaria Palermo

Società Scientifica Nazionale Infermieri Specialisti Nel Rischio Infettivo (ANIPIO)

Catania

Ira Pasquarella

Società Italiana Di Igiene (SITI)

Parma

Gaetano Privitera

Società Italiana Di Igiene (SITI)

Pisa

Annibale Raglio

Associazione Dei Microbiologi Clinici Italiani (AMCLI)

Scanzorosciate 

Vittorio Sambri

Societa Italianà Microbiologia (SIM)

Milan

Mario Sarti

Associazione Dei Microbiologi Clinici Italiani (AMCLI)

Milan

Stefania Stefani

Societa Italianà Microbiologia (SIM)

Pievesestina

Carlo Tascini

Società Italiana Di Malattie Infettive E Tropicali (SIMIT)

Udine

Marco Tinelli

Società Italiana Di Malattie Infettive E Tropicali (SIMIT)

Milan

Mario Tumbarello

Società Italiana Di Malattie Infettive E Tropicali (SIMIT)

Siena

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Kosovo

Name

Affiliation

City

Agreta Gecaj

National Institute of Public Health Kosovo (NIPHK)

Pristina 

Izet Sadiku

National Institute of Public Health Kosovo (NIPHK)

Pristina 

Gazmend SPAHIJA

National Institute of Public Health Kosovo (NIPHK)

Pristina 

Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia

Name

Affiliation

City

Zvonko Milenkovic

Macedonian Infectious Diseases Society

Skopje 

Snezana Stojkovska

Macedonian Infectious Diseases Society

Skopje

Netherlands

Name

Affiliation

City

Heidi Ammerlaan

VIZ

Utrecht

Paul Bergervoet

Dutch Society of Infection Prevention in Healthcare (VHIG)

Bathmen

Astrid Oudelashof

VIZ

Maastricht

Gijs Ruijs

Werkgroep Infectiepreventie (WIP)

Zwolle

Emile Schippers

VIZ

Leiden

Diana Van Netten

Dutch Society of Infection Prevention in Healthcare (VHIG)

Rotterdam

Frank Van Tiel

Dutch Society for Medical Microbiology (NVMM)

Cadier En Keer

Margreet Vos

Dutch Society for Medical Microbiology (NVMM)

Rotterdam

Andreas Voss

Dutch Society for Medical Microbiology (NVMM)

Groningen

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Poland

Name

Affiliation

City

Aleksander Deptula

Polish Society Of Microbiologists

Bydgoszcz

Joanna Kwiecińska-Piróg

Polish Society Of Microbiologists

Bydgoszcz

Małgorzata Prażyńska

Polish Society Of Microbiologists

Bydgoszcz

Jadwiga Wójkowska-Mach

Polish Society Of Hospital Infections

Kraków

Anna Różańska

Polish Society Of Hospital Infections

Kraków

Portugal

Name

Affiliation

City

João Pedro Barranca

Unidade de Saúde Local da Guarda

Guarda

Maria João Faria

Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve

Portimao

Maria Fernanda Pinto Junqueira

Centro hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra

Coimbra

Romania

Name

Affiliation

City

Dragos Florea

National Institute for Infectious Diseases

Bucharest

Daniela Pitigoi

National Institute for Infectious Diseases

Bucharest

Oana Sandulescu

National Institute for Infectious Diseases

Bucharest

Slovenia

Name

Affiliation

City

Jana Kolman

National Institut of Public Health (NIJZ)

Ljubljana

Tadeja Matos

Medical Faculty Ljubljana

Ljubljana

Tjaša Žohar Čretnik

National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food

Celje

Spain

Name

Affiliation

City

Angel Asensio

La Sociedad Española De Medicina Preventiva, Salud Pública E Higiene (SEMPSPH)

Majadahonda

Mercedes Palomar

La Sociedad Española De Medicina Preventiva, Salud Pública E Higiene (SEMPSPH)

Lleida

Jesús Rodriguez-Baño

La Sociedad Española De Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiología Clínica (SEIMC)

Seville

Jordi Vila Estape

La Sociedad Española De Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiología Clínica (SEIMC)

Barcelona

Juan Pablo Horcajada

La Sociedad Española De Enfermedades Infecciosas Y Microbiología Clínica (SEIMC)

Barcelona

Türkiye

Name

Affiliation

City

Emine Alp Mese

Turkish Society For Infectious Diseases And Clinical Microbiology Specialty (EKMUD)

Ankara

Oguz Karabay

Turkish Society For Infectious Diseases And Clinical Microbiology Specialty (EKMUD)

Adapazarı

Oguz Resat Sipahi

Turkish Society For Infectious Diseases And Clinical Microbiology Specialty (EKMUD)

Izmir

Deniz Gokenkgin

Turkish Society For Infectious Diseases And Clinical Microbiology Specialty (EKMUD)

Izmir

Yasemin Cag

Turkish Society For Infectious Diseases And Clinical Microbiology Specialty (EKMUD)

Istanbul 

Alpay Azap

Turkish Society Of Clinical Microbiology And Infectious Diseases (KLIMIK)

Ankara

Süda Tekin

Turkish Society Of Clinical Microbiology And Infectious Diseases (KLIMIK)

Istanbul 

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Ukraine

Name

Affiliation

City

Andrii Aleksandrin

NGO Infection Control In Ukraine

Kyiv

Tetyana Chumachenko

Kharkiv Medical University

Kharkiv

Maria Dolynska

Bogomolets National Medical University

Kyiv

Sergiy Dubrov

Bogomolets National Medical University

Kyiv

Yevgenii Grechukha

Bogomolets National Medical University

Kyiv

Igor Katsytadze

UNICEF Ukraine

Kyiv

Andriian Kozhokaru

National Military Medical Academy

Kyiv

Olena Moshynets

Institute Of Molecular Biology & Genetics

Kyiv

Genadiy Sergeev

Ukrainian Association Of Sterilisation & Disinfection

Kyiv

Kateryna Soiak

National Children's Hospital - "OHMADYT"

Kiev

Arkadii Vodianyk

National Children's Hospital - "OHMADYT"

Kyiv

Oleksii Yershov

Surgical Hospital Garvis (Dnipro)

Kyiv

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The Education Board is composed of relevant international Experts in infection control, hospital hygiene, clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, public health, and international education. This group will be actively involved in the educational activities of EUCIC and provide consultation on specific issues for the Advisory Board and the Steering Committee.

Name

Affiliation

Country

Elena Carrara

Università di Verona

Italy

Peter Collignon

Canberra Hospital

Australia

Petra Gastmeier

Charité University Medicine Berlin

Germany

Achilleas Gikas

General University Hospital of Heraklion

Greece

Stephan Juergen Harbarth

Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève

Switzerland

Alison Helen Holmes

Imperial College London

United Kingdom

Hilary Humphreys

RCSI Education and Research Centre

United Kingdom

Benedikt Huttner

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Switzerland

Vincent Pascal Jarlier

Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital

France

Anders Johansson

Umeå University

Sweden

Jan A.J.W. Kluytmans

University Medical Center Utrecht

Netherlands

Pan Angelo

Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona

Italy

Carlos André Palos

Luz Saúde Hospital

Portugal

Eli Perencevich

University of Iowa

United States

Didier Pittet

Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève

Switzerland

Emese Szilagy

National Center for Epidemiology

Hungary

Rossitza Vatcheva-Dobrevska

University Hospital Queen Joanna ISUL

Bulgaria

Andreas Voss

University Medical Center Groningen

Netherlands

Jordi Vila Estape

Hospital Clinic

Spain

Andreas Widmer

University Hospital Basel

Switzerland

Walter Zingg

Zurich University Hospital

Switzerland

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History

After presenting the first European Guidelines on infection control in Berlin, intended to reduce the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria in hospitalized patients, ESCMID decided to increase its influence and involvement in infection control. EUCIC, the ESCMID committee for infection control was formed at the beginning of 2014 and had its kick-off meeting in March 2014.

Europe’s approach to IPC still varies enormously between different countries and sometimes also between different healthcare settings within the same country. However, every country has a certain expertise and/or specialty to offer. The mutual exchange of knowledge is a key feature of providing a European perspective in IPC. Major goals of EUCIC are to contribute to the harmonisation of IPC and the standardisation of procedures in Europe. To reach this objective, education plays a pivotal role. A pan-European competence in IPC is indeed vital to meet the challenges (e.g. changing infectious disease epidemiology, demographic changes and migration) currently confronting IPC specialists. Such competence can only be established if the three fields, clinical microbiology (CM), infectious diseases (ID) and infection control/hospital hygiene (IC/HH), work together towards building an inter-professional and/or interdisciplinary IPC network, the basis of successful IPC. Only then can operational regional infection control be established and only on that basis can a European competence be achieved.

The EUCIC Infection Prevention and Control Certificate is the first training programme providing both meta and European competence. Graduates of the EUCIC programme will be able to cope with the major challenges that are ahead of us in the field of infection prevention and control in pandemic and interpandemic times.

Statutes

You can see the EUCIC Statutes in the document linked below.

ESCMID Office

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