To understand healthcare worker (HCW) perceptions surrounding Staphylococcus aureus transmission and prevention in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Qualitative case study with focus groups.

A level IV, 150-bed NICU at a Midwestern academic medical center that conducts active surveillance and decolonization of S. aureus–positive patients.

NICU HCWs, including bedside nurses, nurse managers, therapy services personnel, pediatric nurse practitioners, clinical fellows, and attending neonatologists.

Semistructured focus group interviews, assembled by occupation, were conducted by 2 study team members. Interviews were video recorded and transcribed. Deductive coding and thematic analyses were performed using NVivo software.

In total, 38 HCWs participated in 10 focus groups (1–12 participants each), lasting 40–90 minutes. Four main themes emerged: (1) Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) are inconsistently described as high risk. (2) Infection prevention interventions are burdensome. (3) Multiple sources of transmission are recognized. (4) opportunities exist to advance infection prevention. HCWs perceived MSSA to be less clinically relevant than MRSA. Participants expressed a desire to see published data supporting infection prevention interventions, including contact precautions, environmental cleaning, and patient decolonization. These practices were identified to be considerable burdens. HCWs perceived families to be the main source of S. aureus in the NICU, and they suggested opportunities for families to play a larger role in infection prevention.

These data highlight opportunities for HCW and parental education, research, and reevaluating interventions aimed at improving infection prevention efforts to reduce the burden of S. aureus in NICU settings.

To determine risk factors for the development of long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare personnel (HCP).

We conducted a case–control study among HCP who had confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 working in a Brazilian healthcare system between March 1, 2020, and July 15, 2022. Cases were defined as those having long COVID according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition. Controls were defined as HCP who had documented COVID-19 but did not develop long COVID. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between exposure variables and long COVID during 180 days of follow-up.

Of 7,051 HCP diagnosed with COVID-19, 1,933 (27.4%) who developed long COVID were compared to 5,118 (72.6%) who did not. The majority of those with long COVID (51.8%) had 3 or more symptoms. Factors associated with the development of long COVID were female sex (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05–1.39), age (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00–1.02), and 2 or more SARS-CoV-2 infections (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.07–1.50). Those infected with the SARS-CoV-2 δ (delta) variant (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.17–0.50) or the SARS-CoV-2 o (omicron) variant (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30–0.78), and those receiving 4 COVID-19 vaccine doses prior to infection (OR, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01–0.19) were significantly less likely to develop long COVID.

Long COVID can be prevalent among HCP. Acquiring >1 SARS-CoV-2 infection was a major risk factor for long COVID, while maintenance of immunity via vaccination was highly protective.

The ways that device-associated infection prevention practices changed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remain unknown. We collected data mid-pandemic to assess the use of several infection prevention practices and for comparison with historical data.

Repeated cross-sectional survey.

US acute-care hospitals.

Infection preventionists.

We surveyed infection preventionists from a national random sample of 881 US acute-care hospitals in 2021 to estimate the current use of practices to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), central line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), and ventilator-associated events (VAE). We compared the 2021 results with those from surveys occurring every 4 years since 2005.

The 2021 survey response rate was 47%; previous survey response rates ranged from 59% to 72%. Regular use of most practices to prevent CLABSI (chlorhexidine gluconate for site antisepsis, 99.0%, and maximum sterile barrier precautions, 98.7%) and VAE (semirecumbent positioning, 93.4%, and sedation vacation, 85.8%) continued to increase or plateaued in 2021. Conversely, use of several CAUTI prevention practices (portable bladder ultrasound scanner, 65.6%; catheter reminders or nurse-initiated discontinuation, 66.3%; and intermittent catheterization, 37.3%) was lower in 2021, with a significant decrease for some practices compared to 2017 (P ≤ .02 for all comparisons). In 2021, 42.1% of hospitals reported regular use of the newer external urinary collection devices for women.

Although regular use of CLABSI and VAE preventive practices continued to increase (or plateaued), use of several CAUTI preventive practices decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Structural issues relating to care during the pandemic may have contributed to a decrease in device-associated infection prevention practices.

To determine whether the gender of clinicians making antimicrobial stewardship recommendations has an impact on intervention acceptance rate.

A retrospective, multivariable analysis of antimicrobial stewardship prospective audit and feedback outcomes.

A multisite healthcare system including Mayo Clinic Rochester (MN), Mayo Clinic Arizona, Mayo Clinic Florida and 17 health-system hospital sites, where prospective audit and feedback is performed and documented within an electronic tool embedded in the medical record.

The study included 143 Mayo Clinic clinicians (84 cisfemales and 59 cismales).

Outcomes were analyzed from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2022, for intervention rates, communication methods, and intervention acceptance by clinician gender, profession, patient age, and intensive care unit (ICU) status of patient.

Of 81,927 rules, 71,729 rules met study inclusion. There were 18,175 (25%) rules associated with an intervention. Most of the rules were reviewed by pharmacists (86.2%) and stewardship staff (85.5%). Of 10,363 interventions with an outcome documented, 8,829 (85.2%) were accepted and 1,534 (14.8%) were rejected. Female clinicians had 6,782 (86.5%) of 7,843 interventions accepted, and male clinicians had 2,047 (81.2%) of 2,520 interventions accepted (P = .19). Female patients had more interventions than male patients (female vs male: 25.9% vs 24.9%; OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.08; P = .001). Patients in the ICU had a significantly lower intervention acceptance rate (ICU vs non-ICU: 78.2% vs 86.7%; OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.45–0.7; P < .001).

Female and male clinicians were equally effective at prospective audit and feedback in a multisite antimicrobial stewardship program. Patients in the ICU were less likely to have stewardship interventions accepted.

To establish the epidemiology of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections in Alberta, Canada, using validated administrative data.

Retrospective, population-based cohort study.

Alberta Health Services is a province-wide health system that services all of Alberta, Canada.

Adult patients who underwent first-time CIED implantation or generator replacement in Alberta, Canada, between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2019.

CIED implant patients were identified from the Paceart database. Patients who developed an infection within 1 year of the index procedure were identified through validated administrative data (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision in Canada). Demographic characteristics of patients were summarized. Logistic regression models were used to analyze device type, comorbidities, and demographics associated with infection rates and mortality.

Among 27,830 CIED implants, there were 205 infections (0.74%). Having 2 or more comorbidities was associated with higher infection risk. Generator replacement procedures (odds ratio [OR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34–0.84; P = .008), age increase of every 10 years (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.66–0.82; P ≤ .001), and index procedure after 2014 were associated with decreased risk. Comparing the infected to uninfected groups, the hospitalization rates were 2.63 compared to 0.69, and the mortality rates were 10.73% compared to 3.49%, respectively (P < .001).

There is a slightly lower overall rate of CIED infections Alberta, Canada compared to previously described epidemiology. Implants after 2014, and generator replacements showed a decreased burden of infection. Patients with younger age, and 2 or more comorbidities are at greatest risk of CIED infection. The burden of hospitalization and mortality is substantially higher in infected patients.

The true incidence and risk factors for secondary bacterial infections in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains poorly understood. Knowledge of risk factors for secondary infections in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is necessary to optimally guide selective use of empiric antimicrobial therapy.

Single-center retrospective cohort study of symptomatic inpatients admitted for COVID-19 from April 15, 2020, through June 30, 2021.

Academic quaternary-care referral center in Portland, Oregon.

The study included patients who were 18 years or older with a positive severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR test up to 10 days prior to admission.

Secondary infections were identified based on clinical, radiographic, and microbiologic data. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for secondary infection. We also assessed mortality, length of stay, and empiric antibiotics among those with and without secondary infections.

We identified 118 patients for inclusion; 31 (26.3%) had either culture-proven or possible secondary infections among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Mortality was higher among patients with secondary infections (35.5%) compared to those without secondary infection (4.6%). Empiric antibiotic use on admission was high in both the secondary and no secondary infection groups at 71.0% and 48.3%, respectively.

The incidence of secondary bacterial infection was moderate among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. However, a higher proportion of patients received empiric antibiotics regardless of an identifiable secondary infection. Transfer from an outside hospital, baseline immunosuppressant use, and corticosteroid treatment were independent risk factors for secondary infection. Additional studies are needed to validate risk factors and best guide antimicrobial stewardship efforts.

To examine temporal changes in coverage with a complete primary series of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and staffing shortages among healthcare personnel (HCP) working in nursing homes in the United States before, during, and after the implementation of jurisdiction-based COVID-19 vaccination mandates for HCP.

HCP in nursing homes from 15 US jurisdictions.

We analyzed weekly COVID-19 vaccination data reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network from June 7, 2021, through January 2, 2022. We assessed 3 periods (preintervention, intervention, and postintervention) based on the announcement of vaccination mandates for HCP in 15 jurisdictions. We used interrupted time-series models to estimate the weekly percentage change in vaccination with complete primary series and the odds of reporting a staffing shortage for each period.

Complete primary series vaccination among HCP increased from 66.7% at baseline to 94.3% at the end of the study period and increased at the fastest rate during the intervention period for 12 of 15 jurisdictions. The odds of reporting a staffing shortage were lowest after the intervention.

These findings demonstrate that COVID-19 vaccination mandates may be an effective strategy for improving HCP vaccination coverage in nursing homes without exacerbating staffing shortages. These data suggest that mandates can be considered to improve COVID-19 coverage among HCP in nursing homes to protect both HCP and vulnerable nursing home residents.

To describe IMP-type carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreaks at Galdakao University Hospital between March 2021 to December 2021.

Outbreak report.

Galdakao University Hospital is a tertiary-care hospital in the Basque Country (northern Spain).

All patients with a positive IMP-type carbapenemase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IMP-PA) culture were included in this study, both colonization and infection cases.

An outbreak investigation was conducted, in which molecular epidemiology analysis [pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and whole-genome sequencing (WGS)] and environmental screenings were performed.

Between March and December 2021, 21 cases of IMP-PA were detected in Galdakao University Hospital: 18 infection cases and 3 colonization cases. In total, 4 different pulsotypes were detected belonging to 4 clones according to WGS: ST175 (n = 14), ST633 (n = 3), ST179 (n = 3), and ST348 (n = 1). IMP-13 was detected in most isolates belonging to the ST175 clone and in all ST179 and ST348 clones, whereas IMP-29 was detected in isolates belonging to the ST633 clone. Clinical isolates belonging to the ST175 clone were isolated mainly from patients admitted to the respiratory ward, and isolates belonging to the ST633 clone from patients admitted to the ICU. Two environmental isolates belonging to the ST175 clone were detected in the respiratory ward.

Molecular and genomic epidemiology revealed that there had been 2 independent IMP-PA outbreaks, one of long duration in the respiratory ward and the other more limited in the ICU.

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respiratory panels are rapid, highly sensitive tests for viral and bacterial pathogens that cause respiratory infections. In this study, we (1) described best practices in the implementation of respiratory panels based on expert perspectives and (2) identified tools for diagnostic stewardship to enhance the usefulness of testing.

We conducted a survey of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Research Network to explore current and future approaches to diagnostic stewardship of multiplex PCR respiratory panels.

In total, 41 sites completed the survey (response rate, 50%). Multiplex PCR respiratory panels were perceived as supporting accurate diagnoses at 35 sites (85%), supporting more efficient patient care at 33 sites (80%), and improving patient outcomes at 23 sites (56%). Thirteen sites (32%) reported that testing may support diagnosis or patient care without improving patient outcomes. Furthermore, 24 sites (58%) had implemented diagnostic stewardship, with a median of 3 interventions (interquartile range, 1–4) per site. The interventions most frequently reported as effective were structured order sets to guide test ordering (4 sites), restrictions on test ordering based on clinician or patient characteristics (3 sites), and structured communication of results (2 sites). Education was reported as “helpful” but with limitations (3 sites).

Many hospital epidemiologists and experts in infectious diseases perceive multiplex PCR respiratory panels as useful tests that can improve diagnosis, patient care, and patient outcomes. However, institutions frequently employ diagnostic stewardship to enhance the usefulness of testing, including most commonly clinical decision support to guide test ordering.

To identify central-line (CL)–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) incidence and risk factors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

From July 1, 1998, to February 12, 2022, we conducted a multinational multicenter prospective cohort study using online standardized surveillance system and unified forms.

The study included 728 ICUs of 286 hospitals in 147 cities in 41 African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries.

In total, 278,241 patients followed during 1,815,043 patient days acquired 3,537 CLABSIs.

For the CLABSI rate, we used CL days as the denominator and the number of CLABSIs as the numerator. Using multiple logistic regression, outcomes are shown as adjusted odds ratios (aORs).

The pooled CLABSI rate was 4.82 CLABSIs per 1,000 CL days, which is significantly higher than that reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC NHSN). We analyzed 11 variables, and the following variables were independently and significantly associated with CLABSI: length of stay (LOS), risk increasing 3% daily (aOR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.03–1.04; P < .0001), number of CL days, risk increasing 4% per CL day (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03–1.04; P < .0001), surgical hospitalization (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03–1.21; P < .0001), tracheostomy use (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.23–1.88; P < .0001), hospitalization at a publicly owned facility (aOR, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.31–4.01; P <.0001) or at a teaching hospital (aOR, 2.91; 95% CI, 2.22–3.83; P < .0001), hospitalization in a middle-income country (aOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 2.09–2.77; P < .0001). The ICU type with highest risk was adult oncology (aOR, 4.35; 95% CI, 3.11–6.09; P < .0001), followed by pediatric oncology (aOR, 2.51;95% CI, 1.57–3.99; P < .0001), and pediatric (aOR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.81–3.01; P < .0001). The CL type with the highest risk was internal-jugular (aOR, 3.01; 95% CI, 2.71–3.33; P < .0001), followed by femoral (aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.96–2.68; P < .0001). Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was the CL with the lowest CLABSI risk (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.02–2.18; P = .04).

The following CLABSI risk factors are unlikely to change: country income level, facility ownership, hospitalization type, and ICU type. These findings suggest a focus on reducing LOS, CL days, and tracheostomy; using PICC instead of internal-jugular or femoral CL; and implementing evidence-based CLABSI prevention recommendations.