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AbstractObjective:To assess preventability of hospital-onset bacteremia and fungemia (HOB), we developed and evaluated a structured rating guide accounting for intrinsic patient and extrinsic healthcare-related risks.Design:HOB preventability rating guide was compared against a reference standard expert panel.Participants:A 10-member panel of clinical experts was assembled as the standard of preventability assessment, and 2 physician reviewers applied the rating guide for comparison.Methods:The expert panel independently rated 82 hypothetical HOB scenarios using a 6-point Likert scale collapsed into 3 categories: preventable, uncertain, or not preventable. Consensus was defined as concurrence on the same category among ≥70% experts. Scenarios without consensus were deliberated and followed by a second round of rating.Two reviewers independently applied the rating guide to adjudicate the same 82 scenarios in 2 rounds, with interim revisions. Interrater reliability was evaluated using the κ (kappa) statistic.Results:Expert panel consensus criteria were met for 52 scenarios (63%) after 2 rounds.After 2 rounds, guide-based rating matched expert panel consensus in 40 of 52 (77%) and 39 of 52 (75%) cases for reviewers 1 and 2, respectively. Agreement rates between the 2 reviewers were 84% overall (κ, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64–0.88]) and 87% (κ, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65–0.94) for the 52 scenarios with expert consensus.Conclusions:Preventability ratings of HOB scenarios by 2 reviewers using a rating guide matched expert consensus in most cases with moderately high interreviewer reliability. Although diversity of expert opinions and uncertainty of preventability merit further exploration, this is a step toward standardized assessment of HOB preventability.

Background: Device utilisation ratios (DUR) correlate with device-associated complications and rates of infection. We implemented a hospital-wide Daily Interdisciplinary Safety Huddle (DISH) with infection control and device components. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of DISH on DURs and rates of infection for indwelling urinary catheters (IUC) and central venous catheters (CVC).Methods: A quasi-experimental study assessing DURs and rates of infection before and after implementation of DISH. At DISH, usage of IUC and CVC is reported by managers and the infection preventionist reviews indications and plans for removal. Data before and after implementation were compared. Paired T-test was used to assess for differences between both groups.Results: DISH was successfully implemented at a community hospital. The average DUR for IUC in intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU settings was reduced from 0.56 to 0.35 and 0.27 to 0.12, respectively. CVC DUR decreased from 0.29 to 0.26 in the ICU and 0.14 to 0.12 in non-ICU settings. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) decreased by 87% and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) by 96%.Conclusion: DISH was associated with hospital-wide reductions in DUR and device-associated healthcare-associated infections. Reduction of CLABSIs and CAUTIs had estimated cost savings of $688,050. The impact was more profound in non-ICU settings. To our knowledge, an infection prevention hospital-wide safety huddle has not been reported in the literature. DISH increased device removal, accountability and promoted a culture of safety.

AbstractObjective:To characterize nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) associated with case clusters at 3 medical facilities.Design:Retrospective cohort study using molecular typing of patient and water isolates.Setting:Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs).Methods:Isolation and identification of NTM from clinical and water samples using culture, MALDI-TOF, and gene population sequencing to determine species and genetic relatedness. Clinical data were abstracted from electronic health records.Results:An identical strain of Mycobacterium conceptionensewas isolated from 41 patients at VA Medical Centers (VAMCs A, B, and D), and from VAMC A’s ICU ice machine. Isolates were initially identified as other NTM species within the M. fortuitumclade. Sequencing analyses revealed that they were identical M. conceptionensestrains. Overall, 7 patients (17%) met the criteria for pulmonary or nonpulmonary infection with NTM, and 13 of 41 (32%) were treated with effective antimicrobials regardless of infection or colonization status. Separately, a M. mucogenicumpatient strain from VAMC A matched a strain isolated from a VAMC B ICU ice machine. VAMC C, in a different state, had a 4-patient cluster with Mycobacterium porcinum. Strains were identical to those isolated from sink-water samples at this facility.Conclusion:NTM from hospital water systems are found in hospitalized patients, often during workup for other infections, making attribution of NTM infection problematic. Variable NTM identification methods and changing taxonomy create challenges for epidemiologic investigation and linkage to environmental sources.

AbstractObjective:To characterize the presence and magnitude of viruses in the air and on surfaces in the rooms of hospitalized patients with respiratory viral infections, and to explore the association between care activities and viral contamination.Design:Prospective observational study.Setting:Acute-care academic hospital.Participants:In total, 52 adult patients with a positive respiratory viral infection test within 3 days of observation participated. Healthcare workers (HCWs) were recruited in staff meetings and at the time of patient care, and 23 wore personal air-sampling devices.Methods:Viruses were measured in the air at a fixed location and in the personal breathing zone of HCWs. Predetermined environmental surfaces were sampled using premoistened Copan swabs at the beginning and at the end of the 3-hour observation period. Preamplification and quantitative real-time PCR methods were used to quantify viral pathogens.Results:Overall, 43% of stationary and 22% of personal air samples were positive for virus. Positive stationary air samples were associated with ≥5 HCW encounters during the observation period (odds ratio [OR], 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–37.8). Viruses were frequently detected on all of the surfaces sampled. Virus concentrations on the IV pole hanger and telephone were positively correlated with the number of contacts made by HCWs on those surfaces. The distributions of influenza, rhinoviruses, and other viruses in the environment were similar.Conclusions:Healthcare workers are at risk of contracting respiratory virus infections when delivering routine care for patients infected with the viruses, and they are at risk of disseminating virus because they touch virus-contaminated fomites.

AbstractObjective:To characterize the magnitude of virus contamination on personal protective equipment (PPE), skin, and clothing of healthcare workers (HCWs) who cared for patients having acute viral infections.Design:Prospective observational study.Setting:Acute-care academic hospital.Participants:A total of 59 HCWs agreed to have their PPE, clothing, and/or skin swabbed for virus measurement.Methods:The PPE worn by HCW participants, including glove, face mask, gown, and personal stethoscope, were swabbed with Copan swabs. After PPE doffing, bodies and clothing of HCWs were sampled with Copan swabs: hand, face, and scrubs. Preamplification and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods were used to quantify viral RNA copies in the swab samples.Results:Overall, 31% of glove samples, 21% of gown samples, and 12% of face mask samples were positive for virus. Among the body and clothing sites, 21% of bare hand samples, 11% of scrub samples, and 7% of face samples were positive for virus. Virus concentrations on PPE were not statistically significantly different than concentrations on skin and clothing under PPE. Virus concentrations on the personal stethoscopes and on the gowns were positively correlated with the number of torso contacts (P< .05). Virus concentrations on face masks were positively correlated with the number of face mask contacts and patient contacts (P< .05).Conclusions:Healthcare workers are routinely contaminated with respiratory viruses after patient care, indicating the need to ensure that HCWs complete hand hygiene and use other PPE to prevent dissemination of virus to other areas of the hospital. Modifying self-contact behaviors may decrease the presence of virus on HCWs.

Since the 1918 influenza pandemic, non-randomised studies and small clinical trials have suggested that convalescent plasma or anti-influenza hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG) might have clinical benefit for patients with influenza infection, but definitive data do not exist. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hIVIG in a randomised controlled trial.

AbstractStrategies for pandemic preparedness and response are urgently needed for all settings. We describe our experience using inverted classroom methodology (ICM) for COVID-19 pandemic preparedness in a small hospital with limited infection prevention staff. ICM for pandemic preparedness was feasible and contributed to an increase in COVID-19 knowledge and comfort.

OBJECTIVETo determine the impact of recurrent Clostridium difficileinfection (RCDI) on patient behaviors following illness.METHODSUsing a computer algorithm, we searched the electronic medical records of 7 Chicago-area hospitals to identify patients with RCDI (2 episodes of CDI within 15 to 56 days of each other). RCDI was validated by medical record review. Patients were asked to complete a telephone survey. The survey included questions regarding general health, social isolation, symptom severity, emotional distress, and prevention behaviors.RESULTSIn total, 119 patients completed the survey (32%). On average, respondents were 57.4 years old (standard deviation, 16.8); 57% were white, and ~50% reported hospitalization for CDI. At the time of their most recent illness, patients rated their diarrhea as high severity (58.5%) and their exhaustion as extreme (30.7%). Respondents indicated that they were very worried about getting sick again (41.5%) and about infecting others (31%). Almost 50% said that they have washed their hands more frequently (47%) and have increased their use of soap and water (45%) since their illness. Some of these patients (22%–32%) reported eating out less, avoiding certain medications and public areas, and increasing probiotic use. Most behavioral changes were unrelated to disease severity.CONCLUSIONHaving had RCDI appears to increase prevention-related behaviors in some patients. While some behaviors are appropriate (eg, handwashing), others are not supported by evidence of decreased risk and may negatively impact patient quality of life. Providers should discuss appropriate prevention behaviors with their patients and should clarify that other behaviors (eg, eating out less) will not affect their risk of future illness.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol.2017;38:1351–1357

Objective.To develop prediction algorithms for the presence of a central vascular catheter in hospitalized patients with use of data present in an electronic health record. Such algorithms could be used for measurement of device utilization rates and for clinical decision support rules.Design.Criterion standard.Setting.John H. Stroger, Jr, Hospital of Cook County, a 464-bed public hospital in Chicago, Illinois.Participants.Patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit from May 31, 2005 through June 26, 2006 (derivation data set, May 31, 2005-September 28, 2005; validation data set, September 29, 2005-June 28, 2006).Methods.Covariates were collected from the electronic medical record for each patient; the outcome variable was presence of a central vascular device. Multivariate models were developed using the derivation set and the generalized estimating equation. Three models, each with increasing database requirements, were validated using the validation set. Device utilization ratios and performance characteristics were calculated.Results.Although Charlson score and duration of intensive care unit stay were significant predictors in all models, factors that indicated use or presence of a central line were also important. Device utilization rates derived from the algorithmic models were as accurate as those obtained using manual sampling.Conclusions.Automated calculation of central vascular catheter use is both feasible and accurate, providing estimates statistically similar to those obtained using manual surveillance. Prediction modeling of central vascular catheter use may enable automated surveillance of bloodstream infections and enhance important prevention interventions, such as timely removal of unnecessary central lines.

The pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of two repeated dosing regimens of oral fosfomycin tromethamine were evaluated in 18 healthy adult subjects. Subjects received 3 g every other day (QOD) for 3 doses and then every day (QD) for 7 doses, or vice versa, in a phase I, randomized, open-label, two-period-crossover study.

ABSTRACTA recommended total-body-weight (TBW) dosing strategy for telavancin may not be optimal in obese patients. The primary objective of this study was to characterize and compare the pharmacokinetics (PK) of telavancin across four body size groups: normal to overweight and obese classes I, II, and III. Healthy adult subjects (n= 32) received a single, weight-stratified, fixed dose of 500 mg (n= 4), 750 mg (n= 8), or 1,000 mg (n= 20) of telavancin. Noncompartmental PK analyses revealed that subjects with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥40 kg/m2had a higher volume of distribution (16.24 ± 2.7 liters) than subjects with a BMI of <30 kg/m2(11.71 ± 2.6 liters). The observed area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0–∞) ranged from 338.1 to 867.3 mg · h/liter, with the lowest exposures being in subjects who received 500 mg. AUC0–∞values were similar among obese subjects who received 1,000 mg. A two-compartment population PK model best described the plasma concentration-time profile of telavancin when adjusted body weight (ABW) was included as a predictive covariate. Fixed doses of 750 mg and 1,000 mg had similar target attainment probabilities for efficacy as doses of 10 mg/kg of body weight based on ABW and TBW, respectively. However, the probability of achieving a target area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to 24 h of ≥763 mg · h/liter in association with acute kidney injury was highest (19.7%) with TBW-simulated dosing and lowest (0.4%) at the 750-mg dose. These results suggest that a fixed dose of 750 mg is a safe and effective alternative to telavancin doses based on TBW or ABW for the treatment of obese patients with normal renal function and Staphylococcus aureusinfections. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT02753855.)

ABSTRACTCeftazidime-avibactam administered at 1.25 g every 8 h was used to treat multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosabacteremia in a critically ill patient on continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). Prefiltration plasma drug concentrations of ceftazidime and avibactam were measured at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h along with postfiltration and ultrafiltrate concentrations at h 2 and h 6. Plasma pharmacokinetic parameters of ceftazidime and avibactam, respectively, were as follows: maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), 61.10 and 14.54 mg/liter; minimum plasma concentration (Cmin), 31.96 and 8.45 mg/liter; half-life (t1/2), 6.07 and 6.78 h; apparent volume of distribution at the steady state (Vss), 27.23 and 30.81 liters; total clearance at the steady state (CLss), 2.87 and 2.95 liters/h; area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 8 h (AUC0–8), 347.87 and 85.69 mg · h/liter. Concentrations of ceftazidime in plasma exceeded the ceftazidime-avibactam MIC (6 mg/liter) throughout the 8-h dosing interval. Mean CVVH extraction ratios for ceftazidime and avibactam were 14.44% and 11.53%, respectively, and mean sieving coefficients were 0.96 and 0.93, respectively. The calculated mean clearance of ceftazidime by CVVH was 1.64 liters/h and for avibactam was 1.59 liters/h, representing 57.1% of the total clearance of ceftazidime and 54.3% of the total clearance of avibactam. Further data that include multiple patients and dialysis modes are needed to verify the optimal ceftazidime-avibactam dosing strategy during critical illness and CVVH.