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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is prevalent in most NICUs, with a high rate of skin colonization and subsequent invasive infections among hospitalized neonates. The effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce MRSA infection in the NICU during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not been characterized. METHODS Using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Model for Improvement, we implemented several process-based infection prevention strategies to reduce invasive MRSA infections at our level IV NICU over 24 months. The outcome measure of invasive MRSA infections was tracked monthly utilizing control charts. Process measures focused on environmental disinfection and hospital personnel hygiene were also tracked monthly. The COVID-19 pandemic was an unexpected variable during the implementation of our project. The pandemic led to restricted visitation and heightened staff awareness of the importance of hand hygiene and proper use of personal protective equipment, as well as supply chain shortages, which may have influenced our outcome measure. RESULTS Invasive MRSA infections were reduced from 0.131 to 0 per 1000 patient days during the initiative. This positive shift was sustained for 30 months, along with a delayed decrease in MRSA colonization rates. Several policy and practice changes regarding personnel hygiene and environmental cleaning likely contributed to this reduction. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative aimed at infection prevention strategies led to a significant decrease in invasive MRSA infections in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate antimicrobial utilization and prescription practices in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP).DESIGNQuasi-experimental, interrupted time-series study.SETTINGA 54-bed, level IV NICU in a regional academic and tertiary referral center.PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTSAll neonates prescribed antimicrobials from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2016, were eligible for inclusion.INTERVENTIONImplementation of a NICU-specific ASP beginning July 2012.METHODSWe convened a multidisciplinary team and developed guidelines for common infections, with a focus on prescriber audit and feedback. We conducted an interrupted time-series analysis to evaluate the effects of our ASP. Our primary outcome measure was days of antibiotic therapy (DOT) per 1,000 patient days for all and for select antimicrobials. Secondary outcomes included provider-specific antimicrobial prescription events for suspected late-onset sepsis (blood or cerebrospinal fluid infection at >72 hours of life) and guideline compliance.RESULTSAntibiotic utilization decreased by 14.7 DOT per 1,000 patient days during the stewardship period, although this decrease was not statistically significant (P=.669). Use of ampicillin, the most commonly antimicrobial prescribed in our NICU, decreased significantly, declining by 22.5 DOT per 1,000 patient days (P=.037). Late-onset sepsis evaluation and prescription events per 100 NICU days of clinical service decreased significantly (PCONCLUSIONSImplementation of a NICU-specific antimicrobial stewardship program is feasible and can improve antibiotic prescribing practices.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2017;38:1137–1143

Three premature infants in 1 neonatal intensive care unit developed transfusion-transmitted babesiosis. Two of the infants developed high-grade parasitemia. All 3 affected infants were treated and cured with azithromycin and atovaquone. No infant required exchange transfusion. Clinicians should be cognizant that babesiosis may be acquired via blood transfusion.