Reasons for rejection of abstracts submitted to the Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology: Ensuring transparency and encouraging quality.

The Abstracts Committee of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology noted high rejection rates for submitted abstracts, often for minor infractions of guidelines. This study examines the reasons for abstract rejection and identified that a substantial portion of abstracts were rejected for readily correctable errors (nonadherence to submission guidelines [71.6%]), prior to consideration of scientific value. This finding will hopefully guide future submissions.

Antimicrobial stewardship in Kansas: Results from a statewide survey.

BACKGROUND: The availability of effective antibiotics is considered one of the most important developments in medicine. However, many organisms that were once susceptible to common antibiotics are becoming resistant. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are considered to be vital for combating the emergence of resistance. To understand current antimicrobial stewardship practices in Kansas, the authors designed a 36-question survey. Results of this survey will be used to develop a coordinated, public health strategy for improving current practices. METHODS: To assess the number of ASPs and general antimicrobial stewardship practices in Kansas, a 36-question survey was developed and sent out to infection preventionists at all 154 acute care facilities in Kansas via e-mail. RESULTS: Of the 154 eligible facilities, 129 (83.7%) responded to this survey, and 61 of 127 (48%) had a formal committee devoted to antimicrobial stewardship. Acute care facilities were more likely than critical access facilities to have formal committees and were also more likely to engage in core stewardship strategies. CONCLUSIONS: In a world with increasing microbial resistance, the role of public health in antimicrobial stewardship is becoming more important. After surveying all hospitals in Kansas about antimicrobial stewardship practices, we realize that critical access hospitals have the greatest need for support and may see the greatest opportunities for development and improvements.

Clonally related Burkholderia contaminans among ventilated patients without cystic fibrosis.

We investigated a cluster of 10 Burkholderia cepacia complex-positive cultures among ventilated patients and those with a tracheostomy in an acute care hospital. Isolates from 5 patients had outbreak-strain-related Burkholderia contaminans. Isolates of B. cepacia complex unrelated to the outbreak strain were cultured from a sink drain. The investigation identified practices that might have led to contamination of patient respiratory care supplies with tap water, which might have contributed to the cluster.

How Maryland increased infection prevention and control activity in long-term care facilities, 2003-2008.

BACKGROUND: In January 2003, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) assessed the state of infection prevention and control (IPC) resources and practices in all long-term care facilities (LTC) in the state. Only 8.1% of facilities that responded employed a trained IPC professional (IP) who managed the facility IPC program. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2008, the DHMH partnered with long-term care industry trade associations and spearheaded regulatory, educational, and financial initiatives to improve this situation. In January 2008, all LTC facilities in the state were resurveyed to determine the impact of these initiatives on IPC activities. RESULTS: The 2008 survey indicated that 44% of LTC facilities used a trained IP who managed the IPC program, a 5-fold increase from 2003. Unpublished DHMH outbreak data indicated that LTC facilities with a trained IP recognized and reported outbreaks to the local health department 2 days sooner than facilities without a trained IP, resulting in fewer cases of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple initiatives with concerned stakeholders and LTC partners over the course of 5 years resulted in increased numbers of LTC facilities with trained IPs who recognized and responded to outbreaks sooner than facilities without trained IPs.