Candida auris outbreak at a tertiary care hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Candida auris (C auris) is a fungal pathogen that has the potential for environmental persistence leading to outbreaks in health care settings. There has been a worldwide surge in C auris outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this report, we describe an outbreak of C auris, its control, patient outcomes, and lessons learned. METHODS: The outbreak occurred in a 600-bed adult academic tertiary care hospital. Contact tracing was initiated immediately after identification of the index case and surveillance testing for C auris was obtained from patients who were exposed to the index case. Infection prevention measures were closely followed. RESULTS: A total of 560 cultures were performed on 453 unique patients between August 2021 and December 2021. Of those, 31 cultures (5.5%) were positive for C auris; 27 (87.1%) were colonized with C auris, while 4 patients developed a clinical infection (12.9%). The secondary attack rate was 6.8% (31/453). The 30-day all-cause mortality rate for all patients who tested positive for C auris was 9.7%. DISCUSSION: C auris can cause protracted outbreaks that result in colonization and invasive infections. Multidisciplinary work to improve adherence to infection prevention measures as well as targeted admission screening are essential to limit outbreaks.

Etiology and utility of hospital-onset bacteremia as a safety metric for targeted harm reduction.

BACKGROUND: Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are a major driver of morbidity and cost in health systems. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) require intensive surveillance and review. All-cause hospital-onset bacteremia (HOB) may be a simpler reporting metric, correlates with CLABSI, and is viewed positively by HAI experts. Despite the ease in the collection, the proportion of HOBs that are actionable and preventable is unknown. Moreover, quality improvement strategies targeting it may be more challenging. In this study, we describe the bedside provider-perceived sources of HOB in order to provide insight into this new metric as a target for HAI prevention. METHODS: All cases of HOBs in 2019 from an academic tertiary care hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Information was collected to assess provider-perceived etiology and associated clinical factors (microbiology, severity, mortality, and management). HOB was categorized as preventable or not preventable based on the perceived source from the care team and management decisions. Preventable causes included device-associated bacteremias, pneumonias, surgical complications, and contaminated blood cultures. RESULTS: Of the 392 instances of HOB, 56.0% (n = 220) had episodes that were determined not preventable by providers. Excluding blood culture contaminates, the most common cause of preventable HOB was secondary to CLABSIs (9.9%, n = 39). Of the HOBs that were not preventable, the most common sources were gastrointestinal and abdominal (n = 62), neutropenic translocation (n = 37), and endocarditis (n = 23). Patients with HOB were generally medically complex with an average Charlson comorbidity index of 4.97. This translated into a higher average length of stay (29.23 vs 7.56, P < .001) and higher inpatient mortality (odds ratio 8.3, confidence interval [6.32-10.77]) when compared to admissions without HOB. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of HOBs were not preventable and the HOB metric may be a marker of a sicker patient population making it a less actionable target for quality improvement. Standardization across the patient mix is important if the metric becomes linked to reimbursement. If the HOB metric were to be used in lieu of CLABSI, large tertiary care health systems that house sicker patients may be unfairly financially penalized for caring for more medically complex patients.

Two-step algorithm-based Clostridioides difficile testing as a tool for antibiotic stewardship.

OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) can be challenging due to high colonization rates. Unlike PCR-only testing, two-step algorithm testing (that includes toxin and PCR) may help differentiate colonization from active infection, but it is unknown if this type of testing impacts treatment decisions. We examined the association between changing CDI diagnostic methods, the way the testing results were displayed, and the rates of CDI-specific treatment. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of positive C. difficile cases over 2 years, a year preceding and following our institution's transition from PCR to two-step testing. During the PCR period, results were displayed in the electronic medical record as 'positive'. In the two-step period, positive results were either displayed as 'likely colonized' or 'toxin positive'. Rates of CDI-specific therapy and adverse patient outcomes (30-day mortality and intensive care unit admission) were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: A total of 610 patients had positive results over the study period. Of the 354 patients in the PCR group, 329 (93%) were treated with CDI-specific therapy. Of the 142 patients in the likely colonized group, 59 (42%) were treated. All 114 patients in the toxin-positive group were treated. Multivariate analysis of patients who were PCR positive or likely colonized showed that tests sent in the two-step era were less likely to be associated with treatment for CDI (odds ratio 0.05, 95% CI 0.03-0.09). DISCUSSION: We found a correlation between changing the type of test and the way the results were displayed and reduction in CDI-specific antibiotic use without restricting clinician diagnostic ordering.

Orthopoxvirus Testing Challenges for Persons in Populations at Low Risk or Without Known Epidemiologic Link to Monkeypox - United States, 2022.

Since May 2022, approximately 20,000 cases of monkeypox have been identified in the United States, part of a global outbreak occurring in approximately 90 countries and currently affecting primarily gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) (1). Monkeypox virus (MPXV) spreads from person to person through close, prolonged contact; a small number of cases have occurred in populations who are not MSM (e.g., women and children), and testing is recommended for persons who meet the suspected case definition* (1). CDC previously developed five real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for detection of orthopoxviruses from lesion specimens (2,3). CDC was granted 510(k) clearance for the nonvariola-orthopoxvirus (NVO)-specific PCR assay by the Food and Drug Administration. This assay was implemented within the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) in the early 2000s and became critical for early detection of MPXV and implementation of public health action in previous travel-associated cases as well as during the current outbreak (4-7). PCR assays (NVO and other Orthopoxvirus laboratory developed tests [LDT]) represent the primary tool for monkeypox diagnosis. These tests are highly sensitive, and cross-contamination from other MPXV specimens being processed, tested, or both alongside negative specimens can occasionally lead to false-positive results. This report describes three patients who had atypical rashes and no epidemiologic link to a monkeypox case or known risk factors; these persons received diagnoses of monkeypox based on late cycle threshold (Ct) values ≥34, which were false-positive test results. The initial diagnoses were followed by administration of antiviral treatment (i.e., tecovirimat) and JYNNEOS vaccine postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to patients' close contacts. After receiving subsequent testing, none of the three patients was confirmed to have monkeypox. Knowledge gained from these and other cases resulted in changes to CDC guidance. When testing for monkeypox in specimens from patients without an epidemiologic link or risk factors or who do not meet clinical criteria (or where these are unknown), laboratory scientists should reextract and retest specimens with late Ct values (based on this report, Ct ≥34 is recommended) (8). CDC can be consulted for complex cases including those that appear atypical or questionable cases and can perform additional viral species- and clade-specific PCR testing and antiorthopoxvirus serologic testing.

Clinical comparison and agreement of PCR, antigen, and viral culture for the diagnosis of COVID-19: Clinical Agreement Between Diagnostics for COVID19.

The aim of this study is to compare the COVID-19 nasopharyngeal PCR (NP PCR) to antigen, nasal PCR, and viral culture. One-hundred-and-fourteen risk-stratified patients were tested by culture, nasal PCR, NP PCR, and Ag testing. Twenty (48%) of the high risk and 23 (32%) of the low risk were NP PCR positive. Compared with NP PCR, the sensitivity of nasal PCR, Sofia Ag, BinaxNOW Ag, and culture were 44%, 31%, 37%, and 15%. In the high risk group, the sensitivity of these tests improved to 71%, 37%, 50%, and 22%. Agreement between tests was highest between nasal PCR and both antigen tests. Patients who were NP PCR positive but antigen negative were more likely to have remote prior COVID-19 infection (p<0.01). Nasal PCR and antigen positive patients were more likely to have symptoms (p = 0.01).

Microbiology of bile aspirates obtained at ERCP in patients with suspected acute cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: The cornerstone of treatment for acute cholangitis is source control with biliary drainage and early antibiotics. The primary aim of this study was to describe the microbiology of bile aspirate pathogens obtained at the time of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients suspected of having acute cholangitis. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, patients were included if a bile aspirate was collected at ERCP for suspicion of acute cholangitis, from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2016. RESULTS: There were 721 ERCP procedures for suspected acute cholangitis with bile culture results, with 662 positive bile cultures (91.8 %). Pathogens included: Enterococcus species (spp.) 448 (67.7 %); Klebsiella spp. 295 (44.6 %); Escherichia coli 269 (40.6 %); Pseudomonas spp. 52 (7.9 %); and anaerobes 64 (9.7 %). Susceptibility of Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli isolates to ciprofloxacin was 88 % and 64 %, respectively. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenem resistance were found in 7.9 % and 3.6 % of Enterobacteriaceae, respectively. There were 437 concurrent blood cultures, of which 174 were positive (39.8 % of cultures drawn). Prior biliary endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) was evident in 459 ERCP cases (63.7 %), and was associated with increased frequency of Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp., and Enterococcus spp. Prior biliary ES significantly increased the probability of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of bile cultures (91.8 %) were positive. The susceptibilities of E.coli and K.pneumoniae to ciprofloxacin are lower than historically noted. A notable portion of cultures contained pathogenic drug-resistant organisms. Prior biliary ES is associated with a higher frequency of certain organisms and higher frequency of VRE.

Evaluation of the Infectious Diseases Society of America's Core Antimicrobial Stewardship Curriculum for Infectious Diseases Fellows.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial stewardship (AS) programs are required by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and should ideally have infectious diseases (ID) physician involvement; however, only 50% of ID fellowship programs have formal AS curricula. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) formed a workgroup to develop a core AS curriculum for ID fellows. Here we study its impact. METHODS: ID program directors and fellows in 56 fellowship programs were surveyed regarding the content and effectiveness of their AS training before and after implementation of the IDSA curriculum. Fellows' knowledge was assessed using multiple-choice questions. Fellows completing their first year of fellowship were surveyed before curriculum implementation ("pre-curriculum") and compared to first-year fellows who complete the curriculum the following year ("post-curriculum"). RESULTS: Forty-nine (88%) program directors and 105 (67%) fellows completed the pre-curriculum surveys; 35 (64%) program directors and 79 (50%) fellows completed the post-curriculum surveys. Prior to IDSA curriculum implementation, only 51% of programs had a "formal" curriculum. After implementation, satisfaction with AS training increased among program directors (16% to 68%) and fellows (51% to 68%). Fellows' confidence increased in 7/10 AS content areas. Knowledge scores improved from a mean of 4.6 to 5.1 correct answers of 9 questions (P = .028). The major hurdle to curriculum implementation was time, both for formal teaching and for e-learning. CONCLUSIONS: Effective AS training is a critical component of ID fellowship training. The IDSA Core AS Curriculum can enhance AS training, increase fellow confidence, and improve overall satisfaction of fellows and program directors.

Real world utilization of nurse-driven urinary catheter removal protocol in patients with epidural pain catheters.

BACKGROUND: Surgeons use indwelling bladder catheters (IBCs) to avoid urinary retention in patients with epidural analgesic catheters. Reduction of IBC-days is associated with improved catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates (CAUTI). This study investigates real world application of a Nurse-Driven Catheter Removal Protocol (NDCRP) to reduce IBC-days in this patient population. METHODS: Patients with epidural catheters and IBC were targeted for IBC removal on post-operative day 1 (POD1). Patients were followed for application of the NDCRP, catheterization need, IBC re-anchoring, and complications. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-three patients had IBCs removed on POD1 (Protocol Group) and 50 patients did not (Non-Protocol Group). There was a reduction in IBC-days in the Protocol Group despite incomplete adherence to the NDCRP (1.55 days vs 4.64 days; P < .001). Ninety-three patients (70%) were able to spontaneously void after early IBC removal. Fourteen patients (11%) were able to spontaneously void after serial in-and-out catheterization (I/O). No significant difference in re-anchoring was found between the protocol and non-protocol groups (26 vs 4 patients; P = .09). CONCLUSIONS: Early removal of IBCs (POD1) in patients with epidural catheters with the assistance of an NDCRP is a safe and successful strategy to reduce IBC-days in the hospital.

Investing in the Future: A Role for Professional Societies to Prepare the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders Through Curriculum Development and Dissemination.

Professional societies serve many functions that benefit constituents; however, few professional societies have undertaken the development and dissemination of formal, national curricula to train the future workforce while simultaneously addressing significant healthcare needs. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has developed 2 curricula for the specific purpose of training the next generation of clinicians to ensure the future infectious diseases (ID) workforce is optimally trained to lead antimicrobial stewardship programs and equipped to meet the challenges of multidrug resistance, patient safety, and healthcare quality improvement. A core curriculum was developed to provide a foundation in antimicrobial stewardship for all ID fellows, regardless of career path. An advanced curriculum was developed for ID fellows specifically pursuing a career in antimicrobial stewardship. Both curricula will be broadly available in the summer of 2021 through the IDSA website.

Management of fever and neutropenia in the adult patient with acute myeloid leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Febrile neutropenia represents one of the most common treatment-associated complications in the management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is considered an oncologic emergency. Rapid and detailed workup as well as the initiation of empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy are critical to avoid sepsis and to reduce mortality. Although a definitive source of infection is frequently not identified, the severely immunosuppressed status of the AML patient undergoing cytotoxic therapy results in a high risk for a wide array of bacterial, fungal, and viral etiologies. AREAS COVERED: The authors herein review the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the neutropenic leukemia patient based on the current knowledge. Special consideration is given to the rapidly changing therapeutic landscape in AML, creating new challenges in the management of infectious complications. EXPERT OPINION: Multidrug-resistant organisms pose a major challenge in the management of neutropenic fever patients with hematologic malignancies - including AML. Future directions to improve outcomes demand innovative treatment approaches as well as advances in biomarker research to facilitate diagnosis and disease monitoring. Recent achievements in AML-targeted therapy led to an increased incidence of differentiation syndrome, a potentially life-threatening side effect that frequently resembles clinical infection and requires prompt recognition and aggressive intervention.

Clinical characteristics, outcomes and prognosticators in adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a novel disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective evaluation of patients admitted with COVID-19 to one site in March 2020. Patients were stratified into 3 groups: survivors who did not receive mechanical ventilation (MV), survivors who received MV, and those who received MV and died during hospitalization. RESULTS: There were 140 hospitalizations; 22 deaths (mortality rate 15.7%), 83 (59%) survived and did not receive MV, 35 (25%) received MV and survived; 18 (12.9%) received MV and died. Thee mean age of each group was 57.8, 55.8 and 72.7 years, respectively (P = .0001). Of those who received MV and died, 61% were male (P = .01). More than half the patients (n = 90, 64%) were African American. First measured d-dimer >575.5 ng/mL, procalcitonin > 0.24 ng/mL, lactate dehydrogenase >445.6 units/L, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) >104.75 pg/mL had odds ratios of 10.5, 5, 4.5 and 2.9, respectively for MV (P < .05 for all). Peak BNP >167.5 pg/mL had an odds ratio of 6.7 for inpatient mortality when mechanically ventilated (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Age and gender may impact outcomes in COVID-19. D-dimer, procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase and BNP may serve as early indicators of disease trajectory.

Changing the culture of urine culturing: Utilizing Agile Implementation to improve diagnostic stewardship in the ICU.

Over diagnosis of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) contributes to unnecessary and excessive antibiotic use, selection for resistant organisms, increased risk for Clostridiodes difficile infections, as well as a false elevation in CAUTI rates. Utilizing agile implementation to implement a urine culture algorithm achieved statistically significant reduction in CAUTI rates in a critical care unit resulting in sustainment and spread throughout the system.

Seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among healthcare workers with differing levels of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient exposure.

Healthcare employees were tested for antibodies against severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Among 734 employees, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 1.6%. Employees with heavy coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure had similar antibody prevalence as those with limited or no exposure. Guidelines for PPE use seem effective for preventing COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers.

Utilizing a real-time discussion approach to improve the appropriateness of Clostridioides difficile testing and the potential unintended consequences of this strategy.

We report electronic medical record interventions to reduce Clostridioides difficile testing risk 'alert fatigue.' We used a behavioral approach to diagnostic stewardship and observed a decrease in the number of tests ordered of ~4.5 per month (P < .0001). Although the number of inappropriate tests decreased during the study period, delayed testing increased.

Strategies for the successful implementation of disinfecting port protectors to reduce CLABSI in a large tertiary care teaching hospital.

Disinfecting port protectors are a supplement to the central line-associated bloodstream infection prevention bundle as an optional recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite evidence of effectiveness, few centers have successfully reported systematic, sustained implementation of these devices. In this article, we discuss a successful implementation in a large tertiary care teaching hospital, using an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach. Infection prevention; Bacteremia; Ethanol caps; Bundle measures; Quality improvement; Hub infection.

Using the agile implementation model to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections.

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are among the most common hospital-acquired infections and can lead to increased patient morbidity and mortality rates. Implementation of practice guidelines and recommended prevention bundles has historically been suboptimal, suggesting that improvements in implementation methods could further reductions in CLABSI rates. In this article, we describe the agile implementation methodology and present details of how it was successfully used to reduce CLABSI. METHODS: We conducted an observational study of patients with central line catheters at 2 adult tertiary care hospitals in Indianapolis from January 2015 to June 2017. RESULTS: The intervention successfully reduced the CLABSI rate from 1.76 infections per 1,000 central line days to 1.24 (rate ratio = 0.70; P = .011). We also observed reductions in the rates of Clostridium difficile and surgical site infections, whereas catheter-associated urinary tract infections remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: Using the AI model, we were able to successfully implement evidence-based practices to reduce the rate of CLABSIs at our facility.

Assessing patient risk of central line-associated bacteremia via machine learning.

BACKGROUND: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) contribute to increased morbidity, length of hospital stay, and cost. Despite progress in understanding the risk factors, there remains a need to accurately predict the risk of CLABSIs and, in real time, prevent them from occurring. METHODS: A predictive model was developed using retrospective data from a large academic healthcare system. Models were developed with machine learning via construction of random forests using validated input variables. RESULTS: Fifteen variables accounted for the most significant effect on CLABSI prediction based on a retrospective study of 70,218 unique patient encounters between January 1, 2013, and May 31, 2016. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the best-performing model was 0.82 in production. DISCUSSION: This model has multiple applications for resource allocation for CLABSI prevention, including serving as a tool to target patients at highest risk for potentially cost-effective but otherwise time-limited interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning can be used to develop accurate models to predict the risk of CLABSI in real time prior to the development of infection.