To evaluate the impact of a diagnostic stewardship intervention on Clostridioides difficile healthcare-associated infections (HAI).

Quality improvement study.

Two urban acute care hospitals.

All inpatient stool testing for C. difficile required review and approval prior to specimen processing in the laboratory. An infection preventionist reviewed all orders daily through chart review and conversations with nursing; orders meeting clinical criteria for testing were approved, orders not meeting clinical criteria were discussed with the ordering provider. The proportion of completed tests meeting clinical criteria for testing and the primary outcome of C. difficile HAI were compared before and after the intervention.

The frequency of completed C. difficile orders not meeting criteria was lower [146 (7.5%) of 1,958] in the intervention period (January 10, 2022–October 14, 2022) than in the sampled 3-month preintervention period [26 (21.0%) of 124; P < .001]. C. difficile HAI rates were 8.80 per 10,000 patient days prior to the intervention (March 1, 2021–January 9, 2022) and 7.69 per 10,000 patient days during the intervention period (incidence rate ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.73–1.05; P = .13).

A stringent order-approval process reduced clinically nonindicated testing for C. difficile but did not significantly decrease HAIs.

Access to patient information may affect how home-infusion surveillance staff identify central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). We characterized information hazards in home-infusion CLABSI surveillance and identified possible strategies to mitigate information hazards.

Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

The study included 21 clinical staff members involved in CLABSI surveillance at 5 large home-infusion agencies covering 13 states and the District of Columbia. Methods: Interviews were conducted by 1 researcher. Transcripts were coded by 2 researchers; consensus was reached by discussion.

Data revealed the following barriers: information overload, information underload, information scatter, information conflict, and erroneous information. Respondents identified 5 strategies to mitigate information chaos: (1) engage information technology in developing reports; (2) develop streamlined processes for acquiring and sharing data among staff; (3) enable staff access to hospital electronic health records; (4) use a single, validated, home-infusion CLABSI surveillance definition; and (5) develop relationships between home-infusion surveillance staff and inpatient healthcare workers.

Information chaos occurs in home-infusion CLABSI surveillance and may affect the development of accurate CLABSI rates in home-infusion therapy. Implementing strategies to minimize information chaos will enhance intra- and interteam collaborations in addition to improving patient-related outcomes.

Hospital-acquired infection (HAI) rates were negatively affected by the the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We describe the incidence of HAIs, main pathogens, and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) isolated in cancer patients before and during the pandemic.

This retrospective, comparative study included patients with HAIs. We compared 2 periods: the prepandemic period (2018, 2019, and the first 3 months of 2020) with the pandemic period (April–December 2020 and all of 2021).

Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, a tertiary-care oncology public hospital in Mexico City, Mexico.

Patients with the following HAIs were included: nosocomial pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), secondary bloodstream infection (BSI), central-line–associated bloodstream infection (CLBSI), and Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Demographic data, clinical characteristics, pathogens isolated, and MDRO data were included.

We identified 639 HAIs: 381 (7.95 per 100 hospital discharges) in the prepandemic period and 258 (7.17 per 100 hospital discharges) in the pandemic period. Hematologic malignancy was documented in 263 (44.3%) patients; 251 (39.2%) were in cancer progression or relapse. Nosocomial pneumonia was more frequent during the pandemic period (40.3% vs 32.3%; P = .04). Total episodes of VAP were not different between the 2 periods (28.1% vs 22.1%; P = .08), but during the pandemic period, the VAP rate was higher among COVID-19 patients than non–COVID-19 patients (72.2% vs 8.8%; P < .001). Escherichia coli, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia cases were more frequent in the pandemic period. Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)–E. coli was the only MDRO that occurred more frequently during the pandemic period.

In cancer patients, nosocomial pneumonia was more frequent during the pandemic period. We did not observe a significant impact on other HAIs. MDROs did not significantly increase during the pandemic.

To characterize personal exposures and measures of eye and respiratory tract irritation in controlled environmental chamber studies of 44 healthy adult volunteers simulating upper-bound use of peracetic acid (PAA)–based surface disinfectant for terminal cleaning of hospital patient rooms.

Experimental, within-subject, double-blinded cross-over design.

Objective and subjective exposure effects were assessed for PAA and its components: acetic acid (AA) and hydrogen peroxide (HP). Deionized water was included as a control. Breathing-zone concentrations of PAA, AA, and HP were assessed for 8 female multiday volunteers (5 consecutive days) and 36 single-day volunteers (32 females and 4 males). Wetted cloths were used to wipe high-touch surfaces for 20 minutes per trial. Also, 15 objective measures of tissue injury or inflammation and 4 subjective odor or irritation scores were assessed.

Disinfectant trials showed 95th percentile breathing zone concentrations of 101 ppb PAA, 500 ppb AA, and 667 ppb HP. None of the volunteers observed over 75 test days exhibited significant increases in IgE or objective measures of eye and respiratory tract inflammation. Subjective ratings for disinfectant and AA-only trials showed similar increases for odor intensity and nose irritation, with lower ratings for eye and throat irritation. Females were 2.5-fold more likely than males to assign moderate + irritation ratings.

Simulated upper-bound hospital use of PAA-based disinfectant led to no significant increases in objective markers of tissue injury, inflammation, or allergic sensitization, and no frank signs of eye or respiratory tract irritation.

To evaluate the rate of coinfections and secondary infections seen in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and antimicrobial prescribing patterns.

This single-center, retrospective study included all patients aged ≥18 years admitted with COVID-19 for at least 24 hours to a 280-bed, academic, tertiary-care hospital between March 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020. Coinfections, secondary infections, and antimicrobials prescribed for these patients were collected.

In total, 331 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were evaluated. No additional cases were identified in 281 (84.9%) patients, whereas 50 (15.1%) had at least 1 infection. In total, of 50 patients (15.1%) who were diagnosed with coinfection or secondary infection had bacteremia, pneumonia, and/or urinary tract infections. Patients who had positive cultures, who were admitted to the ICU, who required supplemental oxygen, or who were transferred from another hospital for higher level of care were more likely to have infections. The most commonly used antimicrobials were azithromycin (75.2%) and ceftriaxone (64.9%). Antimicrobials were prescribed appropriately for 55% of patients.

Coinfection and secondary infections are common in patients who are critically ill with COVID-19 at hospital admission. Clinicians should consider starting antimicrobial therapy in critically ill patients while limiting antimicrobial use in patients who are not critically ill.

To design and implement “handshake rounds” as an antibiotic stewardship intervention to reduce inpatient intravenous (IV) antibiotic use in patients with hematologic malignancies.

Quasi-experimental analysis of antibiotic use (AU) and secondary outcomes before and and after handshake rounds were implemented.

Quaternary-care, academic medical center.

Hospitalized adults with hematologic malignancies receiving IV antibiotics.

We performed a retrospective review of a preintervention cohort prior to the intervention. A multidisciplinary team developed criteria for de-escalation of antibiotics, logistics of handshake rounds, and outcome metrics. Eligible patients were discussed during scheduled handshake rounds between a hematology–oncology pharmacist and transplant–infectious diseases (TID) physician. Prospective data were collected over 30 days in the postintervention cohort. Due to small sample size, 2:1 matching was used to compare pre- to and postintervention AU. Total AU in days of therapy per 1,000 patient days (DOT/1,000 PD) was reported. Mean AU per patient was analyzed using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A descriptive analysis of secondary outcomes of pre- and postintervention cohorts was performed.

Total AU was substantially lower after the intervention, with 517 DOT/1,000 PD compared to 865 DOT/1,000 PD before the intervention. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean AU per patient between the 2 cohorts. There was a lower rate of 30-day mortality in the postintervention cohort and rates of ICU admissions were similar.

Conducting handshake rounds is a safe and effective way to implement an antibiotic stewardship intervention among high-risk patient population such as those with hematologic malignancies.

Antimicrobial stewardship has special challenges in particular populations and facilities, including pediatrics. We sought to augment the information available to antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) by created a cumulative statewide antibiogram for neonatal and pediatric populations.

In the Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative of South Carolina (ASC-SC), we created statewide antibiograms, including a separate antibiogram accounting for the pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) populations. We collated data from the 4 pediatric and 3 NICU facilities in the state to provide a cumulative statewide antibiogram.

Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus was more prevalent than methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter koserii, and Acinetobacter baumannii were isolated in only 1 NICU.

These antibiograms should improve empiric prescribing in both the inpatient and outpatient setting, providing data in some areas that historically do not have pediatric antibiogram to inform prescribing. The antibiogram alone is not sufficient independently to improve prescribing but is one important aspect of stewardship in the pediatric population of South Carolina.

Data are scarce regarding hospital infection control committees and compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) recommendations in Brazil, a country of continental dimensions. We assessed the main characteristics of infection control committees (ICCs) on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in Brazilian hospitals.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in ICCs of public and private hospitals distributed across all Brazilian regions. Data were collected directly from the ICC staff by completing an online questionnaire and during on-site visits through face-to-face interviews.

In total, 53 Brazilian hospitals were evaluated from October 2019 to December 2020. All hospitals had implemented the IPC core components in their programs. All centers had protocols for the prevention and control of ventilator-associated pneumonia as well as bloodstream, surgical site, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Most hospitals (80%) had no budget specifically allocated to the IPC program; 34% of the laundry staff had received specific IPC training; and only 7.5% of hospitals reported occupational infections in healthcare workers.

In this sample, most ICCs complied with the minimum requirements for IPC programs. The main limitation regarding ICCs was the lack of financial support. The findings of this survey support the development of strategic plans to improve IPCs in Brazilian hospitals.

To evaluate the impact of implementing clinical decision support (CDS) tools for outpatient antibiotic prescribing in the emergency department (ED) and clinic settings.

We performed a before-and-after, quasi-experimental study that employed an interrupted time-series analysis.

The study institution was a quaternary, academic referral center in Northern California.

We included prescriptions for patients in the ED and 21 primary-care clinics within the same health system.

We implemented a CDS tool for azithromycin on March 1, 2020, and a CDS tool for fluoroquinolones (FQs; ie, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin) on November 1, 2020. The CDS added friction to inappropriate ordering workflows while adding health information technology (HIT) features to easily perform recommended actions. The primary outcome was the number of monthly prescriptions for each antibiotic type, by implementation period (before vs after).

Immediately after azithromycin-CDS implementation, monthly rates of azithromycin prescribing decreased significantly in both the ED (−24%; 95% CI, −37% to −10%; P < .001) and outpatient clinics (−47%; 95% CI, −56% to −37%; P < .001). In the first month after FQ-CDS implementation in the clinics, there was no significant drop in ciprofloxacin prescriptions; however, there was a significant decrease in ciprofloxacin prescriptions over time (−5% per month; 95% CI, −6% to −3%; P < .001), suggesting a delayed effect of the CDS.

Implementing CDS tools was associated with an immediate decrease in azithromycin prescriptions, in both the ED and clinics. CDS may serve as a valuable adjunct to existing antimicrobial stewardship programs.

To evaluate antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory oncology clinics and to identify opportunities to improve antibiotic use.

Retrospective cohort of adult patients who received care at 4 ambulatory oncology clinics from May 2021 to December 2021. Patients were included if they actively followed with a hematologist-oncologist for a cancer diagnosis and received an antibiotic prescription for uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), urinary tract infection (UTI), or acute bacterial skin–skin structure infection (ABSSSI) at an oncology clinic. The primary outcome was receipt of optimal antibiotic therapy, defined as a composite of drug, dose, and duration according to local and national guidelines. Patient characteristics were described and compared; predictors of optimal antibiotic use were identified using multivariable logistic regression.

In total, 200 patients were included in this study: 72 (36%) received optimal antibiotics and 128 (64%) received suboptimal antibiotics. The proportions of patients receiving optimal therapy by indication were ABSSSI (52%), UTI (35%), URTI (27%), and LRTI (15%). The most common suboptimal prescribing components were dose (54%), selection (53%) and duration (23%). After adjusting for female sex and LRTI, ABSSSI (adjusted odds ratio, 2.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.19–4.37) was associated with optimal antibiotic therapy. Antibiotic-associated adverse drug events occurred in 7 patients; 6 occurred patients who received prolonged durations and 1 occurred in a patient who received an optimal duration (P = .057).

Suboptimal antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory oncology clinics is common and mostly driven by antibiotic selection and dosing. Duration of therapy may also be an area for improvement as national oncology guidelines have not adopted short-course therapy.