bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Semiquantitative Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Colony Reduction in Elective Orthopedic Surgery Reduces Surgical Site Infection
Authors: Saidel Lisa , Yosipovich Riki , Nativ Ronit , Sagi Orli , Shimoni Orly , Borer Abraham 
Published: November 2020

Background: Clean surgical procedures such as hip and knee replacement and spine surgery have a low infection complication rate; however, if infections occur, there is substantial morbidity and increased cost. Staphylococcus aureus causes 30% of surgical site infections (SSIs). S. aureus colonization increases the risk of developing SSI. Nasal povidone-iodine 5% application reduces the S. aureus colonization burden. Objective: We aimed to reduce SSIs by applying nasal povidone-iodine 5% prior to hip and knee replacement and spine surgery. Methods: Adult patients hospitalized for elective hip replacement, knee replacement, or spine surgeries from February 2018 through August 2019 comprised the study cohort. All patients received preoperative guidance in the outpatient clinic. On admission, the evening before surgery, a nasal swab for S. aureus colonization was performed, followed by povidone-iodine 5% application in both nostrils and body chlorhexidine gluconate 4% bathing. Application of these substances was repeated in the morning before surgery. Within 24 hours after surgery, an additional nasal swab for S. aureus colonization was taken. A 90-day follow-up for SSI was done. Data were compared with a similar 2016–2017 cohort without the preoperative measures. Results: In total, 186 patients were included: 85 underwent hip or knee replacement (age 69 ± 13.2 y, 66% men), and 101 spine surgery (age 55 ± 15.4 y, 52% men). At screening, 18.3% were colonized with methicillin-sensitive S. aureus and 1.6% colonized with methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Pre- and postsurgery data for the cohort appear in Table 1. The SSI rate per 100 patient days for hip and knee replacement and for spine surgery decreased from 0.29 and 4.0, respectively, in the 2016–2017 cohort to 0 and 0.99, respectively, in the present cohort. Conclusions: Nasal povidone-iodine 5% reduced the S. aureus colonization burden. The SSI rate in elective hip and knee replacement and spine surgery significantly decreased. We show that there is no need for S. aureus eradication presurgery; semiquantitative S. aureus nasal colony reduction should suffice in reducing SSIs. Further research is needed using quantitative measurements for S. aureus colonization.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Seroprevalence of Mumps in Healthcare Workers in South Korea
Authors: Kim Sun Kyung , Jung Jiwon , Kwak Sun Hee , Hong Min Jee , Kim Eun Ok , Kim Sung-Han 
Published: November 2020

Background: Mumps, a contagious disease, is transmissible by respiratory droplet particles and is preventable by vaccination. In South Korea, mandatory vaccination against mumps has markedly reduced its incidence. However, both the incidence and the number of reported cases of mumps have persistently increased in South Korea since 2007. Despite high vaccination rates, mumps outbreaks continue to occur, and many studies have been conducted on mumps seroprevalence in children and adolescents. In comparison, few reports have been published regarding mumps seroprevalence in healthcare workers (HCWs) in South Korea. Objective: We investigated the seroprevalence of HCWs in South Korea. Methods: This study was conducted at Asan Medical Center, a 2,705-bed tertiary-care hospital in Seoul, South Korea, with 8,329 HCWs. In 2018, we performed mumps antibody testing for HCWs. We administered MMR vaccination to all HCWs whose antibody test yielded equivocal or negative results. However, we did not repeat mumps antibody testing after MMR vaccination. Results: In total, 6,055 HCWs (73%) underwent mumps antibody testing. The overall mumps seropositivity rate was 87% (95% CI, 86%–87%). Seropositivity rates of all birth cohorts ranged from 72% to 92%. Mumps seropositivity rates were 88% in HCWs born before 1970, 87% in those born between 1970 and 1989, and 88% in those born between 1990 and 1995 (P = .59). Mumps seropositivity rates for both women and men HCWs were 87% (3,770 of 4,311 women and 1,517 of 1,744 men); the difference was not statistically significant (P = .62). The overall mumps seropositivity rate was 87%, which was above the herd immunity threshold of 75%–86%. Conclusions: Our results revealed that the overall mumps seropositivity rate in South Korean HCWs was above the herd immunity threshold. On the basis of this finding, we recommend that MMR vaccination after serologic testing may be a more reasonable approach than universal MMR vaccination alone in Korea.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Sherlock Holmes: Whose Tissue Is It Anyway?
Authors: Lee Bonita , Silverman Jason , Lacson Atilano , Izevbaye Iyare , Huynh Hien , Sergi Consolato , Maglantay Remegio , Mather Cheryl , Box Adrian , Paonessa Teresa , Nawaz Rebecca , Pulongbarit Jesusa , Tremblay Mario , VanVeen Kathy , Durand Joan , Cordoviz Melody , Aelick Nancy , Williamson Catherine 
Published: November 2020

Background: The medical device reprocessing department (MDRD) is a crucial patient safety area with checkpoints to ensure appropriate reprocessing. Objective: We report the application of molecular pathology in the investigation of potential blood and body fluid exposure (BBFE) during endoscopy. Methods: When there is a potential BBFE from a medical device, our hospital has a systematic process whereby the clinical area involves the MDRD and the infection prevention control (IPC) team. The MDRD provides reprocessing documentation, including detailed information regarding the prior use of the devices. The clinician and the IPC physician discuss the risk of BBFE. If patient disclosure occurs, the IPC physician provides follow-up as appropriate. This report illustrates the collaboration of clinicians, the IPC team, the MDRD, pathologists, and molecular pathologists in investigating the possibility of residual human tissue and BBFE during endoscopy. Case reports: Two independent but similar events occurred in September 2016 and September 2019 in the pediatric endoscopy suite at our site, a tertiary-care pediatric hospital with 163 beds in Edmonton, Canada. During both endoscopies, the pediatric gastroenterologists observed a piece of tissue ejected from the gastroscope into the intestinal lumen when the biopsy forceps were pushed out of the channel for the first time. This observation raised concerns of possible gaps in the reprocessing of the endoscope and residual tissue remaining in the working channel after its last use. Both gastroenterologists were able to retrieve the presumed foreign tissue; however, both patients had possible BBFE because the mucosal surface was breached by the biopsy forceps. The MDRD reprocessing of both endoscopes was reviewed, and no gap was identified. In discussion with the pathologists and molecular pathologists, human identity testing using genetic markers was performed on the biopsy blocks of the previous patient on whom the endoscope was used, the potentially exposed patient, and the presumed foreign tissue for each event. The test results indicated that the presumed foreign tissue was in fact from the potentially exposed patient and therefore there was no BBFE. It is presumed that the working channel itself captured a small amount of the patient’s tissue during scope insertion. The results were a relief to the patients and families. Conclusions: It is prudent to investigate residual foreign tissue in a medical device that is being used on patients with mucosal breaches. Molecular pathology involving human identity testing is a very useful tool in the investigation of these types of events.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
STOP-BSI: Reducing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections in Oncology Patients
Authors: Yun Mylinh , Varkey Jay , Spinke Renee , Ayers Marie , Bell Christina , Bracewell Emily , Crabtree Patricia , Holder Carolyn , Kaplow Roberta , Whitson Margaret 
Published: November 2020

Background: Hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (MRSA BSIs) are associated with serious morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Of all MRSA BSIs at our academic medical center, 63% occurred in the oncology units. A multidisciplinary team was formed to address the improvement opportunity: the clinical nurse specialist, hospital epidemiologist, unit leaders, nurse champions and representatives from infection prevention, pharmacy and information technology. The goal was to decrease the incidence of hospital-onset MRSA BSI in the oncology wards by 10 infections in 2016 by implementing daily chlorohexidine (CHG) bathing and weekly nasal povidone-iodine antisepsis in July 2016. Methods: The strategically targeting oncology with povidone-iodine nasal antisepsis and bathing with CHG Staph reduction initiative (STOP-BSI) was a quality improvement project consisting of daily CHG baths for all oncology patients and nasal povidone-iodine on admission and weekly thereafter. Nurses and patient care technicians were trained on how to administer CHG treatments. Education was also provided to patients on how to use CHG bath wipes to self-administer the nasal antisepsis. Education resources were created to help answer concerns of the staff, patient, or family, and an escalation process was developed for treatment refusal. CHG bath audits were performed to measure compliance and to identify barriers to the process. Results: By the end of 2016, the number of infections decreased by 5 on the oncology units. The number of infections continued to decrease each year. The bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit decreased from 8 infections in 2015 to 3 in 2018. The hematology oncology unit infections decreased from 5 infections in 2015 to 0 in 2018. The medical oncology unit infections decreased from 2 infections in 2015 to 0 in 2018. The CLABSI rates per 1,000 line days trended downward after some time. Conclusions: Implementing daily CHG baths and weekly povidone-iodine nasal antisepsis reduced the number of MRSA BSI infections in the oncology population. The CLABSI rates decreased after barriers to the process were removed.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Successful Response to a Measles Exposure in a Pediatric Clinic Utilizing Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine Prophylaxis
Authors: Champsi Jamila , Leong Stephanie 
Published: November 2020

Background: To be effective, postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) must be administered promptly after measles exposure. MMR vaccine is recommended within 72 hours of exposure. Immunoglobulin (IG) is recommended for infants aged <6–12 months, susceptible individuals, and severely immunocompromised people within 6 days of exposure. MMR vaccine is readily available, less expensive, and more easily administered than IG, and it provides long-term immunity. However, due to delays in diagnosis of measles cases, it is often not possible to administer MMR PEP to contacts within 72 hours. We describe an unvaccinated infant with fever and rash after recent international travel who presented to a pediatric outpatient clinic. Measles was promptly suspected, and specimens were collected for measles polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) laboratory. PCR results confirming measles were obtained within 24 hours of the patient visit. Methods: A multidisciplinary team of medical, employee health, nursing, pharmacy and infection prevention staff was assembled. Electronic health records (EHRs) were used to identify exposed patients based on registration times, as well as to determine their MMR vaccination status and to identify any immunocompromising conditions. Exposed patients were notified either by e-mail or phone. Adult caretakers were interviewed to determine who accompanied the child to the clinic. Caretakers were questioned regarding their MMR vaccination status and the high risk to accompanying persons. The use of EHRs with data integration from other healthcare system helped validate and supplement vaccine statuses and medical histories of exposed family members. Results: In total, 128 persons were exposed; 31 staff (24%), 46 patients (36%) and 51 family members (40$). All 128 patients (100%) and family members were notified within 24 hours of case confirmation, and 44 of 128 (34%) required PEP. All staff had documentation of measles immune status. However, 1 of 31 staff (3%) needed PEP due to immunosuppression. MMR vaccine was given to 35 of 36 eligible persons (97%), except for 1 sibling who received IG due to delay in exposure identification. An additional 8 of 44 persons (18%) required IG due to age or immunosuppression. There were no secondary cases. Conclusions: MMR vaccine was used as primary PEP due to prompt suspicion for measles, early laboratory confirmation, and swift coordinated response using a multidisciplinary team. Leveraging EHRs helped rapidly identify exposed persons, validate measles immunity status and risk factors, order prophylaxis, and track outcomes.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Supporting Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) Surveillance in Resource-Limited Settings: Lessons Learned, 2015–2019
Authors: Westercamp Matthew , Malpiedi Paul , Vasquez Amber , Gomes Danica , Hazim Carmen , Park Benjamin J. , Smith Rachel 
Published: November 2020

Background: Since 2015, the CDC has supported the development and implementation of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance in resource-limited settings through technical support of case definitions and methods that are feasible with existing surveillance capacity and integration with clinical care to maximize sustainability and data use for action. Methods: Surveillance initiatives included facility-level implementation programs in Kenya, Sierra Leone, Thailand, and Georgia; larger national or regional network-level projects in India and Vietnam were also supported. For assessment and planning, surveillance capacities were grouped into 3 domains: staff, informatics, and diagnostic capacities. Based on these capacities, simplified case definitions surveillance methodologies were devised to balance resources and effort with the anticipated value and use of findings. Results: There was broad understanding of the importance of HAI surveillance; however, the required resources and other challenges (eg, training, staffing, quality of available data) were underappreciated. Staff capacities were often influenced by a lack of dedicated surveillance staff and limited experience in systematic data collection and analysis. Informatics capacities were generally limited by the lack of digital data management, nonstandardized clinical data collection and storage, and the inability to assign and maintain unique patient identifiers. We found that capacity for diagnostics, a critical component of traditional HAI surveillance systems, was limited by its availability, frequency of use, and inconsistent rationale in clinical care. We found that successful surveillance strategies were generally simple, matched existing capacities, and targeted specific HAI priorities identified by clinical teams. For example, in Kenya and Sierra Leone, participating facilities established, with minimal external support, simplified SSI surveillance among post–caesarean-delivery patients. These initiatives improved integration of surveillance with clinical care through encouraging participation of the clinical team in surveillance and planning. Furthermore, these models directly linked surveillance activities to improved patient care (eg, combined clinical checklists with surveillance data collection forms). Discussion: In resource-limited settings, the local cost and effort required to establish and sustain the necessary infrastructure for HAI surveillance can be substantial. Establishing actionable and sustainable HAI surveillance can be achieved through simplifying HAI surveillance to match existing capacities and can result in valuable surveillance programs, even in very resource-limited settings.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Surgical Site Infection Prevention: An Analysis of Compliance With Good Practice in Large Hospitals
Authors: Oliveira Adriana 
Published: November 2020

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is considered one of the most frequent adverse events globally. One of the strategies to mitigate its occurrence was proposed by the WHO in 2008 as part of the Safe Surgery Saves Lives program to reduce the rate of SSI by 25% by 2020. Objectives: To evaluate adherence to SSI prevention and control actions in large hospitals using a score. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 hospitals in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from February 2018 to April 2019. Data collection was performed through interviews with the coordinator of the hospital infection control service (HICS), situational diagnoses, and observation of a surgical procedures at the time of the visit. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The variables were described using descriptive statistics. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (COEP/UFMG) (CAAE: 30782614.3.00005149). A score was determined to identify the degree of compliance of institutions to SSI prevention practices. Results: In 93.3% of the HICSs, routines or protocols for the use of prophylactic antibiotic in surgery and compliance audits were mentioned, 69% reported hair removal with a clipper. SSI surveillance occurred in all institutions; however, only 63.3% disclosed SSI rates. In the situational observations, 60% of the professionals performed hand antisepsis within 3–5 minutes. Most frequently, hair removal was performed inside the operating room in 76.7% of the observed procedures and an electric clipper was used 56.7% of the time. In the surgery audit, prophylactic antimicrobial administration occurred between 30 and 60 minutes before surgical incision in only 63.3% of the observed procedures. The traffic in the operation room was limited to the necessary minimum in only 53.3% of observed procedures and unnecessary opening of the doors occurred in 76.7% of the observations. Patient temperature was not monitored in 70% of the audited procedures. Conclusions: According to the proposed score, 1 of the institutions (3.3%) complied with SSI prevention and control measures sufficiently; 25 complied partially (83.3%); and 4 (13.3%) demonstrated poor compliance.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Surveillance of ICU Patients for Candida auris in a Suburban Chicago Hospital System: Results of a Limited Trial
Authors: Lavin Mary Alice , Schora Donna , Fisher Adrienne , Kufner Bridget , Lim Rachel , Monsalud Cherie Faith , Shah Mona , Zelencik Shane , Singh Kamaljit 
Published: November 2020

Background:Candida auris prevalence in Illinois, particularly in the metropolitan Chicago area, is high. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends empiric contact precautions for patients with a tracheostomy or requiring mechanical ventilation from skilled nursing facilities (vSNFs) or long-term acute-care hospitals (LTACHs) who are admitted to an acute-care hospital. Cases of C. auris infection and colonization are reportable to the Illinois Extensively Drug Resistant Organism Registry (XDRO Registry). NorthShore University HealthSystem (NSUHS) actively screens adult intensive care unit (ICU) admissions from LTACHs and vSNFs for CA. Methods: NSUHS is a 4-hospital system located north of Chicago with 750 beds, 4 ICUs and ∼64,000 annual admissions. Beginning in April 2019, a composite axilla–groin swab was collected from all ICU LTACH or vSNF admissions. Composite swabs are cultured on Inhibitory Mold Agar. In July 2019, an ICU clinical case of C. auris was identified from a ventilated patient admitted from an outside hospital prompting the expansion of screening to include acute-care hospital transfers. To evaluate the value of screening criteria, a medical record review and retrospective query of the XDRO Registry was performed for all screened patients. Because cocolonization with carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) has been reported, CPO status was also queried. Results: Between April 1 and October 31, 2019, 70 patients were screened. Two screened patients did not meet the screening criteria (Fig. 1). No patients, with the exception of the clinical case, were found to be colonized with CA. The XDRO Registry query identified no patients with C. auris. Of the 70 patients, 9 (13%) had a CPO. Of those screened, 14 (20%) had a tracheostomy and/or mechanical ventilation (Table 1). Conclusions: Querying the XDRO registry at admission in combination with a medical record review appears adequate to identify patients admitted to a NSUHS ICU with C. auris and CPOs. Targeting patients admitted with a tracheostomy and/or mechanical ventilation may further reduce the number of screening cultures performed.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Use of Varying Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Thresholds to Identify Strong Epidemiologic Links Among Patients with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Authors: Zacharioudakis Ioannis , Ding Dan , Zervou Fainareti , Stachel Anna , Hochman Sarah , Sterling Stephanie , Lighter Jennifer , Aguero-Rosenfeld Maria , Shopsin Bo , Phillips Michael 
Published: November 2020

Background: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has a high discriminatory power in confirming outbreaks. Outbreak investigation models that categorize the possibility of an outbreak based on the degree of genetic relatedness of isolates are highly dependent on the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) threshold used. Methods: NYU Langone Medical center is a 725-bed academic center that has implemented WGS of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates since 2016. Patients admitted to a medical or intensive care unit were screened on admission and transfer. The first surveillance and clinical MRSA isolate during each hospitalization was sequenced. We conducted a retrospective analysis to identify strong epidemiologic links among patients involved in genetically related clusters. We used different SNP thresholds to define genetic relatedness to identify the optimal threshold that should prompt an outbreak investigation. We considered strong hospital epidemiologic links sharing the same room or unit or having resided in the same room or unit within 7 days. A pairwise analysis was conducted to compare the epidemiologic links among patients involved in genetically related clusters. Results: Among 1,070 isolates, our analysis focused on 777 belonging to USA100 and USA300 clones. For USA100 isolates, we identified 8, 14, and 20 clusters comprising of 16, 29, and 42 patients when the threshold for genetic relatedness was set at 20, 40, and 60 SNP differences, respectively. Patients identified in a cluster yielded a strong hospital epidemiologic link in 62.5%, 87.5%, and 91.7% of cases (Fig. 1). For USA300 isolates, SNP differences of 10, 20, and 30 were used, identifying 20, 34, and 40 clusters of 43, 79, and 127 patients. The expansion of the threshold from 10 to 30 resulted in a decrease of the percentage of pairwise analyses with a strong hospital epidemiologic link from 57.7% to 13.6% by increasing 13-fold the number of analyses that were conducted to identify only 3 times more cases with strong epidemiologic links (Fig. 2). Conclusions: The results of our study indicate that SNPs thresholds determined by intrapatient variability of MRSA isolates might need to be tailored to the individual setting to guide infection control interventions because optimal thresholds might vary depending on characteristics of the population, MRSA isolates, and screening practices. Establishing conservative thresholds might allow the identification and quantification over time of the locations (eg, rooms or units) where transmission is occurring as well as the investigation of the clusters without strong epidemiologic links that might be valuable in elucidating unrecognized routes of transmission.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None