bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling Transmission of Human Metapneumovirus in a Long-Term Care Facility
Authors: Washington Erica , Terry Ashley , Hand Julie , Ramirez Alexa 
Published: November 2020

Background: In September 2019, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) was notified of a possible outbreak of influenza in a nursing home. Upon investigation, the infectious agent was determined to be human metapneumovirus (HMPV). By the conclusion of the outbreak, 35 (31.3%) symptomatic cases were identified of which 15 were laboratory-confirmed HMPV. Public health coordination, infection control interventions, environmental cleaning audits, halting new admissions, and ceasing group activities are credited with stopping transmission. Considering the high attack rate, LDH epidemiologists examined scenarios wherein the aforementioned interventions were not utilized. The aim of this analysis is to describe transmission of HMPV in a 112-bed nursing home using mathematical models under conditions wherein interventions were not readily implemented. Methods: Two deterministic and 1 stochastic susceptible–preinfectious–infectious–recovered (SEIR) models are presented. Although recovered persons can be susceptible to HMPV following an infection experience, the potential for reinfection was not considered for this analysis. Fixed variables considered include a 5-day incubation period, basic reproduction number of 2, 14-day infectious period, and 112 susceptible patients. Three counterfactual modeling conditions are considered: delaying notification of an outbreak to public health epidemiologists (model 1), staff hand hygiene compliance of 50% (model 2), and continuing to accept new admissions (model 3). Average rate of recovery per day was and other metrics are used to demonstrate the number of susceptible individuals. Excel workbooks developed by Vynnycky and White (2010) were used for analysis. Results: In model 1, the average rate of onset of infectiousness per day = 0.20, and the average recovery rate per day = 0.07. With no notification to public health epidemiologists, all 112 patients would have been infected with HMPV after 94 days. The reproductive number was doubled to 4 in model 2 to posit poor healthcare worker hand hygiene of 50% compliance. Given this, the number of days until all patients are infected with HMPV decreases to 39 days. Finally, the stochastic scenario (model 3) demonstrates that the number of newly infected persons per day = 0.86, and the hazard rate for infectious individuals becoming immune = 0.07. Conclusions: Infection control interventions are extremely useful for containing viral respiratory diseases for which there is no vaccine or treatment. Mathematical models can communicate utility of public health interventions in the presence of outbreaks. These models demonstrate worst-case scenarios for infection spread.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Molecular Epidemiology of Bordetella pertussis Strains Isolated in Vietnam During 2015–2017
Authors: Nguyen Anh H. V. , Pham Hoan T. , Nghia Cao Huu 
Published: November 2020

Background: Whooping cough is a serious respiratory illness in infants caused by Bordetella pertussis. In spite of the vaccination program, the incidence rates of whooping cough per 100,000 population in Vietnam increased from 0.33 in 2015 to 0.58 in 2017. If this represents a pertussis resurgence, contributors may include pathogen adaptation, the spread of specific variants, vaccine failure, and failure to effectively treat cases and contacts. There has been little research in Vietnam on B. pertussis strains. Therefore, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of circulating B. pertussis strains in Southern Vietnam by applying multilocus sequence typing (MLST) for 7 housekeeping genes and 4 antigenic determinant genes as components in the acellular vaccine including prn, ptxP, ptxS1, and fim3. Methods: DNA was extracted from 15 isolates collected from 263 case patients during 2015–2017 and was subject to MLST using primers and cycling conditions from the Bordetella pubMLST website (www.Pubmlst.org/Bordetella/). The products were analyzed using BioEdit version 7.2.5 software and then were aligned and compared to reference sequences of each genotype in the database. The evolutionary relationship among sequence types (STs) from housekeeping genes was performed as a minimum spanning tree via the goeBURST algorithm, whereas the correlation of different variants from 4 antigenic determinant genes was built up and clarified with phylogenetic trees based on the UPGMA method by MEGA 7 program. Results: The 15 isolates were all classified as ST2 (100%) by MLST of housekeeping genes, and they belonged to a common global clonal group (Fig. 1). Sequencing of antigenic determinant genes prn2 – ptxP3 – ptxS1-1 – fim3-1 determined that all were identical to each another and the reference sequences (Fig. 2). Conclusions:B. pertussis isolates circulating in Southern Vietnam appeared to be the same as the common global strain. Few isolates were available for testing; therefore, continued surveillance is important to confirm these findings and to monitor population changes over time.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Admission Screening in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): Algorithm for Hospital Transfers
Authors: Shah Mona , Singh Kamaljit , Edwardson Tina , Lavin Mary Alice 
Published: November 2020

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent source of infection in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Due to the serious consequences associated with MRSA infections in neonates, much effort has been made to prevent and control epidemics in NICUs. Since 2006, our hospital has performed MRSA nasal surveillance screening of all newborns in the NICU in accordance with the recommendations of the Chicago-Area Neonatal MRSA Working Group. In 2017, a MRSA infection was identified in a newborn shortly after transfer from an outside hospital and who had an initial negative MRSA admission screen. As a result, we modified the admission screening process for all transfers from outside NICUs. Methods: The Evanston Hospital Infant Special Care Unit is a level 3 NICU in the northern suburbs of Chicago with 44 NICU beds and 450 admissions per year. Effective July 1, 2017, all NICU transfers have a nasal MRSA screen performed upon admission and after 48 hours. The transferred baby is placed on contact isolation until both screening results return negative. Nasal MRSA testing is performed using both PCR on the BD MAX MRSA Assay platform and is confirmed by culture using MRSA CHROMagar TM. Results: Between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2019, 112 neonates were transferred from outside NICUs. Moreover, 105 (94%) had at least 1 MRSA screen completed and 99 (88%) had both MRSA screens completed. Of 99 with 2 screens, only 1 neonate had an initial positive nasal MRSA screen. Of the remaining 98 negative babies, none had a repeat positive nasal MRSA screen within 48 hours of admission. of 99 neonates with 2 serial admission MRSA screens, 82 (83%) were transferred within 48 hours of birth. In addition, 17 neonates were transferred >48 hours after birth, including the 1 MRSA-positive baby. Conclusions: In an attempt to identify all potential MRSA-positive neonates transferred to our NICU, we instituted a policy of 2 admission nares swabs. However, our data suggest that a single initial MRSA swab may be sufficient. If continued collection of a second screen is performed, it may be sufficient to screen babies who have been hospitalized for at least 48 hours prior to transfer, which eliminates 83% of admission testing and results in a cost savings.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Multi-Facility Reduction in Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) Through Real-Time Feedback and Individual Accountability
Authors: Hermann Christopher , Watters Metta , Sharrer Rebecca , Ennis Randy 
Published: November 2020

Background: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are a leading cause of healthcare morbidity and cost for the health community. It is widely recognized that hand hygiene is the leading contributor infections, but hand hygiene still remains a major problem for nearly all healthcare systems. A longitudinal study was conducted over a 4-year period in a community-based health system. Methods: An electronic hand hygiene reminder system was installed in 2 different facilities including both critical care and noncritical units. This system collects data on individual healthcare provider hand hygiene and provides a real-time voice reminder in the event that a provider forgets to perform hand hygiene. The primary study was designed to investigate the impact of a real-time voice reminder to improve hand hygiene. A baseline period of hand hygiene was established prior to the interventions after installing the system without any access to data reporting or the voice reminder. Each of the hospitals had the voice reminder turned on and off 3 times. The baseline HAI rates were established by comparing in each facility for the 12 months prior to the implementation of the system. During the study period, there were no significant changes to other common infection control practices. Results: In both facilities, every time the voices were turned on, hand hygiene improved significantly and each clinical unit saw a >200% improvement in hand hygiene within 3 months of turning the voice reminder. HAIs fell by a statistically significant in all clinical areas by 51%. After a period of stabilization, the voice reminder was turned off hand hygiene compliance fell and HAI rates then increased. The voice reminder was then turned back on and off 2 more times. In every case, hand hygiene rates fell back to the baseline and HAIs returned to their baseline. When the voice reminder was then turned back on, HAIs dropped to 54%–81% of the baseline in each of the clinical units. The system also captured individual providers’ hand hygiene performance data and displayed it in a simple and engaging way, allowing managers easily understand who was struggling with hand hygiene. These data were then leveraged through a series of competitions to systematically drive hand hygiene performance improvement. These included traditional interventions to address an education issue in addition to interventions to identify workflow problems. Conclusions: Using this highly targeted approach, the leadership were able to efficiently drive sustained hand hygiene improvement and a further reduction in HAIs.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Multidisciplinary Response to Nosocomial Influenza
Authors: Donelan Susan , Singh Francina , Spitzer Eric , Sands Mark 
Published: November 2020

Background: Nosocomial influenza infections can be caused by direct patient-to-patient transmission, as well as bidirectionally between patient and healthcare workers (HCWs). Lapses in infection control practices (droplet precautions), and HCWs who come to work despite influenza-like illness (ILI, ie, “presenteeism”) can potentiate transmission. Cocirculation of >1 strain of influenza may complicate efforts to track infections. We describe a multidisciplinary response that helped control a late winter nosocomial influenza outbreak at a time when both influenza A/H3 and A/H1(2009) were prevalent in the community. Methods: Infection control practitioners detected a potential cluster of influenza A/H3 cases on an adult general medicine unit during the middle of March. The patients were spread out in nonadjacent rooms in a 30-bed unit, which suggested a possible common shared source. Further investigation revealed other potential clusters. Hospital incident command (HIC) was deployed to assess and respond to the outbreak; the incident commander was the chief medical officer (CMO) and the hospital epidemiologist was the subject matter expert. Other HIC roles were manned by nursing leadership, hospital administration, employee health, and the clinical laboratory. The group met at least daily (teleconference on weekends) until the extent of the outbreak was known and no new cases were identified. Results: A multipronged approach was used to control the outbreak. HCWs who reported to work with ILI symptoms were referred to employee health, tested with a PCR-based influenza screening panel, and sent home. Inpatients with ILI symptoms were tested with a comprehensive respiratory virus panel that could distinguish influenza A/H1(2009) from A/H3. Inpatients who were newly positive for influenza were evaluated to determine whether they were epidemiologically linked to an existing cluster, represented a new case of nosocomial acquisition, or were presumed to be community-acquired. The outbreak involved separate clusters caused by A/H3 and A/H1(2009) that affected 40 patients on 9 clinical units. Conclusions: A key component of the response was implementation of a local “mask rule”: all physicians, nurses, other employees, students, and visitors were required to wear surgical masks on affected floors regardless of their vaccination status. In addition, the hospital IT team developed a dynamic spreadsheet that listed information about all nosocomial cases (location, date of onset, etc), as well as ILI call-ins for HCWs. A password-protected version was posted on the hospital intranet and facilitated cohorting of infected patients. Additionally, it allowed timely discontinuation of the local mask rule on specific units, once 2 incubation periods concluded without new cases.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
National Trends of Prevalence of Fluroquinolone Resistance Among Healthcare-Associated Escherichia coli Infections
Authors: Soe Minn , Lastinger Lindsey , Dudeck Margaret , Edwards Jonathan 
Published: November 2020

Background:Escherichia coli is the third most common pathogen responsible for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), but it is increasingly resistant to multiple antibiotics. Antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) results for fluoroquinolones (FQs) among E. coli implicated in select HAIs are reported to the NHSN surveillance system. Trend analyses in the prevalence of FQ resistance among healthcare-associated E. coli infections reported to NHSN have not been previously assessed. Objective: We investigated the national trends of prevalence of FQ resistance among E. coli HAIs in acute-care hospitals from 2009 through 2018. Method: We analyzed E. coli AST data from central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), and surgical site infections (SSIs) reported to the NHSN between 2009 and 2018. Fluoroquinolone resistance is defined as the number of E. coli isolates that tested resistant or intermediate to at least 1 of 3 quinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin), divided by number of pathogens tested for susceptibility, multiplied by 100. To evaluate the trends of fluoroquinolone resistance over time, we conducted an interrupted time-series analysis using a generalized linear mixed model with a logistic function. Substantial HAI definitional changes, most consequentially CAUTI in 2015 and a directional incidence change in 2018, were treated as interruptions to the outcome. Regression models adjusted for patient-level (ie, age, gender, HAI type) and facility-level characteristics (ie, facility type, teaching status, number of beds in intensive care units, and average length of stay) were obtained from the NHSN annual hospital surveys. Random-intercept and slope models were evaluated with covariance tests and were included to account for differential baseline fluoroquinolone resistance and trends among reporting facilities. Data were analyzed using SAS with statistical significance defined at alpha = 0.05. Results: During 2009–2018, the number of E. coli isolates with AST results for FQ reported to NHSN (Fig. 1) increased. After adjusting for covariates, fluoroquinolone resistance significantly increased from 2009 through 2015 at an average of 4.2% per year (Fig. 2, β1). There was no significant change in fluoroquinolone resistance from 2015 through 2017 (Fig. 2, β1+ β3). In 2018, there was 6.4% decline in fluoroquinolone resistance compared to 2017 (Fig. 2, β4) Conclusions: An increasing trend of fluoroquinolone resistance from 2009 through 2015 was observed, and fluoroquinolone resistance was stable during 2015–2017. Despite a relatively brief decline in fluoroquinolone resistance in 2018, the absolute change was small (~2%). Sustaining this decline warrants continued efforts in infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Nationwide Survey of Antimicrobial Dispensation and Training in Pharmacies and Nonpharmacy Stores in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Lora Alfredo J Mena , Fermin Rita Rojas , Bisono Bismarck , Flores Talia , Jimenez Mariel , Almonte Marcos , Rodriguez Julia , Bleasdale Susan 
Published: November 2020

Background: Antimicrobial use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can play a major role in the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In many LMICs, antimicrobials can be dispensed without prescriptions; they often available in pharmacies and nonpharmacy stores alike. We conducted a nationwide survey to describe the availability and antimicrobial dispensation practices in pharmacies and nonpharmacy stores in the Dominican Republic. Methods: A survey was administered to staff responsible for dispensing antimicrobials at pharmacies and nonpharmacy stores in the Dominican Republic. Stores were randomly selected from March through November 2019 in 7 cities representing all geographic regions of the Dominican Republic. Data on availability of antimicrobials and staff education on antimicrobial use were obtained. Case scenarios with commons symptoms were used to survey staff on antimicrobial use recommendations. Symptoms included dysuria, throat pain, diarrhea, fever, and cough. The availability of antimicrobials ordering by phone and via online delivery was assessed for each store. Results: Staff from 125 stores were invited to participate; 34 pharmacies and 48 nonpharmacy stores participated and 43 refused to participate. Overall, 200 antimicrobial use recommendations were given in pharmacies and 43 in nonpharmacy stores. The most common type of antimicrobial use recommendations were aminopenicillins (Fig. 1). Staff received prior training or education on antimicrobials in 61% of pharmacies and 0% of nonpharmacy stores. Antimicrobial recommendations by case scenario in pharmacies and nonpharmacy stores are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Antimicrobials are available for phone order in 80% of pharmacies and 90% of nonpharmacy stores. No antimicrobials were available via online delivery apps. Conclusions: Antimicrobials are widely available in the Dominican Republic and can be obtained without a prescription, in person or via delivery. Staff at pharmacy stores recommended different antimicrobials by symptom, whereas staff at nonpharmacy stores commonly recommended aminopenicillins for all symptoms. Training or education on antimicrobial use was common for staff at pharmacy stores but nonexistent for staff at nonpharmacy stores. In LMICs with easy access to antimicrobials, frontline staff in pharmacies and nonpharmacy stores are gatekeepers for antimicrobial use and may represent an important target for outpatient antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Due to Multiple Brands of Contaminated Aqueous Chlorhexidine in Hong Kong
Authors: WONG Shuk-Ching , CHENG Vincent Chi-Chung 
Published: November 2020

Background: Contaminated chlorhexidine produced by a single company has been implicated in the outbreak or pseudo-outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC). However, simultaneous occurrence of multiple brands of contaminated chlorhexidine supplied by different manufacturers resulting in a persistent outbreak for >1 year has not been well described. Objective: We report an outbreak of BCC with epidemiological investigation and using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of patient and environmental isolates in Hong Kong. Methods: Upon the investigation of a cohort of renal patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis colonized or infected with BCC in their exit sites, different brands of 0.05% aqueous chlorhexidine (aqCHX) used for exit site dressing, supplied from hospital or purchased from community pharmacies by patients, were cultured. A risk factor analysis for exit-site acquisition of BCC was performed. A site visit to a local manufacturer was conducted to investigate the process of production and to collect environmental samples for culture, which were further analyzed by WGS along with the BCC isolates cultured from patients and aqCHX purchased from community pharmacies. Results: Four patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis had cultures positive for BCC in the exit site swab in September 2019. A snapshot screening revealed 88 (32.0%) of 275 renal dialysis patients colonized with BCC. Of these patients, 47 (17.1%) were newly diagnosed and 41 (14.9%) were known to be colonized or infected with BCC according to retrospective data retrieval from January 1, 2018. A significantly greater proportion of patients with newly diagnosed BCC (cases) had used contaminated aqCHX for exit-site dressing than those with culture negative for BCC (controls): 38 of 47 (80.9%) versus 54 of 187 (28.9%) (P < .001). Of 161 aqCHX samples, 10 brands from 4 manufacturers (purchased from community pharmacies), 125 (77.6%) were culture positive for BCC, whereas all 77 aqCHX samples supplied by the hospital, which are different brands and are produced by different manufacturers, were proven to be sterile. Of the 28 environmental samples taken from a local manufacturer during the site visit, 19 samples (67.9%, 3 collected from the instrument for production of aqCHX and all 16 newly produced aqCHX samples) were culture positive for BCC. WGS revealed 3 major clusters characterized by B. cenocepacia genomovar IIIA ST1547 and 2 novel MLST clusters from 52 patients and 26 environmental isolates selected. Conclusions: This outbreak was terminated by product recall, and the government has decided to take regulatory actions to ensure the sterility of antiseptics, including aqCHX.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None