bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characteristics Associated with Death in Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, United States, 2012–2017
Authors: Reses Hannah E. , Hatfield Kelly , Jacob Jesse , Bower Chris , Vaeth Elisabeth , Mounsey Jacquelyn , Muleta Daniel , Witwer Medora , Dumyati Ghinwa , Hancock Emily , Baggs James , Walters Maroya , Bulens Sandra 
Published: November 2020

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is an important cause of healthcare-associated infections with limited treatment options and high mortality. To describe risk factors for mortality, we evaluated characteristics associated with 30-day mortality in patients with CRAB identified through the Emerging Infections Program (EIP). Methods: From January 2012 through December 2017, 8 EIP sites (CO, GA, MD, MN, NM, NY, OR, TN) participated in active, laboratory-, and population-based surveillance for CRAB. An incident case was defined as patient’s first isolation in a 30-day period of A. baumannii complex from sterile sites or urine with resistance to ≥1 carbapenem (excluding ertapenem). Medical records were abstracted. Patients were matched to state vital records to assess mortality within 30 days of incident culture collection. We developed 2 multivariable logistic regression models (1 for sterile site cases and 1 for urine cases) to evaluate characteristics associated with 30-day mortality. Results: We identified 744 patients contributing 863 cases, of which 185 of 863 cases (21.4%) died within 30 days of culture, including 113 of 257 cases (44.0%) isolated from a sterile site and 72 of 606 cases (11.9%) isolated from urine. Among 628 hospitalized cases, death occurred in 159 cases (25.3%). Among hospitalized fatal cases, death occurred after hospital discharge in 27 of 57 urine cases (47.4%) and 21 of 102 cases from sterile sites (20.6%). Among sterile site cases, female sex, intensive care unit (ICU) stay after culture, location in a healthcare facility, including a long-term care facility (LTCF), 3 days before culture, and diagnosis of septic shock were associated with increased odds of death in the model (Fig. 1). In urine cases, age 40–54 or ≥75 years, ICU stay after culture, presence of an indwelling device other than a urinary catheter or central line (eg, endotracheal tube), location in a LTCF 3 days before culture, diagnosis of septic shock, and Charlson comorbidity score ≥3 were associated with increased odds of mortality (Fig. 2). Conclusion: Overall 30-day mortality was high among patients with CRAB, including patients with CRAB isolated from urine. A substantial fraction of mortality occurred after discharge, especially among patients with urine cases. Although there were some differences in characteristics associated with mortality in patients with CRAB isolated from sterile sites versus urine, LTCF exposure and severe illness were associated with mortality in both patient groups. CRAB was associated with major mortality in these patients with evidence of healthcare experience and complex illness. More work is needed to determine whether prevention of CRAB infections would improve outcomes.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Epidemiologic and Microbiologic Characteristics of 28 Hospitalized Patients Cocolonized With Multiple Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in the United States
Authors: Adediran Timileyin , Harris Anthony , Johnson J. Kristie , Calfee David , Miller Loren , Nguyen Minh-Hong , Goodman Katherine , Pineles Lisa 
Published: November 2020

Background: As carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) prevalence increases in the United States, the risk of cocolonization with multiple CRE may also be increasing, with unknown clinical and epidemiological significance. In this study, we aimed to describe the epidemiologic and microbiologic characteristics of inpatients cocolonized with multiple CRE. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a large, multicenter prospective cohort study evaluating risk factors for CRE transmission to healthcare personnel gown and gloves. Patients were identified between January 2016 and June 2019 from 4 states. Patients enrolled in the study had a clinical or surveillance culture positive for CRE within 7 days of enrollment. We collected and cultured samples from the following sites from each CRE-colonized patient: stool, perianal area, and skin. A modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) was used to detect the presence or absence of carbapenemase(s). EDTA-modified CIM (eCIM) was used to differentiate between serine and metal-dependent carbapenemases. Results: Of the 313 CRE-colonized patients enrolled in the study, 28 (8.9%) were cocolonized with at least 2 different CRE. Additionally, 3 patients were cocolonized with >2 different CRE (1.0%). Of the 28 patients, 19 (67.6%) were enrolled with positive clinical cultures. Table 1 summarizes the demographic and clinical characteristics of these patients. The most frequently used antibiotic prior to positive culture was vancomycin (n = 33, 18.3%). Among the 62 isolates from 59 samples from 28 patients cocolonized patients, the most common CRE species were Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 18, 29.0%), Escherichia coli (n = 10, 16.1%), and Enterobacter cloacae (n = 9, 14.5%). Of the 62 isolates, 38 (61.3%) were mCIM positive and 8 (12.9%) were eCIM positive. Of the 38 mCIM-positive isolates, 33 (86.8%) were KPC positive, 4 (10.5%) were NDM positive, and 1 (2.6%) was negative for both KPC and NDM. Also, 2 E. coli, 1 K. pneumoniae, and 1 E. cloacae were NDM-producing CRE. Conclusion: Cocolonization with multiple CRE occurs frequently in the acute-care setting. Characterizing patients with CRE cocolonization may be important to informing infection control practices and interventions to limit the spread of these organisms, but further study is needed.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Financial and Mortality Modeling as a Tool to Present Infection Prevention Data: What a SIR of 1.2 Means for the Hospital
Authors: Mony Vidya , Hultquist Kevin , Narasimhan Supriya 
Published: November 2020

Background: Presenting to hospital leadership is an annual requirement of many infection prevention (IP) programs. Most presentations include current statistical data of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and whether the hospital has met its goals according to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) criteria. We presented HAI data in a novel way, with financial and mortality modeling, to show the impact of IP interventions to leadership not attuned to NHSN metrics. Method: We looked at 4 HAIs, their trends, and their effect on our hospital, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC). To estimate the impact of specific HAIs, we used 2 metrics derived from a meta-analysis by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): excess mortality and excess cost. Excess mortality is defined as the difference between the underlying population mortality and the affected population mortality expressed as deaths per 1,000 population. Excess cost is defined as the additional cost introduced per patient with a specific HAI versus a similarly admitted patient without that HAI. HHS data were multiplied by the number of HAI events at SCVMC to generate estimates. Result: In our presentation, we elucidated a previously unseen cost savings and decreased mortality with 2 HAIs, central-line–associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) and catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), which were below NHSN targets due to IP-led interventions. We then showed 2 other HAIs, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and surgical site infections (SSIs), which did not meet our expected NHSN and institutional goals and were estimated to increase costs and potential mortalities in the upcoming year. We argued that proactive monies directed toward expanding our IP program and HAI mitigation efforts would cost a fraction of the impending healthcare expenditures as predicted by the model. Conclusion: By applying financial and mortality modeling, we helped our leadership perceive the concrete effect of IP-led interventions versus presenting abstract NHSN metrics. We also emphasized that without proactive leadership investment, we would continue to overspend healthcare dollars while not meeting our goals. This format of presentation gave us critical leverage to advocate for and successfully expand our IP department. Further SHEA-led cost-analysis modeling and education are needed to help IP departments promote their efforts in an effective manner.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Public Health Oversight of Interfacility Transfers During a Candida auris Outbreak—Orange County, California, 2019
Authors: O'Donnell Kathleen , Karmarkar Ellora , Jackson Brendan R , Epson Erin , Zahn Matthew 
Published: November 2020

Background: In February 2019, the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) identified an outbreak of Candida auris, an emerging fungus that spreads rapidly in healthcare facilities. Patients in long-term acute-care hospitals (LTACHs) and skilled nursing facilities that provide ventilator care (vSNFs) are at highest risk for C. auris colonization. With assistance from the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, OCHCA instituted enhanced surveillance, communication, and screening processes for patients colonized with or exposed to C. auris. Method: OCHCA implemented enhanced surveillance by conducting point-prevalence surveys (PPSs) at all 3 LTACHs and all 14 vSNFs in the county. Colonized patients were identified through axilla/groin skin swabbing with C. auris detected by PCR and/or culture. In facilities where >1 C. auris colonized patient was found, PPSs were repeated every 2 weeks to identify ongoing transmission. Retrospective case finding was instituted at 2 LTACHs with a high burden of colonized patients; OCHCA contacted patients discharged after January 1, 2019, and offered C. auris screening. OCHCA tracked the admission or discharge of all colonized patients, and facilities with ongoing transmission were required to report transfers of any patient, regardless of colonization status. OCHCA tracked all patients discharged from facilities with ongoing transmission to ensure that accepting facilities conducted admission surveillance testing of exposed patients and implemented appropriate environmental and contact precautions. Result: From February–October 2019, 192 colonized patients were identified. All 3 LTACHs and 6 of 14 VSNFs had at least 1 C. auris–colonized patient identified on initial PPS, and 2 facilities had ongoing transmission identified on serial PPS. OCHCA followed 96 colonized patients transferred a total of 230 times (an average of 2.4 transfers per patient) (Fig. 1) and 677 exposed patients discharged from facilities with ongoing transmission (Fig. 2). Admission screening of 252 exposed patients on transfer identified 13 (5.2%) C. auris–colonized patients. As of November 1, 2019, these 13 patients were admitted 21 times to a total of 6 acute-care hospitals, 2 LTACHs, and 3 vSNFs. Transferring facilities did not consistently communicate the colonized patient’s status and the requirements for isolation and testing of exposed patients. Conclusion: OCHCA oversight of interfacility transfer, though labor-intensive, improved identification of patients colonized with C. auris and implementation of appropriate environmental and contact precautions, reducing the risk of transmission in receiving healthcare facilities.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection can be predicted using inflammatory mediator and toxin activity levels
Authors: Motyka Jonathan , Penkevich Aline , Young Vincent , Rao Krishna 
Published: November 2020

Background:Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) frequently recurs after initial treatment. Predicting recurrent CDI (rCDI) early in the disease course can assist clinicians in their decision making and improve outcomes. However, predictions based on clinical criteria alone are not accurate and/or do not validate other results. Here, we tested the hypothesis that circulating and stool-derived inflammatory mediators predict rCDI. Methods: Consecutive subjects with available specimens at diagnosis were included if they tested positive for toxigenic C. difficile (+enzyme immunoassay [EIA] for glutamate dehydrogenase and toxins A/B, with reflex to PCR for the tcdB gene for discordants). Stool was thawed on ice, diluted 1:1 in PBS with protease inhibitor, centrifuged, and used immediately. A 17-plex panel of inflammatory mediators was run on a Luminex 200 machine using a custom antibody-linked bead array. Prior to analysis, all measurements were normalized and log-transformed. Stool toxin activity levels were quantified using a custom cell-culture assay. Recurrence was defined as a second episode of CDI within 100 days. Ordination characterized variation in the panel between outcomes, tested with a permutational, multivariate ANOVA. Machine learning via elastic net regression with 100 iterations of 5-fold cross validation selected the optimal model and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AuROC) was computed. Sensitivity analyses excluding those that died and/or lived >100 km away were performed. Results: We included 186 subjects, with 95 women (51.1%) and average age of 55.9 years (±20). More patients were diagnosed by PCR than toxin EIA (170 vs 55, respectively). Death, rCDI, and no rCDI occurred in 32 (17.2%), 36 (19.4%), and 118 (63.4%) subjects, respectively. Ordination revealed that the serum panel was associated with rCDI (P = .007) but the stool panel was not. Serum procalcitonin, IL-8, IL-6, CCL5, and EGF were associated with recurrence. The machine-learning models using the serum panel predicted rCDI with AuROCs between 0.74 and 0.8 (Fig. 1). No stool inflammatory mediators independently predicted rCDI. However, stool IL-8 interacted with toxin activity to predict rCDI (Fig. 2). These results did not change significantly upon sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: A panel of serum inflammatory mediators predicted rCDI with up to 80% accuracy, but the stool panel alone was less successful. Incorporating toxin activity levels alongside inflammatory mediator measurements is a novel, promising approach to studying stool-derived biomarkers of rCDI. This approach revealed that stool IL-8 is a potential biomarker for rCDI. These results need to be confirmed both with a larger dataset and after adjustment for clinical covariates.Funding: NoneDisclosure: Vincent Young is a consultant for Bio-K+ International, Pantheryx, and Vedanta Biosciences.
The Incidence, Characteristics, and Outcomes of Community and Hospital-Associated S. aureus Disease in Fulton County, Georgia
Authors: Webster Andrew , Fridkin Scott , Ray Susan 
Published: November 2020

Background: Due to reliance on hospital discharge data for case identification, the burden of noninvasive and community-acquired S. aureus disease is often underestimated. To determine the full burden of S. aureus infections, we utilized population-based surveillance in a large urban county. Methods: The Georgia Emerging Infections Program (GA EIP) conducted CDC-funded, population-based surveillance by finding cases of S. aureus infections in 8 counties around Atlanta in 2017. Cases were residents with S. aureus isolated from either a normally sterile site in a 30-day period (invasive cases) or another site in a 14-day period (noninvasive cases). Medical records (all invasive and 1:4 sample of noninvasive cases) among Fulton County residents were abstracted for clinical, treatment, and outcome data. Cases treated were mapped to standard therapeutic site codes. Noninvasive specimens were reviewed and attributed to an invasive case if both occurred within 2 weeks. Incidence rates were calculated using 2017 census population and using a weight-adjusted cohort to account for sampling. Results: In total, 1,186 noninvasive (1:4 sample) and 529 invasive cases of S. aureus in Fulton county were reviewed. Only 35 of 1,186 (2.9%) noninvasive cases were temporally linked to invasive cases, resulting in 5,133 cases after extrapolation (529 invasive, 4,604 noninvasive). All invasive cases and 3,776 of 4,604 noninvasive cases (82%) were treated (4,305 total). Treatment was highest in skin (90%) and abscess (97%), lowest in urine (62%) and sputum (60%), and consisted of antibacterial agents alone (65%) or in addition to drainage procedures (35%). Overall, 41% of all cases were hospitalized, 12% required ICU admission, and 2.7% died, almost exclusively with bloodstream and pulmonary infections. Attribution of noninvasive infection was most often outside healthcare settings (87%); only 341 (7.9%) were hospital-onset cases; however, 34% of cases had had healthcare exposure in the preceding year, most often inpatient hospitalization (75%) or recent surgery (35%). Estimated countywide incidence was 414 per 100,000 (130 for MRSA and 284 for MSSA), invasive infection was 50 per 100,000. Among treated cases, 57% were SSTI, and the proportion of cases caused by MRSA was ~33% but varied slightly by therapeutic site (Fig. 1). Conclusions: The incidence of treated S. aureus infection in our large urban county is estimated to be 414 per 100,000 persons, which exceeds previously estimated rates based on hospital discharge data. Only 12% of treated infections were invasive, and <1 in 10 were hospital onset. Also, two-thirds of treated disease cases were MSSA; most were SSTIs.Funding: Proprietary Organization: Pfizer.Disclosures: Scott Fridkin, consulting fee - vaccine industry (spouse).
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies: An Underrecognized Infection Control Issue
Authors: Kaul Christina , Khameraj Aradhana , Malhotra Prashant , Farber Bruce 
Published: November 2020

Background: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies comprise a class of rapidly progressive and inevitably fatal degenerative brain disorders. The pathogenesis of these diseases is thought to be due to a change in the structure of the normal prion protein to an abnormal structure, leading to propagation of the abnormal protein. This abnormal protein is highly transmissible; thus, appropriate infection control measures should be put in place if the diagnosis is suspected. However, the diagnosis is often not considered at all, and many hospitals do not have protocols in place. Our hospital missed a case of familial fatal insomnia in a 45-year-old male. He was diagnosed with fatal familial insomnia by autopsy. The autopsy was performed without appropriate infection control measures, leading to costly contamination of medical instruments and exposure of multiple staff. This occurrence led our institution to re-evaluate hospital protocols and guidelines regarding workup and management of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Methods: We reviewed cases of TSEs or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)-like illness presenting to our hospital over a 30-month period. Patients were considered for inclusion based on clinical suspicion. CDC diagnostic criteria were used. Infection control measures were employed, including an alert in the EMR. MRI was then performed. If clinical or diagnostic suspicion was high, the patient underwent lumbar puncture. CSF results were reviewed based on criteria Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation criteria. Infection control measures were maintained throughout hospitalization. Results: In total, 34 patients met the inclusion criteria: 8 patients had confirmed CJD and 25 were negative. Medical records were not available for 1 patient, who was excluded. Lumbar puncture was performed on all suspected cases. Of those confirmed cases, the 7 patients who underwent lumber puncture had a positive result for 14-3-3 protein. Also, 5 patients underwent RT-QuIC testing and were found to have a positive result. No further cases of contamination occurred using our protocol. Additionally, 1 patient with suspected CJD underwent a brain biopsy with appropriate precautions after an inconclusive lumbar puncture. Although biospy was negative, the case exemplifies how the initiation of a protocol can optimize the workflow and prevent potentially dangerous exposure. Conclusion: Diagnosis of TSEs remains difficult and is often missed. In our case, lack of suspicion for TSE led to a waste of resources and unnecessary exposure of staff member. It is of utmost importance to consider TSEs in rapidly progressive dementia and to employ appropriate sterile guidelines to prevent contamination of equipment and potential subsequent transmission. Healthcare providers should consider a similar protocol in cases suspicious for TSEs.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None
Low Carriage Rates of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Prospective Stool Donors in a Large Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) Stool Bank
Authors: Zaman Amanda , Qazi Taha , Pai Pooja , Peters Tricia , Nicolaysen Susie 
Published: November 2020

Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as standard of care for Clostridioides difficile not responsive to antibiotic therapy. Rigorous screening of healthy donors is critical to patient safety. As part of routine donor evaluation for FMT, multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) screening is performed to assess the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing organisms (ESBLs), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Carriage rates of these organisms in a healthy, low-risk population are largely unknown. We report MDRO carriage rates among individuals screened for a stool donation program at a large-scale FMT stool bank. Methods: Individuals were screened at a nonprofit stool bank (OpenBiome, Cambridge, MA). Potential donors underwent in-person clinical assessment, including MDRO risk factors (eg, travel, occupation, healthcare exposure). If they met the clinical assessment criteria, laboratory testing, including MDROs, was performed. Once enrolled in the donor program, donors underwent repeated clinical and laboratory screening at 60-day intervals, with intermittent health checks throughout the donation period. Stool samples provided at 60-day intervals were screened for MDROs (ie, ESBL, CRE, VRE), and nasal swabs for MRSA were tested using culture-based methods. All stool samples tested for MDROs from prospective and enrolled donors were included. Results: Between February 2017 and July 2019, 247 individuals were screened for MDROs. Overall, 11 samples (0.04%) tested positive for ESBL, MRSA, or VRE. No CRE carriers were identified. Also, 2 individuals tested positive twice for ESBL, resulting in 13 of 1,688 (0.77%) positive screens. International travel in the previous 12 months was reported by 6 of 11 MDRO carriers. Occupations typically associated with MDROs were not observed in carriers. Most of the MDRO-positive donors were students; however, students make up the majority of the stool donor cohort. Conclusions: This study is the first to report background MDRO carriage rates in a population of otherwise healthy FMT stool donors. Although rare, MDROs were detected and should be part of standard guidelines for FMT donor screening. Most subjects testing positive for MDROs had defined risk factors associated with MDRO carriage, including international travel or exposure to healthcare environments. However, occupational exposure was not a factor associated with carriage in this study. Standardized donor screening guidelines for FMT are urgently needed to ensure that MDROs and risk factors for MDRO carriage are routinely screened for by all FMT providers. Stool banks present a unique public health opportunity to evaluate the background carriage rate of MDROs in healthy populations.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None