CORHA News

Gram-Negative Bacteria Harboring Multiple Carbapenemase Genes, United States, 2012–2019 (CDC)

Reports of organisms harboring multiple carbapenemase genes have increased since 2010. During October 2012–April 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documented 151 of these isolates from 100 patients in the United States. Possible risk factors included recent history of international travel, international inpatient healthcare, and solid organ or bone marrow transplantation.

November 23, 2021 Read More

Infection Prevention Practices, Frontline Education Led to Decrease in C difficile Infections (AJMC)

A multifaceted approach focused on enforcing basic infection prevention practices and promoting education about Clostridioides difficile (C difficile) transmission led to a reduction in the number of infections in a hospital setting.

November 22, 2021 Read More

Case-control study evaluating risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 outbreak amongst healthcare personnel at a tertiary care center (American Journal of Infection Control)

This study highlights the risk of nosocomial infection of SARS-CoV-2 from patients who become infectious midway into their hospitalization. The findings also reinforce the importance of patient contact time and aerosol-generating procedures as key risk factors for HCP infection with SARS-CoV-2.

November 19, 2021 Read More

Infection control in the intensive care unit: expert consensus statements for SARS-CoV-2 using a Delphi method (The Lancet)

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, health-care workers and uninfected patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are at risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 as a result of transmission from infected patients and health-care workers. In the absence of high-quality evidence on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, clinical practice of infection control and prevention in ICUs varies widely. Using a Delphi process, international experts in intensive care, infectious diseases, and infection control developed consensus statements on infection control for SARS-CoV-2 in an ICU.

November 10, 2021 Read More

Current Insights Into Respiratory Virus Transmission and Potential Implications for Infection Control Programs (Annals of Internal Medicine)

Hospitals should use insights to revise "outdated" infection prevention and control policies. Current infection control measures are based on a "false simplification" of respiratory virus transmission. An understanding of other factors, such as duration of exposure and ventilation, will allow leaders to make more informed decisions about infection control measures within their systems.

November 9, 2021 Read More

The Impact of CMS SEP-1 Core Measure Implementation on Antibacterial Utilization: a retrospective multicenter longitudinal cohort study with interrupted time-series analysis (Oxford Academic)

Announcement and implementation of the CMS SEP-1 process measure was associated with increased diagnosis of sepsis and antibacterial utilization and decreased mortality among hospitalized patients.

November 5, 2021 Read More

Investigation of Bacterial Infections Among Patients Treated With Umbilical Cord Blood–Derived Products Marketed as Stem Cell Therapies (JAMA Network)

This outbreak report described how 20 patients in 8 states developed bacterial infections after receiving unapproved products marketed as treatment for conditions including chronic pain and degenerative joint conditions. Despite warnings from FDA, these products are increasingly being marketed and can expose patients to serious risks without clear benefit, including the possibility of product contamination and risks for serious infections.

November 2, 2021 Read More

FDA highlights concerns with compounding of drug products by medical offices and clinics under insanitary conditions (U.S. Food & Drug Administration)

This recent safety communication from FDA highlights recent healthcare outbreak activity. FDA has become increasingly aware of drug products compounded at medical offices and clinics that were prepared under insanitary conditions. FDA has also become aware of business models, such as intravenous (IV) hydration clinics, medical spas, and mobile IV infusion services, that are compounding drugs that may not meet the conditions of section 503A of the FD&C Act or comply with state regulations. Contaminated, or otherwise poor quality, compounded drug products can lead to serious patient illnesses, including death.

October 25, 2021 Read More

Notes from the Field: Pediatric HIV Outbreak in Ratodero, Pakistan — April 2019–April 2020 (CDC)

Unsafe injections and other healthcare exposures are described in this outbreak report. Improvements at the local and national levels in health care practices, community education, and health care provider training with an emphasis on infection prevention and control measures, could help prevent future outbreaks of HIV and other bloodborne infections in Pakistan.

October 22, 2021 Read More

Mycobacterium porcinum Skin and Soft Tissue Infections After Vaccinations — Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, September 2018–February 2019 (CDC)

A multistate investigation identified 101 patients with vaccination-associated adverse events, including 30 with confirmed nontuberculous mycobacteria infection (vaccines received included influenza; hepatitis A; pneumococcal; or tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccines). Improper vaccine storage, handling, and administration by inadequately trained personnel contributed to injection-site infections and other adverse events.

October 22, 2021 Read More