CORHA News

Outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis Infections Associated with Contaminated Nonsterile, Multiuse Ultrasound Gel — 10 States, May–September 2021 (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

In 2021, a total of 119 BCC infections were associated with multiple lots of nonsterile ultrasound gel contaminated with BCC organisms. Use of this contaminated gel before percutaneous procedures likely contributed to patient infections. This outbreak highlights the importance of appropriate use of ultrasound gel within health care settings to help prevent patient infections, including the use of only sterile, single-use ultrasound gel for ultrasonography when subsequent percutaneous procedures might be performed.

December 28, 2022 Read More

Infection Preventionists’ Detective Work Stopped an Outbreak of CRAB (Infection Control Today)

In this article, a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) cluster was identified and stopped because of due diligence of the infection preventionists at an acute care facility in Louisiana.

December 21, 2022 Read More

Fungal Endophthalmitis Outbreak after Cataract Surgery, South Korea, 2020 (Emerging Infectious Diseases)

This article describes an unusual increase in fungal endophthalmitis cases in November 2020 after cataract surgery was reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, South Korea. An outbreak investigation was initiated to identify the cause. Most case-patients were exposed during surgery to ocular viscoelastic devices (OVDs) from the same manufacturer (company A). It was determined this fungal endophthalmitis outbreak was caused by a contaminated lot of OVDs and recommended discontinued use of this product. Early recognition of outbreaks and joint responses from related government agencies can reduce risk for fungal endophthalmitis.

December 14, 2022 Read More

Cluster of Norovirus Genogroup IX Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities, Utah, USA, 2021 (Emerging Infectious Diseases)

This article reports 5 clustered acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in long-term care facilities in Utah, USA, that were linked to healthcare employees working at multiple facilities. Four outbreaks were caused by norovirus genotype GIX. We recommend continued norovirus surveillance and genotyping to determine contributions of this genotype to norovirus outbreaks.

December 7, 2022 Read More

Norovirus Genogroup IX Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities in Utah, USA (Emerging Infectious Diseases)

In this podcast, BreAnne Osborn, an epidemiologist at the Utah Department of Health in Salt Lake City, and Sarah Gregory discuss outbreaks of norovirus genotype IX in long-term care facilities in Utah.

December 7, 2022 Read More

Outbreaks of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections Highlight Importance of Maintaining and Monitoring Dental Waterlines (Emergency Preparedness and Response)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to emphasize the importance of following existing recommendations for maintaining and monitoring dental waterlines. Multiple outbreaks of nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) infections have occurred in children who received pulpotomies in pediatric dental clinics where the dental treatment water contained high levels of bacteria.

November 30, 2022 Read More

Clean clothes or dirty clothes? Outbreak investigation of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii related to laundry contamination through multilocus sequence typing (MLST) (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

This article describes an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRA) in a general hospital due to contamination of a laundry evaporative cooler and the laundry environment using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). MLST confirmed that contamination of the laundry evaporative cooler and surrounding environment caused a polyclonal CRA hospital outbreak.

November 23, 2022 Read More

Investigation of a Prolonged and Large Outbreak of Healthcare-Associated Mucormycosis Cases in an Acute Care Hospital—Arkansas, June 2019–May 2021 (Open Forum Infectious Diseases)

This article describes the largest, single-center, healthcare-associated mucormycosis (HCM) outbreak reported to date. The findings underscore the importance of hospital-based monitoring for HCM and increased attention to the safe handling of laundered linens.

November 17, 2022 Read More

States and Territories Strengthening Infection Prevention and Control Policies (ASTHO)

Every year, millions of patients acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) while being treated for other health issues. While largely preventable, HAIs are the most common complication of hospital care and a leading cause of death in the United States. In response to this ongoing issue, states have proposed legislation to strengthen and sustain infection prevention capacity, implement requirements for data tracking and reporting through national surveillance systems, and prioritize antimicrobial stewardship. Discover some of these initiatives in this week’s Health Policy Update.

November 9, 2022 Read More

Mycobacterium chimaera infections among cardiothoracic surgery patients associated with heater-cooler devices—Kansas and California, 2019 (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

This article describes two recent outbreaks of Mycobacteria chimaera associated with cardiac bypass surgery. Infections in both outbreaks were caused by the same strain of M. chimaera identified previously as part of a large international outbreak involving Sorin 3T heater cooler devices. This investigation demonstrated ongoing problems with these devices and highlighted the ongoing need for attention to mitigation strategies.

October 26, 2022 Read More