Antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention-leveraging the synergy: A position paper update

Evaluation of Hospital Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs: Implementation, Process, Impact, and Outcomes, Review of Systematic Reviews

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) were introduced in healthcare as a public health priority to promote appropriate prescribing of antimicrobials, to reduce adverse events related to antimicrobials, as well as to control the escalating challenges of antimicrobial resistance. To deliver aimed outcome objectives, ASPs involve multiple connected implementation process measures. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate both concepts of ASPs. Guided by PRISMA frames, published systematic reviews (SR) focusing on ASPs restricted to secondary and tertiary healthcare were evaluated over the past 10 years involving all age groups. Out of 265 identified SR studies, 63 met the inclusion criteria. The majority were conducted in Europe and North America, with limited studies from other regions. In the reviewed studies, all age groups were examined, although they were conducted mainly on adults when compared to children and infants. Both process and outcomes measures of ASPs were examined equally and simultaneously through 25 different concepts, dominated by efficacy, antimicrobial resistance, and economic impact, while information technology as well as role of pharmacy and behavioral factors were equally examined. The main broad conclusions from the review were that, across the globe, ASPs demonstrated effectiveness, proved efficacy, and confirmed efficiency, while focused evaluation advocated that developed countries should target medium- and small-sized hospitals while developing countries should continue rolling ASPs across healthcare facilities. Additionally, the future of ASPs should focus on embracing evolving information technology to bridge the gaps in knowledge, skills, and attitude, as well as to enhance appropriate decision making.

Auto-Substitutions to Optimize Perioperative Antimicrobial Prophylaxis: Pre-Post Intervention Study

BACKGROUND

Appropriate administration of perioperative antibiotics can prevent antimicrobial resistance, adverse drug events, surgical site infections, and increased costs to the health care system for many surgeries in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study is to achieve 90% compliance with evidence-based perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines among elective surgical procedures in OHNS.

METHODS

The pre-intervention group consisted of patients undergoing elective surgical procedures in the 13 months prior to the interventions (September 2019-2020) whereas the post-intervention group comprised patients undergoing elective procedures during the 8 months following the implementation (October 2020-May 2021). The 4 Es of knowledge translation and the Donabedian framework were used to frame the study. Components of the intervention included educational grand rounds and automatic substitutions in electronic health records. In June 2021, a survey of staff and residents assessed the self-reported perception of following evidence-based guidelines.

RESULTS

Compliance with antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines were evaluated based on agent and dose. The overall compliance improved from 38.8% pre-intervention to 59.0% post-intervention (p < 0.001). Agent compliance did not improve from pre- to post-intervention, that is, 60.7% to 62.8%, respectively, (p = 0.68), whereas dose compliance improved from 39.6% to 89.2% (p < 0.001). Approximately 78.5% of survey respondents felt that they strongly agreed or agreed with always following evidence-based antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines.

CONCLUSION

Compliance with antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines improved, primarily due to increased dosing compliance. Future interventions will target agent compliance and selected procedures with lower compliance rates.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 133:3403-3408, 2023.

The roles of bedside nurses in Japan in antimicrobial stewardship

BACKGROUND

In the United States and the United Kingdom, the roles of nurses in antimicrobial stewardship (AS) have been described in guidelines. However, in Japan, no previous studies have clarified nurses' recognition of the role of AS. Moreover, how the AS roles were implemented among nurses in Japan has not been fully clarified. The objectives of this study were to determine the perceptions of infection control nurses (ICNs) in Japan regarding the AS role of nurses and the extent of nurses' practice.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey of ICNs was conducted.

RESULTS

Four hundred responses (response rate, 30.8%) were analyzed. Some of the items that have already gained consensus as the AS role of nurses were not recognized as the AS role of nurses by ICNs or had low implementation rates in Japan. Meanwhile, both recognition and implementation rates were high for the 5 types of care proposed.

DISCUSSION

The reason the ICNs agreed that these 5 types of care are AS roles for nurses is that they know that such care can prevent infection and thereby obviate the need for antimicrobial administration. However, whether nurses themselves understand that these are roles for nurses in AS is unclear. To promote AS in Japan, communicating the fact that nurses already contribute to AS, strengthening nurse education, and improving staffing are desirable.

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Leveraging the "Butterfly Effect" of Hand Hygiene

It is vital that there are coordinated, collaborative efforts to address the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to prevent and control the spread of hospital-onset infections, particularly those due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. The butterfly effect is a concept in which metaphorically speaking, small, seemingly trivial events ultimately cascade into something of far greater consequence, more specifically by having a non-linear impact on very complex systems. In this regard, antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP), when implemented alongside infection prevention control (IPC) interventions in hospitals, particularly hand hygiene (HH), are significantly more effective in reducing the development and spread of AMR bacteria than implementation of ASP alone. In this perspective, we briefly review the evidence for the combined effect, and call for closer collaboration between institutional IPC and ASP leadership, and for well-functioning IPC programs to ensure the effectiveness of ASP.

Plethora of Antibiotics Usage and Evaluation of Carbapenem Prescribing Pattern in Intensive Care Units: A Single-Center Experience of Malaysian Academic Hospital

Excessive antibiotic consumption is still common among critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU), especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) period. Moreover, information regarding antimicrobial consumption among ICUs in South-East Asia remains scarce and limited. This study aims to determine antibiotics utilization in ICUs by measuring antibiotics consumption over the past six years (2016−2021) and specifically evaluating carbapenems prescribed in a COVID-19 ICU and a general intensive care unit (GICU) during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional observational analysis of antibiotics consumption and carbapenems prescriptions. Antibiotic utilization data were estimated using the WHO Defined Daily Doses (DDD). Carbapenems prescription information was extracted from the audits conducted by ward pharmacists. Patients who were prescribed carbapenems during their admission to COVID-19 ICU and GICU were included. Patients who passed away before being reviewed by the pharmacists were excluded. (3) Results: In general, antibiotics consumption increased markedly in the year 2021 when compared to previous years. Majority of carbapenems were prescribed empirically (86.8%). Comparing COVID-19 ICU and GICU, the reasons for empirical carbapenems therapy in COVID-19 ICU was predominantly for therapy escalation (64.7% COVID-19 ICU vs. 34% GICU, p < 0.001), whereas empirical prescription in GICU was for coverage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) gram-negative bacteria (GNB) (45.3% GICU vs. 22.4% COVID-19 ICU, p = 0.005). Despite microbiological evidence, the empirical carbapenems were continued for a median (interquartile range (IQR)) of seven (5−8) days. This implies the need for a rapid diagnostic assay on direct specimens, together with comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) discourse with intensivists to address this issue.

Infection prevention and control strategies against carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae - a systematic review

Background

Antimicrobial resistance is exponentially worsening, and the spread of prevalent carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is a major contributor to this global concern. Infection prevention and control strategies are increasingly consolidated key tools to control this worldwide problem.

Aim

To identify, collect and analyse available evidence regarding the impact of infection prevention and control strategies on prevalent CRE dissemination.

Methods

Pubmed®, Scopus® and Web of Science® were searched systematically for articles published between 1th January 2017 and 30th June 2020, guided by the research question 'What are the most effective and efficient strategies to prevent and control infection/colonisation caused by Carbapenem resistant Escherichia coli and Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae?'.

Findings

Eleven thousand six hundred and thirty-five publications were found, but after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 30 were selected. The majority of reviewed studies (n = 24) were performed in outbreak situations, 26 studies occurred in acute care units and of those, 17 in intensive care units . From the set of implemented infection prevention and control measures, in 29 studies surveillance cultures were applied, in 23 studies patients were isolated or cohorted and, in general, all described the implementation of standard and contact precaution measures.

Conclusion

This systematic review underlines the importance of infection prevention and control strategies in CRE dissemination, standing out the need of further studies outside outbreak and intensive care units contexts. Investment increments and training and educating of all involved are also important contributors to shift this problem, but still with relevant gaps in their implementation, in all types of care units, that need to be addressed.

Stepwise Expansion of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs and Its Impact on Antibiotic Use and Resistance Rates at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Korea

To optimize antibiotic use, the US CDC has outlined core elements of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP). However, they are difficult to implement in limited-resource settings. We report on the successful implementation of a series of ASP with insufficient number of infectious diseases specialists. We retrospectively collected data regarding antibiotic administration and culture results of all patients admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH), from January 2010 to December 2019. Trends of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance rates were compared with those from Korean national data. Trend analyses were performed using nonparametric, two-sided, correlated seasonal Mann–Kendall tests. Total antibiotic agent usage has significantly decreased with ASP implementation at SNUBH since 2010. National claim data from tertiary care hospitals have revealed an increase in the use of all broad-spectrum antibiotics except for third-generation cephalosporins (3GC). In contrast, at SNUBH, glycopeptide and fluoroquinolone use gradually decreased, and 3GC and carbapenem use did not significantly change. Furthermore, the rate of colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus showed a consistently decreasing trend, while that with 3GC- and fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli significantly increased. Unlike the national rate, the rate of colonization with antibiotic resistant-Klebsiella pneumoniae did not increase and that of 3GC- and fluoroquinolone-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa significantly decreased. Stepwise implementation of core ASP elements was effective in reducing antibiotic use despite a lack of sufficient manpower. Long-term multidisciplinary teamwork is necessary for successful and sustainable ASP implementation.

IMPORTANCE Antimicrobial stewardship programs aimed to optimize antibiotic use are difficult to implement in limited-resource settings. Our study indicates that stepwise implementation of core antimicrobial stewardship program elements was effective in reducing antibiotic use in a tertiary care hospital despite the lack of sufficient manpower.

Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in Long-Term Care: A Five-Year Prospective Single-Center Study

Objective

To report the effectiveness of the antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) in a long-term care (LTC) facility, by analyzing the change in antimicrobial consumption and cost and multidrug resistance (MDR) rates over a 5-year period.

Method

A prospective interventional study was conducted at a 106-bed facility (nursing home: 100 beds and an intensive care unit (ICU): 6 beds). The ASP was designed and led by a multidisciplinary team including an infectious disease consultant, two clinical pharmacists, a clinical microbiologist, and an infection control preventionist. Five key performance indicators were monitored: (1) intravenous (IV)-to-oral switch rate, (2) consumption of restricted IV antimicrobials (raw consumption and defined daily doses (DDD) index), (3) cost of restricted IV antimicrobials, (4) antimicrobial sensitivity profiles, and (5) MDR rate among hospital-acquired infections (MDR-HAI).

Result

A ∼5.5-fold enhancement of the IV-to-oral switch and a 40% reduction in the overall consumption of restricted IV antimicrobials were observed. Regarding the cost, the cumulative cost saving was estimated as 5.64 million SAR (US$1.50 million). Microbiologically, no significant change in antimicrobial sensitivity profiles was observed; however, a large-size reduction in the MDR-HAI rate was observed, notably in ICU where it declined from 3.22 per 1,000 patient days, in 2015, to 1.14 per 1,000 patient days in 2020. Interestingly, the yearly overall MDR rate was strongly correlated with the level of antimicrobial consumption.

Conclusion

The implementation of a multidisciplinary ASP in LTC facilities should be further encouraged, with emphasis on physicians' education and active involvement to enhance the success of the strategy.

Behind Every Great Infection Prevention Program is a Great Microbiology Laboratory: Key Components and Strategies for an Effective Partnership

A great clinical microbiology laboratory supporting a great infection prevention program requires focusing on the following services: rapid and accurate identification of pathogens associated with health care-associated infections; asymptomatic surveillance for health care-acquired pathogens before infections arise; routine use of broad and flexible antimicrobial susceptibility testing to direct optimal therapy; implementation of epidemiologic tracking tools to identify outbreaks; development of clear result communication with interpretative comments for clinicians. These goals are best realized in a collaborative relationship with the infection prevention program so that both can benefit from the shared priorities of providing the best patient care.

Integrating antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control programs using a team science approach

Reduction of health care-associated infections is trending in the right direction after decades of work by those involved in infection prevention and control and antibiotic stewardship. With institutional priorities currently pivoting to meet the needs of COVID-19 patients, this may be an advantageous time to promote integration of facility-level antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control programs. We propose a team science framework as a tool to leverage the complementary expertise of stewardship and infection prevention and control professionals. This framework considers stages of team development and fluidity needed when working with shifting priorities and can be used by leaders and team members throughout all phases of team building—from developing and launching the team, through evaluating and modifying team activities to best suit local needs.

Promoting cross-regional collaboration in antimicrobial stewardship: Findings of an infectious diseases working group survey in Arab countries of the Middle East

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global issue that presents an increasing threat to patients' wellbeing. Although a global concern, the emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms is of particular significance in the Middle East. In recent years, this region has seen an alarming increase in antimicrobial resistance presenting a major challenge to physicians managing various infectious diseases.

METHODS

A Working Group comprising experts in infectious diseases from Arab countries of Middle East assembled to review similarities and differences in antimicrobial practices and management of multi-drug resistant organisms across the region and assess the barriers to achieving cross-regional collaboration. The Working Group conducted an anonymous online survey to evaluate current practice and understanding of management of multi-drug resistant organisms across the region.

RESULTS

A total of 122 physicians from Arab countries of the Middle East responded to the survey. Their responses demonstrated heterogeneity between countries in awareness of local epidemiology, management of multi-drug resistant organisms and antimicrobial stewardship practices. The Working Group recognized similarities and differences in the management of multi-drug resistant organisms across the region, and these were validated by the data collected in the survey. Overall, the similarities across the region reflect several key issues that can have an impact on the management of multi-drug resistant organisms and the prevention of antimicrobial resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper highlights the urgency of addressing antimicrobial resistance in Arab countries of the Middle East. The Working Group identified key barriers to effective management which may guide the development of future coherent strategies to promote effective antimicrobial stewardship in the region. Here, we outline a call to action for the region, with a need to focus on training and education, capacity building, infrastructure, regional research, and regional surveillance.

Doctors' Perceptions, Attitudes and Practices towards the Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organism Infections after the Implementation of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Greece is among the European countries with the highest consumption of antibiotics, both in community and hospital settings, including last-line antibiotics, such as carbapenems. We sought to explore doctors’ perceptions, attitudes and practices towards the management of patients with multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections after the implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) in a tertiary academic hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A self-administered, internet-based questionnaire survey was completed by doctors of the University Hospital of Heraklion in Crete, Greece. Results: In total, 202 (59.1%) hospital doctors fully completed the questionnaire. Most of them agreed that the prospective audit and feedback ASP strategy is more effective and educational than the preauthorization ASP strategy. ASP implementation prompted most respondents to monitor the continuously evolving microbiological data of their patients more closely and affected them towards a multidisciplinary and personalised care of patients with infections caused by MDROs and towards a more rigorous implementation of infection prevention and control measures. The vast majority of participants (98.5%) stated that ASP must be continued and further developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The ASP implementation in our hospital had a beneficial impact on doctors’ perceptions, attitudes and practices with regard to the management of infections due to MDROs.

A Crucial Role for Antimicrobial Stewardship in the Midst of COVID-19

As the world deals with a pandemic, there remains another global challenge that cannot be ignored. Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics may be justified as we are trying to treat a novel disease condition, which in turn could lead to an increase in antimicrobial resistance. We can decrease morbidity, mortality, and health care costs by controlling antimicrobial resistance, but it requires antimicrobial stewardship. Major components of effective and timely antimicrobial stewardship are diagnostic stewardship, infection prevention and control, and integration of COVID-19 specific flags into electronic health records, all of which may be integrated into current strategies of COVID-19 mitigation and management. Going through the influenza season of 2020, implementation of antimicrobial stewardship education efforts in the United States can help us contend with influenza in addition to COVID-19 and any bacterial co-infections or secondary infections. Additional solutions include the development of vaccines, alternative therapies such as antibodies, and advanced diagnostics using advances in genomics and computer science.

Nurses and Antimicrobial Stewardship: Past, Present, and Future

Successful antimicrobial stewardship programs must be a truly collaborative multidisciplinary team effort. Nurses have critical contributions and are recognized more in publications about antimicrobial stewardship. Examination of patient care workflow patterns indicates the central role of nurses in the application of stewardship concepts in patient care. Education about antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship is important not only for nurses and other health care providers but also for the general public. Analysis of the health care workforce population shows the importance of integrating this largest segment of health care providers in the routine daily care of patients into all stewardship efforts.

Metapopulation ecology links antibiotic resistance, consumption, and patient transfers in a network of hospital wards

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat. A better understanding of how antibiotic use and between-ward patient transfers (or connectivity) impact population-level AMR in hospital networks can help optimize antibiotic stewardship and infection control strategies. Here, we used a metapopulation framework to explain variations in the incidence of infections caused by seven major bacterial species and their drug-resistant variants in a network of 357 hospital wards. We found that ward-level antibiotic consumption volume had a stronger influence on the incidence of the more resistant pathogens, while connectivity had the most influence on hospital-endemic species and carbapenem-resistant pathogens. Piperacillin-tazobactam consumption was the strongest predictor of the cumulative incidence of infections resistant to empirical sepsis therapy. Our data provide evidence that both antibiotic use and connectivity measurably influence hospital AMR. Finally, we provide a ranking of key antibiotics by their estimated population-level impact on AMR that might help inform antimicrobial stewardship strategies.

Compliance with South Africa's Antimicrobial Resistance National Strategy Framework: are we there yet?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem worldwide. South Africa has recently released its Antimicrobial Resistance National Strategy Framework (referred to as the Framework) to instigate antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs). Consequently, there is a need to assess compliance with the Framework.

METHODS

Descriptive study design, collecting quantitative data, among pre-selected public healthcare facilities. One healthcare professional from each participating facility, involved in ASPs, was invited to participate.

RESULTS

Overall 26 facilities from 8 provinces participated. Average compliance to the Framework was 59.5% for the 26 facilities, with 38.0% for community health centres, 66.9% for referral hospitals and 73.5% for national central hospitals. For 7 facilities compliance was <50% while 5 facilities were >80% compliant.

CONCLUSION

Although some facilities complied well with the Framework, overall compliance was sub-optimal. With the introduction of universal healthcare in South Africa, coupled with growing AMR rates, ongoing initiatives to actively implement the Framework should be targeted at non-compliant facilities.

Nurses as antimicrobial stewards: Recognition, confidence, and organizational factors across nine hospitals

BACKGROUND

There are national calls to engage nurses as antimicrobial stewards, but it is unknown how patient safety culture influences nurses' antimicrobial stewardship (AS) involvement.

METHODS

Cross-sectional survey to determine bedside nurses' recognition and performance confidence in AS. Nine hospitals ranged in size from 42 to 562 beds serving pediatric and adult populations in 2 different metropolitan areas. Composite scores for nursing practices, performance confidence, and organizational factors were developed and correlated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey HSD post-hoc tests and nonparametric (Kruskal-Wallis) tests with Bonferroni adjusted P values for multiple comparisons were used to evaluate differences by clinical unit and years of clinical experience. Free text comments were categorized by theme.

RESULTS

A total of 558 nurses participated (13% response rate). A significant positive association r_s = 0.454, P < .001 was found between nurses' beliefs about nursing practices that contribute to AS processes and their confidence to perform. Ninety one nurses provided comments with 50 statements indicating the primary barrier to stewardship were organizational factors including perceived lack of a safety culture.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses identified a professional role in AS processes, though safety culture inhibited their involvement. These findings can help enhance the inclusion of nurses in AS efforts.

Trends in Health Care-Associated Infection Prevention Practices in US Veterans Affairs Hospitals From 2005 to 2017

IMPORTANCE

Health care-associated infection (HAI) is associated with substantial harm. To reduce HAI, the largest integrated health care system in the United States-the Veterans Health Administration-was an early adopter of infection prevention policies and initiatives. Whether these efforts translated into increased use of practices to prevent HAI in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate changes over time in infection prevention practices and the perception of the importance of infection prevention to hospital leadership.

DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS

For this survey study, every 4 years between 2005 and 2017, infection preventionists were surveyed at all VA hospitals on use of practices associated with common HAIs, including central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and (beginning in 2013) Clostridioides difficile infection. Data analysis was performed from February 1, 2019, to July 1, 2019.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Reported regular use of key infection prevention practices and perceived importance of infection prevention to hospital leadership.

RESULTS

Between 2005 and 2017, 320 total surveys were completed with response rates ranging from 59% (73 of 124) in 2017 to 80% (95 of 119) in 2005. Use of 12 different infection prevention practices increased. Since 2013, 92% (69 of 75) to 100% of VA hospitals reported regular use of key infection prevention practices for C difficile infection and CLABSI. In contrast, adoption of many practices to prevent CAUTI, although increasing, have lagged. Despite reported increases in the use of some practices for VAP such as semirecumbent positioning (89% [79 of 89] in 2005 vs 97% [61 of 63] in 2017, P = .007 for trend) and subglottic secretion drainage (23% [19 of 84] in 2005 vs 65% [40 of 62] in 2017, P < .001), use of other key practices such as daily interruptions of sedation (85% [55 of 65] in 2009 vs 87% [54 of 62] in 2017, P = .66) and early mobilization (81% [52 of 64] in 2013 vs 82% [51 of 62] in 2017, P = .88) has not increased. Antibiotic stewardship programs are now reported in nearly every VA hospital (97% [71 of 73]); however, some hospitals report practices for microbiologic testing for HAIs (eg, 22% [16 of 72] report routine urine culture testing in 2017) that could also contribute to antibiotic overuse.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

From 2005 to 2017, reported use of 12 different infection prevention practices increased in VA hospitals. Areas for continued improvement of infection prevention practices appear to include CAUTI, certain VAP practices, and diagnostic stewardship for HAI. The reported adoption of many infection prevention practices in VA hospitals was higher than in non-VA hospitals. As hospitals continue to merge and health systems become increasingly integrated, these successes could help inform patient safety broadly.

Changes in US Nursing Home Infection Prevention and Control Programs From 2014 to 2018

OBJECTIVE

Burgeoning rates of antibiotic resistance have resulted in a shift in national focus to improve infection prevention and control programs in US nursing homes (NHs). We sought to evaluate the changes in nursing home infection prevention and control programs over time.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative analysis of national nursing home survey data from 2014 and 2018.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

We used survey data from 2 nationally representative samples of US nursing homes (945 NHs in 2014 and 888 in 2018).

METHODS

Three indices measuring antibiotic stewardship, outbreak control, and urinary tract infection prevention (ranging from 0 to 100) were developed to measure the change in infection prevention and control programs. Multivariable linear regression models were used to identify facility and infection preventionist characteristics associated with each index. Decomposition models were used to identify contributions of factors on the differences in each index over time.

RESULTS

From 2014 to 2018, we saw strengthening of antibiotic stewardship practices by 33 percentage points, outbreak control practices by 13 percentage points, and urinary tract infection prevention practices by 6 percentage points. Although we found several predictors of these improvements, much of the improvement was due to the difference in time.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Policy mandates and greater national attention are likely important factors in improving nursing home infection prevention and control practices. Further work is needed to evaluate the effect of these programs on resident outcomes.