Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among nonphysician healthcare personnel by work location at a tertiary-care center, Iowa, 2020-2021

We describe COVID-19 cases among nonphysician healthcare personnel (HCP) by work location. The proportion of HCP with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was highest in the emergency department and lowest among those working remotely. COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 units had similar proportions of HCP with COVID-19 (13%). Cases decreased across all work locations following COVID-19 vaccination.

Blood culture practices in patients with a central line at an academic medical center-Iowa, 2020

We analyzed blood-culture practices to characterize the utilization of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recommendations related to catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) blood cultures. Most patients with a central line had only peripheral blood cultures. Increasing the utilization of CRBSI guidelines may improve clinical care, but may also affect other quality metrics.

Stable Clostridioides difficile infection rates after the discontinuation of ultraviolet light for terminal disinfection at a tertiary care center, Iowa 2019-2020

We compared the incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection before and after the discontinuation of Ultraviolet light used in addition to bleach in terminal disinfection of hospital rooms. We found no difference in C. difficile infection rates but found a decreased turn over time. The benefit of Ultraviolet light may be diminished in hospitals with a high thoroughness of manual cleaning.

COVID-19 Serial Testing among Hospitalized Patients in a Midwest Tertiary Medical Center, July-September 2020

We implemented serial COVID-19 testing for inpatients with a negative test on admission. The conversion rate (negative to positive) on repeat testing was one percent. We identified patients during their incubation period and hospital-onset cases, rapidly isolated them, and potentially reduced exposures. Serial testing and infectiousness determination were resource intensive.

Two community hepatitis B outbreaks: An argument for vaccinating incarcerated persons

Current recommendations have not resulted in routine vaccination of correctional facility inmates for hepatitis B. We investigated two hepatitis B outbreaks. Outbreak 1 involved 4 cases epidemiologically linked to persons who had been in jail. Outbreak 2 involved 48 community cases; 69% had a history of incarceration. Two-thirds of the cases in these outbreaks might have been prevented by a program of routine vaccination of local jail inmates. Priority should be given to developing and supporting practical programs to vaccinate the high-risk populations in correctional facilities against hepatitis B.