Impact of cell-free DNA fungal polymerase chain reaction panels on healthcare-associated infection mould investigations

Launch of in-house sensitive cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) mould polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays increased detection of moulds meeting suspected healthcare-associated infection (HAI) criteria. Definition was based on time from admission and mould detection in culture or via molecular methods. We created a modified mould HAI algorithm incorporating clinical context into the case definition, which allowed for better capture of possible mould HAIs, decreased number of investigations, and improved utilization of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) resources.

Non-HACEK gram-negative bacilli endocarditis: a multicentre retrospective case-control study

BACKGROUND

Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by non-HACEK gram-negative bacilli (GNB) is poorly characterised and may be emerging as a consequence of medical progress.

METHODS

We performed an observational retrospective case-control study. Cases were non-HACEK GNB IE, definite or possible (modified Duke criteria), diagnosed in adults between 2007 and 2020 in six French referral hospitals. Two controls were included for each case (IE due to other bacteria, matched by sites and diagnosis date).

RESULTS

Non-HACEK GNB were identified in 2.4% (77/3230) of all IE during the study period, with a mean age of 69.2 ± 14.6 years, and a large male predominance (53/77, 69%). Primary pathogens were Escherichia coli (n = 33), Klebsiella sp. (n = 12) and Serratia marcescens (n = 9), including eight (10%) multidrug-resistant GNB. Compared to controls (n = 154: 43% Streptococcus sp., 41% Staphylococcus sp. and 12% Enterococcus sp.), non-HACEK GNB IE were independently associated with intravenous drug use (IVDU, 8% vs. 2%, p = .003), active neoplasia (15% vs. 6%, p = .009), haemodialysis (9% vs. 3%, p = .007) and healthcare-associated IE (36% vs. 18%, p = .002). Urinary tract was the main source of infection (n = 25, 33%) and recent invasive procedures were reported in 29% of cases. Non-HACEK GNB IE were at lower risk of embolism (31% vs. 47%, p = .002). One-year mortality was high (n = 28, 36%). Comorbidities, particularly malignant hemopathy and cirrhosis, were associated with increased risk of death.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-HACEK GNB are rarely responsible for IE, mostly as healthcare-associated IE in patients with complex comorbidities (end-stage renal disease, neoplasia), or in IVDUs.

Prevalence and Mortality of Infective Endocarditis in Community-Acquired and Healthcare-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Danish Nationwide Registry-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) can be community-acquired or healthcare-associated, and prior small studies have suggested that this mode of acquisition impacts the subsequent prevalence of infective endocarditis (IE) and patient outcomes.

METHODS

First-time SAB was identified from 2010 to 2018 using Danish nationwide registries and categorized into community-acquired (no healthcare contact within 30 days) or healthcare-associated (SAB >48 hours of hospital admission, hospitalization within 30 days, or outpatient hemodialysis). Prevalence of IE (defined from hospital codes) was compared between groups using multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis. One-year mortality of S aureus IE (SAIE) was compared between groups using multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 5549 patients with community-acquired SAB and 7491 with healthcare-associated SAB. The prevalence of IE was 12.1% for community-acquired and 6.6% for healthcare-associated SAB. Community-acquired SAB was associated with a higher odds of IE as compared with healthcare-associated SAB (odds ratio, 2.12 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.86-2.41]). No difference in mortality was observed with 0-40 days of follow-up for community-acquired SAIE as compared with healthcare-associated SAIE (HR, 1.07 [95% CI, .83-1.37]), while with 41-365 days of follow-up, community-acquired SAIE was associated with a lower mortality (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, .53-.95]).

CONCLUSIONS

Community-acquired SAB was associated with twice the odds for IE, as compared with healthcare-associated SAB. We identified no significant difference in short-term mortality between community-acquired and healthcare-associated SAIE. Beyond 40 days of survival, community-acquired SAIE was associated with a lower mortality.

Factors Associated with COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers in Kedah in 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to examine the characteristics of HCWs infected with COVID-19 and factors associated with healthcare-associated infection. A cross-sectional study, using secondary data of COVID-19 HCW cases from a registry developed by the Occupational and Environmental Health Unit (OEHU) in Kedah State Health Department, Malaysia, was analysed using Excel and STATA version 14.0. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression were conducted to identify the factors for healthcare-associated COVID-19 infection. A total of 1679 HCWs tested positive for COVID-19 between 1 January 2021 and 19 September 2021. The infection was mainly non-healthcare-associated (67.0%), with healthcare-associated cases contributing to only 33% of the cases. The significant factors associated with healthcare-associated transmission were the following: doctor (aOR = 1.433; 95% CI = 1.044, 1.968), hospital setting (aOR = 1.439; 95% CI = 1.080, 1.917), asymptomatic (aOR = 1.848; 95% CI = 1.604, 2.130), incompletely or not vaccinated (aOR = 1.400; 95% CI = 1.050, 1.866) and CT-value ≥ 30 (aOR = 2.494; 95% CI = 1.927, 3.226). Identifying factors of healthcare-associated infection would help in planning control measures preventing healthcare-associated transmission in the workplace. However, more than half of COVID-19 cases among HCWs involved non-healthcare-associated COVID-19 infection, and, thus, requires further study to identify high-risk behaviours.

Recurrent Candidemia: Trends and Risk Factors Among Persons Residing in 4 US States, 2011-2018

Background

Candidemia is a common healthcare-associated infection with high mortality. Estimates of recurrence range from 1% to 17%. Few studies have focused on those with recurrent candidemia, who often experience more severe illness and greater treatment failure. We describe recurrent candidemia trends and risk factors.

Methods

We analyzed population-based candidemia surveillance data collected during 2011-2018. Persons with >1 episode (defined as the 30-day period after a positive Candida species) were classified as having recurrent candidemia. We compared factors during the initial episode between those who developed recurrent candidemia and those who did not.

Results

Of the 5428 persons identified with candidemia, 326 (6%) had recurrent infection. Recurrent episodes occurred 1.0 month to 7.6 years after any previous episode. In multivariable logistic regression controlling for surveillance site and year, recurrent candidemia was associated with being 19-44 years old (vs ≥65 years; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.05 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.10-4.44]), being discharged to a private residence (vs medical facility; aOR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.12-2.08]), hospitalization in the 90 days prior to initial episode (aOR, 1.66 [95% CI, 1.27-2.18]), receipt of total parenteral nutrition (aOR, 2.08 [95% CI, 1.58-2.73]), and hepatitis C infection (aOR, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.12-2.43]).

Conclusions

Candidemia recurrence >30 days after initial infection occurred in >1 in 20 persons with candidemia. Associations with younger age and hepatitis C suggest injection drug use may play a modifiable role. Prevention efforts targeting central line care and total parenteral nutrition use may help reduce the risk of recurrent candidemia.

Early deaths associated with community-acquired and healthcare-associated bloodstream infections: a population-based study, Finland, 2004 to 2018

Background

Bloodstream infections (BSI) cause substantial morbidity and mortality.

Aim

We explored the role of causative pathogens and patient characteristics on the outcome of community-acquired (CA) and healthcare-associated (HA) BSI, with particular interest in early death.

Methods

We used national register data to identify all BSI in Finland during 2004–18. We determined the origin of BSI, patients´ underlying comorbidities and deaths within 2 or 30 days from specimen collection. A time-dependent Cox model was applied to evaluate the impact of patient characteristics and causative pathogens on the hazard for death at different time points.

Results

A total of 173,715 BSI were identified; 22,474 (12.9%) were fatal within 30 days and, of these, 6,392 (28.4%) occurred within 2 days (7.9 deaths/100,000 population). The 2-day case fatality rate of HA-BSI was higher than that of CA-BSI (5.4% vs 3.0%). Patients who died within 2 days were older than those alive on day 3 (76 vs 70 years) and had more severe comorbidities. Compared with other BSI, infections leading to death within 2 days were more often polymicrobial (11.8% vs 6.3%) and caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.2% vs 2.0%), fungi (2.9% vs 1.4%) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens (2.2% vs 1.8%), which were also predictors of death within 2 days in the model.

Conclusions

Overrepresentation of polymicrobial, fungal, P. aeruginosa and MDR aetiology among BSI leading to early death is challenging concerning the initial antimicrobial treatment. Our findings highlight the need for active prevention and prompt recognition of BSI and appropriate antimicrobial treatment.

Healthcare-Associated SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection after 3 Months with a Phylogenetically Distinct Omicron Variant: A Case Report

This case report describes a 60-year-old female patient suffering from systemic sclerosis, for which she received immunomodulatory drugs. Her first SARS-CoV-2-positive nasopharyngeal sample was obtained in the emergency department, on 31 January 2022. Whole genome sequencing confirmed infection with Omicron BA.1.1. Her hospital stay was long and punctuated by many complications, including admission to the intensive care unit. At the beginning of April 2022, she started complaining of increased coughing, for which another SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test was performed. The latter nasopharyngeal swab showed a strongly positive result. To support the theory of healthcare-associated reinfection, whole genome sequencing was performed and confirmed reinfection with Omicron BA.2. Since this patient was one of ten positive cases in this particular ward, a hospital outbreak investigation was performed. Whole genome sequencing data were available for five of these ten patients and showed a cluster of four patients with ≤2 small nucleotide polymorphisms difference.

Co-infections in COVID-19 patients and correlation with mortality rate. Minireview

PURPOSE

The goal of our review was to gather information on the most important community-acquired and hospital-acquired co-infections among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, and to examine not only the effect of these co-infections on disease outcomes but also to identify the possible risk factors that predispose COVID-19 patients to co-infections.

METHODS

Medline (PubMed) and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles published between January 1st, 2020, and September 31st, 2021, on the topic of co-infections among COVID-19 patients.

RESULTS

Among community-acquired and hospital-acquired co-infections, bacterial and fungal co-infections are equally frequent, followed by viral co-infections that affected a relatively smaller portion of patients. Overall, co-infections were more frequent in the hospital than at the community level. Risk factors for acquiring co-infections include male gender, longer length of hospital stay, presence of supportive treatment, such as ventilation, the admission to intensive care units, the administration of medications, such as steroids or antibiotics, and certain blood parameters, such as high C-reactive protein or lymphopenia. The presence of co-infections could aggravate the COVID-19 disease severity, prolong the healing time of patients, and lead to worse disease outcomes overall.

CONCLUSION

Co-infections may increase the mortality of COVID-19 patients, especially in the hospital setting. Paying closer attention to hygiene, adhering to diagnostic and therapeutic protocols, implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs could decrease the occurrence of co-infections and lead to improved outcomes for COVID-19 patients.

Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Healthcare-Associated Viral Infections in Children

BACKGROUND

Healthcare-associated viral infections (HA-VIs) are common in hospitalized children and are increasingly recognized as a cause of preventable harm; however, the epidemiology and modifiable risk factors for pediatric HA-VIs are poorly understood.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective case-control study to identify risk factors and outcomes associated with pediatric HA-VIs at a quaternary care children's hospital. HA-VI surveillance was performed hospital-wide using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions. We abstracted data from the electronic medical record and conducted semi-structured interviews with patient caregivers to identify potential exposures 4 days before the HA-VI onset.

RESULTS

During the 20-month study period, we identified 143 eligible patients with HA-VIs and enrolled 64 matched case-control pairs. In total, 79 viruses were identified among 64 case patients. During the exposure period, case, as compared with control, patients were more frequently exposed to a sick visitor (odds ratio = 5.19; P = .05). During the 7 days after the HA-VI onset, case, as compared with control, patients had a greater length of antibacterial therapy per patient-days (mean 411 vs 159) as well as greater days of antibacterial therapy per patient-days (mean 665 vs 247).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study show that exposure to a sick visitor is a potentially modifiable risk factor for pediatric HA-VIs. Hospitalized children with HA-VIs also have increased exposure to antibacterial agents when compared with matched controls. Our findings suggest that hospital policies may need to be revised, with emphasis on visitor screening and partnership with families, to reduce the incidence of pediatric HA-VIs during hospitalization.

Clinical and microbiological characteristics of men with nonobstructive acute pyelonephritis: A multicenter retrospective observational study

To investigate the differences in clinical and microbiological features in men hospitalized with community-acquired (CA) and healthcare-associated (HA) nonobstructive acute pyelonephritis (APN), as well as the predictive factors associated with bacteremia.Men discharged from urological centers with nonobstructive APN were identified using an electronic medical records system. We compared the clinical and microbiological data between subjects with CA-APN and HA-APN.Of the 245 men with nonobstructive APN, 175 had CA-APN, and 70 had HA-APN. The HA group was significantly older, had a longer hospital stay, and had more underlying diseases, bacteremia, and intensive care unit admissions than the CA group. The most commonly cultured microorganism was Escherichia coli. The susceptibility of the cultured bacteria to fluoroquinolone was 68.7% in the CA group and 45.3% in the HA group (P = .005). The proportion of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria was 22.7% for CA and 53.5% for HA (P < .001). The sensitivity to piperacillin/tazobactam was 94.9% for CA and 90.0% for HA, and the sensitivity to amikacin was more than 95% for both groups. The multivariate analysis revealed that an age ≥65 years and chronic liver disease were independent predictive factors for bacteremia.The incidence of antibiotic resistance and bacteremia was higher in the HA group than in the CA group. However, resistance to fluoroquinolone and the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria were high in both groups. Piperacillin/tazobactam and amikacin may be suitable treatment options in men with nonobstructive APN.

Healthcare-associated blood stream infections in hematological patients in Finland during the years 2006-2016

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to identify the clinical characteristics, outcome, and antimicrobial susceptibility of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs) in hematological patients.

METHODS

This retrospectively collected laboratory-based surveillance data include 3404 healthcare-associated BSIs in 2296 patients with a hematological malignancy in hospitals participating in the Finnish Hospital Infection Program from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2016.

RESULTS

The most common underlying diseases were acute myelogenous leukemia (35%) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (22%). Gram-positive organisms accounted for 60%-46% and gram-negative organisms for 24%-36% of BSIs in 2006-2016. The most common causative organism was coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (n = 731). The 7- and 28-day case fatality rates were 5.2% and 11.4%, respectively, and was highest in BSIs caused by Candida species (10.8% and 30.8%). The median age of patients increased from 59 years in 2006-2008 to 62 years in 2015-2016 (P < .01). Five percent of S aureus isolates were resistant to methicillin and five percent of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were multidrug-resistant. Four percent of Klebsiella and seven percent of E coli isolates were resistant to ceftazidime.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of gram-positive bacteria decreased and gram-negative bacteria increased over time. The case fatality rate was low and the median age of patients increased during the study.

The landscape of candidemia during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented healthcare challenges, and COVID-19 has been linked to secondary infections. Candidemia, a fungal healthcare-associated infection, has been described in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19. However, studies of candidemia and COVID-19 co-infection have been limited in sample size and geographic scope. We assessed differences in patients with candidemia with and without a COVID-19 diagnosis.

METHODS

We conducted a case-level analysis using population-based candidemia surveillance data collected through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infections Program during April-August 2020 to compare characteristics of candidemia patients with and without a positive test for COVID-19 in the 30 days before their Candida culture using chi-square or Fisher exact tests.

RESULTS

Of the 251 candidemia patients included, 64 (25.5%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Liver disease, solid organ malignancies, and prior surgeries were each >3 times more common in patients without COVID-19 co-infection, whereas intensive care unit-level care, mechanical ventilation, having a central venous catheter, and receipt of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants were each >1.3 times more common in patients with COVID-19. All cause in-hospital fatality was two times higher among those with COVID-19 (62.5%) than without (32.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

One quarter of candidemia patients had COVID-19. These patients were less likely to have certain underlying conditions and recent surgery commonly associated with candidemia and more likely to have acute risk factors linked to COVID-19 care, including immunosuppressive medications. Given the high mortality, it is important for clinicians to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to prevent candidemia in patients with COVID-19.

Healthcare-Associated Legionnaires' Disease, Europe, 2008-2017

Healthcare-associated Legionnaires’ disease (HCA LD) can cause nosocomial outbreaks with high death rates. We compared community-acquired LD cases with HCA LD cases in Europe during 2008−2017 using data from The European Surveillance System. A total of 29 countries reported 40,411 community-acquired and 4,315 HCA LD cases. Of the HCA LD cases, 2,937 (68.1%) were hospital-acquired and 1,378 (31.9%) were linked to other healthcare facilities. The odds of having HCA LD were higher for women, children and persons <20 years of age, and persons >60 years of age. Out of the cases caused by Legionella pneumophila with a known serotype, community-acquired LD was more likely to be caused by L. pneumophila serogroup 1 (92.3%) than was HCA LD (85.1%). HCA LD patients were more likely to die. HCA LD is associated with specific patient demographics, causative strains, and outcomes. Healthcare facilities should consider these characteristics when designing HCA LD prevention strategies.

Genomic and healthcare dynamics of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission

Understanding the effectiveness of infection control methods in reducing and preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in healthcare settings is of high importance. We sequenced SARS-CoV-2 genomes for patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) across multiple geographically distinct UK hospitals, obtaining 173 high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genomes. We integrated patient movement and staff location data into the analysis of viral genome data to understand spatial and temporal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We identified eight patient contact clusters (PCC) with significantly increased similarity in genomic variants compared to non-clustered samples. Incorporation of HCW location further increased the number of individuals within PCCs and identified additional links in SARS-CoV-2 transmission pathways. Patients within PCCs carried viruses more genetically identical to HCWs in the same ward location. SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing integrated with patient and HCW movement data increases identification of outbreak clusters. This dynamic approach can support infection control management strategies within the healthcare setting.

Healthcare-Associated Legionella Disease: A Multi-Year Assessment of Exposure Settings in a National Healthcare System in the United States

Healthcare facilities are high-risk environments for Legionella disease (LD), including Legionnaires' disease, but transmission in these settings is often overlooked. We used the LD database at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national healthcare system to assess the type of healthcare exposure for LD cases. Cases were extracted from the database for 1 September 2012 through 31 July 2019, focusing on cases with an overnight stay at a VA facility during the 10-day exposure window prior to symptom onset. Patient medical charts were reviewed for demographics and types of healthcare setting exposure(s). There were 99 LD cases in the cohort: 31.3% were classified as having definite VA exposure, 37.4% were classified as possible VA with inpatient exposure, and 31.3% were classified as possible VA with both inpatient and outpatient exposure. For definite VA LD cases, 67.7% had some type of exposure in the long-term care setting. While 63% of the 99 cases had exposure in the acute care setting only, both the long-term care and acute care settings contributed substantially to the total number of exposure days. A review of patient movement during the exposure period showed the variable and sometimes extensive use of the VA system, and it provides insights useful for epidemiologic investigations and potential preventive actions.

Early Recognition of Coronavirus 2019 Disease (COVID-19) Infection in Surgical Inpatients: The Importance of a Risk-Stratified Approach for Early Testing and Isolation

Background: In the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, resuming provision of surgical services poses a challenge given that patients may have acute surgical pathologies with concurrent COVID-19 infection. We utilized a risk-stratified approach to allow for early recognition and isolation of potential COVID-19 infection in surgical patients, ensuring continuity of surgical services during a COVID-19 outbreak. Patients and Methods: Over a four-month period from January to April 2020, surgical patients admitted with concurrent respiratory symptom, infiltrates on chest imaging, or suspicious travel/epidemiologic history were placed in a dedicated ward in which they were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). If emergency operations were necessary prior to the exclusion of COVID-19, patients were managed as per suspected cases of COVID-19, with appropriate precautions and full personal protective equipment (PPE). Results: From January through April 2020, a total of 8,437 patients were admitted to our surgical department; 5.9% (498/8437) required peri-operative testing for SARS-CoV-2. Because testing was in-house with turnaround within 24 hours, only a small number of emergency operations (n = 10) were conducted for suspected COVID-19 cases prior to results; none tested positive. The testing yield was lower in surgical inpatients compared with medical inpatients (odds ratio [OR] = 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-0.32, p < 0.001). Three operations were conducted in known COVID-19 cases; all healthcare workers (HCWs) used full PPE. A risk-stratified testing strategy picked up previously unsuspected COVID-19 in six cases; 66.7% (4/6) were asymptomatic at presentation. Although 48 HCWs were exposed to these six cases, delayed diagnosis was averted and no evidence of spread to patients or HCWs was detected. Conclusion: A risk-stratified approach allowed for early recognition, testing, and isolation of potential COVID-19 infection in surgical patients, ensuring continuity of surgical services.

Candida auris colonization or infection of the ear: A single-center study in South Korea from 2016 to 2018

Candida auris was first identified in Japan from specimens obtained from the ear, but most reports since have reported invasive infections or non-ear based cases. We reviewed all the microbiology records from a single center in South Korea from February 2016 to July 2018. One hundred eleven isolates were positive for C. auris from 79 patients. All 79 patients positive for C. auris had positive ear discharge samples. All but one of the patients with C. auris had been to the otorhinolaryngology clinic. Symptom-driven ear culture was done for all but one patient, whose culture was performed for surveillance. Ear discharges were mostly purulent (60%) or serous (34%). We performed the environmental cultures at the otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic to evaluate the environmental contamination of C. auris, but C. auris was not isolated from medical equipment and environmental surfaces.

Hospital-Associated Multicenter Outbreak of Emerging Fungus Candida auris, Colombia, 2016

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungus that causes hospital-associated outbreaks of invasive infections with high death rates. During 2015-2016, health authorities in Colombia detected an outbreak of C. auris. We conducted an investigation to characterize the epidemiology, transmission mechanisms, and reservoirs of this organism. We investigated 4 hospitals with confirmed cases of C. auris candidemia in 3 cities in Colombia. We abstracted medical records and collected swabs from contemporaneously hospitalized patients to assess for skin colonization. We identified 40 cases; median patient age was 23 years (IQR 4 months-56 years). Twelve (30%) patients were <1 year of age, and 24 (60%) were male. The 30-day mortality was 43%. Cases clustered in time and location; axilla and groin were the most commonly colonized sites. Temporal and spatial clustering of cases and skin colonization suggest person-to-person transmission of C. auris. These cases highlight the importance of adherence to infection control recommendations.

Pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant patients with healthcare-associated Clostridium difficile infection were already colonized on admission

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of healthcare-associated infections worldwide. The diagnosis of C. difficile infection (CDI) in pediatric oncology patients is complex as diarrhea is common, and there is a high rate of colonization in infants and young children. This study was conducted to assess the accuracy of the surveillance definitions of healthcare-associated CDI (HA-CDI) and to determine the prevalence of toxigenic C. difficile colonization among pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant patients.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted over a three-year period in an inpatient pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant setting. Baseline stool samples were collected within three days of admission and were genotypically compared with clinically indicated samples submitted after three days of admission.

RESULTS

A total of 175 patients were recruited with a total of 536 admissions. The adjusted prevalence of baseline toxigenic C. difficile colonization among admissions was 32.8%. Seventy-eight percent of positive admissions did not have history of CDI. Colonization with a toxigenic strain on admission was predictive of CDI (OR = 28.6; 95% CI, 6.58-124.39; P < 0.001). Nearly all clinical isolates (8/9) shared identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns with baseline isolates or were closely related (1/9). Only one of the 11 cases that were considered HA-CDI was potentially nosocomially acquired.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of colonization with toxigenic C. difficile in our cohort is high. Unfortunately, the current CDI surveillance definitions overestimate the incidence of HA-CDI in pediatric oncology and stem cell transplantation settings.

Impact of Antibiotic Therapy in the Microbiological Yield of Healthcare-Associated Ventriculitis and Meningitis

The impact of antibiotic therapy on the diagnosis of healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis (HCAVM) is unknown. Antibiotics were administered before obtaining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 217 out of 326 (66%) patients with HCAVM, and they impacted the sensitivity of the cerebrospinal fluid Gram stain and culture (P ≤ .004).

Delftia tsuruhatensis, an Emergent Opportunistic Healthcare-Associated Pathogen

Delftia tsuruhatensis, which was first isolated in environmental samples, was rarely associated with human infections. We report on pneumonia caused by D. tsuruhatensis in an infant who underwent cardiac surgery. Retrospective analyses detected 9 other isolates from 8 patients. D. tsuruhatensis is an emergent pathogen, at least for immunocompromised patients.

The Epidemiology of Healthcare-associated Infections in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Units

BACKGROUND

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent serious complications for patients within pediatric cardiac intensive care units (CICU). HAIs are associated with increased morbidity, mortality and resource utilization. There are few studies describing the epidemiology of HAIs across the entire spectrum of patients (surgical and nonsurgical) receiving care in dedicated pediatric CICUs.

METHODS

Retrospective analyses of 22,839 CICU encounters from October 2013 to September 2016 across 22 North American CICUs contributing data to the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium clinical registry.

RESULTS

HAIs occurred in 2.4% of CICU encounters at a rate of 3.3 HAIs/1000 CICU days, with 73% of HAIs occurring in children <1 year. Eighty encounters (14%) had ≥2 HAIs. Aggregate rates for the 4 primary HAIs are as follows: central line-associated blood stream infection, 1.1/1000 line days; catheter-associated urinary tract infections, 1.5/1000 catheter days; ventilator-associated pneumonia, 1.9/1000 ventilator days; surgical site infections, 0.81/100 operations. Surgical and nonsurgical patients had similar HAIs rates/1000 CICU days. Incidence was twice as high in surgical encounters and increased with surgical complexity; postoperative infection occurred in 2.8% of encounters. Prematurity, younger age, presence of congenital anomaly, Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Congenital Heart Surgery Mortality Categories (STAT) 4-5 surgery, admission with an active medical condition, open sternum and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were independently associated with HAIs. In univariable analysis, HAI was associated with longer hospital length of stay and durations of urinary catheter, central venous catheter and ventilation. Mortality was 24.4% in patients with HAIs versus 3.4% in those without, P < 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide comprehensive multicenter benchmark data regarding rates of HAIs within dedicated pediatric CICUs. We confirm that although rare, HAIs of all types are associated with significant resource utilization and mortality.

Racial Differences in Sepsis Mortality at U.S. Academic Medical Center-Affiliated Hospitals

OBJECTIVES

To determine the racial disparities in severe sepsis hospitalizations and outcomes in U.S. academic medical center-affiliated hospitals.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of sepsis hospitalizations.

SETTINGS

U.S. academic medical center-affiliated hospitals participating in Vizient Consortium from 2012 to 2014.

PATIENTS

Sepsis hospitalizations using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision, discharge diagnoses codes defined by the Angus method.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We compared rates of sepsis hospitalization, ICU admission, organ dysfunction, and hospital mortality between blacks and whites. We repeated the analyses stratified by community-acquired, healthcare-associated, and hospital-acquired sepsis subtypes. Of 10,244,780 hospitalizations in our cohort, 1,114,386 (10.9%) had sepsis. Sepsis subtypes included community-acquired sepsis (61.8%), healthcare-associated sepsis (23.8%), and hospital-acquired sepsis (14.4%). Although the proportion of discharges with sepsis was lower for blacks than whites (106.72 vs 109.43 per 1,000 hospitalizations; p < 0.001), the proportion of black sepsis hospitalizations was higher for individuals greater than 30 years old. Blacks exhibited lower adjusted sepsis hospital mortality than whites (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.84-0.86). The adjusted odds of hospital mortality following community-acquired, healthcare-associated, and hospital-acquired sepsis were lower for blacks than whites.

CONCLUSIONS

In this current series of hospital discharges at U.S. academic medical center-affiliated hospitals, blacks exhibited lower adjusted rates of sepsis hospitalizations and mortality than whites.

Definition of healthcare-associated influenza: A review and results from an international survey

Aim

To describe definitions of healthcare‐associated influenza (HAI) in recent literature and in hospitals participating in a survey of Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Research Network (SRN) members.

Method

A review with PubMed search was undertaken to retrieve articles published between 2008 and 2016, focusing on the subject headings “influenza, human” and “cross infection.” Definitions of clinical influenza‐like illness (ILI) and HAI were identified. An invitation to participate in the survey was sent to 218 SRN members via email.

Results

Of 75 articles on HAI included in the review, 30 presented a standardized definition of clinical ILI based on fever (100%), cough (80%), and sore throat (70%). Forty studies (53%) contained a standardized HAI definition, grounded on threshold delay from admission in 29 of them, this delay ranging from 48 to 196 hour (median: 72 hour). Fifty‐five SRN members responded to the survey, with a standardized definition of HAI adopted by 76% of them. This definition was based on clinical features for 24%, virological features for 31%, and both for 45%. Fever (mean threshold: 38.0°C) was part of the definition for 82%. The features required most frequently in the clinical definition were cough (46%) and sore throat (26%). Median threshold delay between admission and symptoms onset adopted for HAI definition was 48 hour (range: 24‐96 hour).

Conclusion

This work underlined the heterogeneity of HAI definitions in different countries. A standardized definition would be helpful to evaluate HAI spread, outcomes in patients and healthcare systems, and the impact of prevention measures, including vaccination.

Rotavirus and Norovirus in Pediatric Healthcare-Associated Gastroenteritis

Rotavirus and norovirus are important etiologies of gastroenteritis among hospitalized children. During 2012–2013, we tested 207 residual stool specimens from children with healthcare-associated vomiting and/or diarrhea for rotavirus and norovirus. Twenty (10%) were rotavirus positive, and 3 (3%) were norovirus positive, stressing the importance of these pathogens in hospitalized children.

Early deaths in bloodstream infections: a population-based case series

A notable portion of deaths in bloodstream infections (BSI) have previously been shown to occur within 2 days after taking the first positive blood culture specimen. The aim of this study was to analyse patients' characteristics and causative pathogens of BSIs, leading to early deaths in order to explore possibilities for prevention. Patients with BSI in Helsinki and Uusimaa region (population = 1.5 million) in 2007 were identified from the National Infectious Disease Register (n = 2181) and their deaths within 2 days after the first positive blood culture from the Population Information System (n = 76). Of the early fatal BSIs, 42 (55%) were community-acquired (CA-BSI) and 34 (45%) healthcare-associated (HA-BSI). Charlson comorbidity index was moderate-to-high (index ≥ 3) in 71% of HA-BSIs and 60% of CA-BSIs. The most common pathogens in CA-BSIs were Streptococcus pneumoniae (29%) and Escherichia coli (24%) and in HA-BSIs Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24%) and Staphylococcus aureus (18%). The respiratory tract (50%) was the most common focus of infection. Empiric antimicrobial treatment was more often appropriate in CA-BSIs vs HA-BSIs (81% vs 41%, p < 0.001), but treatment delays were longer in CA-BSIs. The majority of the BSI patients who died early had severe comorbidities. S. pneumoniae accounted for one third of CA-BSIs, highlighting the potential role of pneumococcal vaccines in prevention. Early recognition of BSI and its origin (CA-BSI vs HA-BSI) is crucial. Continuous surveillance data on causative microbes and resistance trends in hospitals is needed to propose guidelines for empiric antimicrobial therapy of BSIs.

Community-, Healthcare-, and Hospital-Acquired Severe Sepsis Hospitalizations in the University HealthSystem Consortium

OBJECTIVES

Severe sepsis poses a major burden on the U.S. healthcare system. Previous epidemiologic studies have not differentiated community-acquired severe sepsis from healthcare-associated severe sepsis or hospital-acquired severe sepsis hospitalizations. We sought to compare and contrast community-acquired severe sepsis, healthcare-associated severe sepsis, and hospital-acquired severe sepsis hospitalizations in a national hospital sample.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of severe sepsis discharges from University HealthSystem Consortium hospitals in 2012.

SETTING

United States.

PATIENTS

We used the criteria from Angus et al (discharge diagnoses for both a serious infection and organ dysfunction) to identify severe sepsis hospitalizations. We defined healthcare-associated severe sepsis as severe sepsis hospitalizations with an infection present at admission, where the patient was a nursing home resident, was on hemodialysis, or was readmitted within 30 days of a prior hospitalization. We defined community-acquired severe sepsis as all other severe sepsis patients with an infection present at admission. We defined hospital-acquired severe sepsis as severe sepsis patients where the documented infection was not present at admission.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Prevalence of community-acquired severe sepsis, healthcare-associated severe sepsis, and hospital-acquired severe sepsis, adjusted hospital mortality, length of hospitalization, length of stay in an ICU, and hospital costs. Among 3,355,753 hospital discharges, there were 307,491 with severe sepsis, including 193,081 (62.8%) community-acquired severe sepsis, 79,581 (25.9%) healthcare-associated severe sepsis, and 34,829 (11.3%) hospital-acquired severe sepsis. Hospital-acquired severe sepsis and healthcare-associated severe sepsis exhibited higher in-hospital mortality than community-acquired severe sepsis (hospital acquired [19.2%] vs healthcare associated [12.8%] vs community acquired [8.6%]). Hospital-acquired severe sepsis had greater resource utilization than both healthcare-associated severe sepsis and community-acquired severe sepsis, with higher median length of hospital stay (hospital acquired [17 d] vs healthcare associated [7 d] vs community acquired [6 d]), median length of ICU stay (hospital acquired [8 d] vs healthcare associated [3 d] vs community acquired [3 d]), and median hospital costs (hospital acquired [$38,369] vs healthcare associated [$8,796] vs community acquired [$7,024]).

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, severe sepsis hospitalizations included community-acquired severe sepsis (62.8%), healthcare-associated severe sepsis (25.9%), and hospital-acquired severe sepsis (11.3%) cases. Hospital-acquired severe sepsis was associated with both higher mortality and resource utilization than community-acquired severe sepsis and healthcare-associated severe sepsis.

New epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus infection in Asia

Not only is Asia the most populous region in the world, but inappropriate therapy, including self-medication with over-the-counter antimicrobial agents, is a common response to infectious diseases. The high antibiotic selective pressure among the overcrowded inhabitants creates an environment that is suitable for the rapid development and efficient spread of numerous multidrug-resistant pathogens. Indeed, Asia is among the regions with the highest prevalence rates of healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) and community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) in the world. Most hospitals in Asia are endemic for multidrug-resistant methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), with an estimated proportion from 28% (in Hong Kong and Indonesia) to >70% (in Korea) among all clinical S. aureus isolates in the early 2010s. Isolates with reduced susceptibility or a high level of resistance to glycopeptides have also been increasingly identified in the past few years. In contrast, the proportion of MRSA among community-associated S. aureus infections in Asian countries varies markedly, from <5% to >35%. Two pandemic HA-MRSA clones, namely multilocus sequence type (ST) 239 and ST5, are disseminated internationally in Asia, whereas the molecular epidemiology of CA-MRSA in Asia is characterized by clonal heterogeneity, similar to that in Europe. In this review, the epidemiology of S. aureus in both healthcare facilities and communities in Asia is addressed, with an emphasis on the prevalence, clonal structure and antibiotic resistant profiles of the MRSA strains. The novel MRSA strains from livestock animals have been considered to constitute a public health threat in western countries. The emerging livestock-associated MRSA strains in Asia are also included in this review.

Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalized patients at university clinical center tuzla, bosnia and herzegovina: a 4 year experience

Introduction:

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is currently the leading cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea, but almost nothing is known about the extent of C. difficile infection (CDI) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Goal:

We aimed to retrospectively analyze CDI in hospitalized patients at University Clinical Center (UCC) Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina from January 2009 through June 2012.

Methods:

We analyzed all patients (except children ages 0-2), diagnosed with CDI based on anamnestic and epidemiological, clinical picture and microbiological tests (proof of toxins in the stool by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).

Results:

From a total of 989 patients tested for C. difficile toxin (60.2 per 10,000 inpatient days) 347 (35.08%) were positives. The mean incidence rate of CDI was 2.23 per 10,000 inpatient days (range 1.32-2.87). Annual rates of hospitalization were 15.68 per 10,000 admissions (range 8.99-20.35). Most patients had a previously identified risk profile of old age, comorbidity and recent use of antibiotics. 41/276 (14.86%) patients had died, and 11/41 (26.82%) were CDI-associated deaths. Complicated CDI were registered in 53/276 (19.21%) patients, and recurrent infections in 65/276 (23.55%).

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that CDI is largely present in our setting which represents a serious problem and points to the importance of international surveillance, detection and control of CDI.

Healthcare-associated, community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacteraemic urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients: a prospective multicentre cohort study in the era of antimicrobial resistance

The clinical and microbiological characteristics of community-onset healthcare-associated (HCA) bacteraemia of urinary source are not well defined. We conducted a prospective cohort study at eight tertiary-care hospitals in Spain, from October 2010 to June 2011. All consecutive adult patients hospitalized with bacteraemic urinary tract infection (BUTI) were included. HCA-BUTI episodes were compared with community-acquired (CA) and hospital-acquired (HA) BUTI. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify 30-day mortality risk factors. We included 667 episodes of BUTI (246 HCA, 279 CA and 142 HA). Differences between HCA-BUTI and CA-BUTI were female gender (40% vs 69%, p <0.001), McCabe score II-III (48% vs 14%, p <0.001), Pitt score ≥2 (40% vs 31%, p 0.03), isolation of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaciae (13% vs 5%, p <0.001), median hospital stay (9 vs 7 days, p 0.03), inappropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy (21% vs 13%, p 0.02) and mortality (11.4% vs 3.9%, p 0.001). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more frequently isolated in HA-BUTI (16%) than in HCA-BUTI (4%, p <0.001). Independent factors for mortality were age (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.07), McCabe score II-III (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.8-5.5), Pitt score ≥2 (OR 3.2 (1.8-5.5) and HA-BUTI OR 3.4 (1.2-9.0)). Patients with HCA-BUTI are a specific group with significant clinical and microbiological differences from patients with CA-BUTI, and some similarities with patients with HA-BUTI. Mortality was associated with patient condition, the severity of infection and hospital acquisition.

Readmission following hospitalization for pneumonia: the impact of pneumonia type and its implication for hospitals

BACKGROUND

Readmission rates following discharge after pneumonia are thought to represent the quality of care. Factors associated with readmission, however, remain poorly described. It is unclear if readmission rates vary based on pneumonia type.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified adults admitted to an index hospital with non-nosocomial pneumonia (January through December 2010) and who survived to discharge. We only included patients with bacterial evidence of infection. Readmission in the 30 days following discharge to any of 9 hospitals comprising the index hospital's healthcare system served as the primary end point. We recorded demographics, severity of illness, comorbidities, and infection-related factors. We noted whether the patient had healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) versus community-acquired pneumonia. We utilized logistic regression analysis to determine factors independently associated with readmission.

RESULTS

The cohort included 977 subjects; 78.9% survived to discharge. The readmission rate equaled 20%. Neither disease severity nor the rate of initially inappropriate antibiotic therapy correlated with readmission. Subjects with HCAP were 7.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6-15.7) times more likely to be readmitted. Four HCAP criteria were independently associated with readmission: admission from long-term care (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.2 [95% CI, 1.4-3.4]); immunosuppression (AOR, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.3-2.9]); prior antibiotics (AOR, 1.7 [95% CI, 1.2-2.6]); and prior hospitalization (AOR, 1.7 [95% CI, 1.1-2.5]).

CONCLUSIONS

Readmission for pneumonia is common but varies based on pneumonia type. The variables associated with readmission do not reflect factors that hospitals directly control. Use of one rule to guide payment that fails to account for HCAP and the HCAP criteria on readmission seems inappropriate.