In a propensity-matched cohort of adult cardiac or neurosurgical procedures ( = 1,342), infection was less frequent with continuous infusion (1.8%) versus intermittent cefazolin (2.4%), though the difference was statistically non-significant (-0.6%, 95% CI-2.3 to 1.1; = 0.57). The 0% infection rate among cardiac cases receiving continuous cefazolin infusion warrants further investigation.

To deconstruct the multiple levels of risk factors for infection, using multilevel models (MLMs) accounting for patient movement.

Assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices for control of among healthcare providers in long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs).

We characterized antibiotic prescribing for outpatient telemedicine visits among a large cohort of pediatric, adult, and older adult populations during 2021. Opportunities exist for improving antibiotic prescribing in outpatient telemedicine, especially for respiratory conditions and among rural and older adult populations.

Shorter antibiotic courses and transition to oral therapy for uncomplicated gram-negative bloodstream infections (GN-BSI) are evidence-supported yet remain challenging to implement. Here we report our experience with a GN-BSI antimicrobial stewardship (AS) quality improvement initiative in a large health system.

To evaluate the incidence of hospital-onset bacteremia and fungemia (HOB) among solid organ malignancy (SOM), hematologic malignancy (HM), and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) therapy patients at a large cancer care center.

Outbreak investigation and control are critical for preventing the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings. Traditional methods rely on manual processes, which are time-consuming and limited in scope. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) surveillance improves outbreak detection but still requires extensive manual chart reviews to identify transmission routes. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) may enhance the efficiency and accuracy of these investigations.

Investigate the increased incidence of positive respiratory cultures in hospitalized patients.

Cardiovascular surgeries can be lifesaving, but mediastinitis following these procedures results in increased morbidity and mortality. We sought to increase the number of days between cases of mediastinitis at our institution from an average of 58 to greater than 223 days, the upper control limit of our baseline data.

To evaluate ultraviolet-C (UV-C) disinfection, we interviewed 34 personnel at 22 Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Barriers included safety concerns, patient volumes, staffing, and costs. Facilitators included education and interprofessional communication. An implementation toolkit, interprofessional collaboration, and leadership support could optimize UV-C integration into VA infection prevention.

This anonymous survey of hospitalists and acute care nurses evaluated awareness of peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) presence and decision-making regarding PIVC insertion, maintenance, and removal. Nurses were most aware of PIVC presence and regarded as best to make decisions about PIVC, yet <50% of respondents felt nurses should remove PIVC without an order.

An outbreak of /ST82 was detected through prospective genomic surveillance at a military treatment facility. Twenty-one of twenty-six patients had confirmed epidemiological links to grappling sports. One case resulted from household transmission. The benefits of routine surveillance extend beyond the hospital environment enabling the detection of community-driven transmission.

To explore the impact of an immersive virtual reality (VR) training module on infection prevention and control (IPC) knowledge and attitudes of healthcare personnel (HCP) and to demonstrate the use of VR for performance assessment in cleaning and disinfection of portable medical equipment (PME).

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), outbreaks caused by methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) are less commonly described than outbreaks caused by methicillin-resistant (MRSA) despite the increased burden of MSSA infections.

Therapies provided in nontraditional settings or by individuals without knowledge of core principles of infection prevention and control (IPC) may place consumers at risk of adverse events. We summarize findings from our recent consultation experiences in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help identify targets for prevention efforts and enhanced consumer protections.

Recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are at increased risk for infection (CDI) and its recurrence, which are associated with significant morbidity. We aimed to characterize risk factors for primary and recurrent CDI in a large cohort of HCT recipients.

Hospital sink drains are recognized reservoirs for gram-negative bacteria (GNB). This study evaluates the efficacy of a sink drain disinfection strategy using hydrogen peroxide-based foam, mechanical cleaning, and drain cover replacement in reducing GNB bioburden in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

To analyze the correlation between scale of clustering and extent of environmental contamination, exploring its implications for improving infection control measures in healthcare settings.

The publication rate of abstracts presented at a conference can provide some insight into its academic quality, although it is hardly the sole metric. We evaluated 351 SHEA Spring Conference abstracts; 49.9% were published. Findings demonstrate the strong academic output of SHEA conferences.