We assessed whether implementation of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry without antimicrobial stewardship support would impact antimicrobial utilization and clinical outcomes in inpatient pneumonia. Implementation significantly reduced time to organism identification and time to optimal therapy but did not have a detectable impact on clinical outcomes.

A survey of hospital antimicrobial stewardship programs was performed to validate core element achievement data from the National Healthcare Safety Network’s (NHSN) Patient Safety Component Annual Survey. In total, 89% of hospitals met all 7 core elements, compared to only 68% according to the NHSN survey.

We assessed the impact of an embedded electronic medical record decision-support matrix (Cerner software system) for the reduction of hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile. A critical review of 3,124 patients highlighted excessive testing frequency in an academic medical center and demonstrated the impact of decision support following a testing fidelity algorithm.

We identified a pseudo-outbreak of Mycobacterium avium in an outpatient bronchoscopy clinic following an increase in clinic procedure volume. We terminated the pseudo-outbreak by increasing the frequency of automated endoscope reprocessors (AER) filter changes from quarterly to monthly. Filter changing schedules should depend on use rather than fixed time intervals.

An outbreak of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producing Klebsiella pneumoniae occurred at a children’s hospital in Japan. MBL-producing K. pneumoniae was detected in tea dispenser in the hospital, the use of which was associated with the acquisition of the MBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The outbreak ceased after use of the tea dispenser was banned.

Antimicrobial stewardship programs typically use days of therapy to assess antimicrobial use. However, this metric does not account for the antimicrobial spectrum of activity. We applied an antibiotic spectrum index to a population of very-low-birth-weight infants to assess its utility to evaluate the impact of antimicrobial stewardship interventions.

A novel disinfectant studied using an EPA protocol demonstrated sustained antimicrobial activity (ie, 3–5 log10 reduction) in 5 minutes after 24 hours for Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, Candida auris, carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and antibiotic-susceptible E. coli, and Enterobacter spp. Only ∼2 log10 reduction occurred with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter spp and K. pneumoniae, and antibiotic-susceptible K. pneumoniae.

We performed an intervention evaluating the impact of an electronic hard-stop clinical decision support tool on repeat Clostridioides difficile (CD) toxin enzyme immunoassay (T-EIA) testing. The CD testing rate and number of admissions with repeat tests decreased significantly postintervention (P < .01 for both); the percentage of positive tests was unchanged (P = .27).

We measured droplet aerosol dissemination of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) by sampling air surrounding 10 ventilated patients with CRAB isolated in sputum. Over 70 hours, we sampled 252,000 L of air; CRAB was detected in 39,600 L (16%). CRAB growth was higher during patient care, notably suctioning and sheet changing.

We investigated the impact of discontinuation of contact precautions for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infected or colonized patients on central-line associated bloodstream infection rates at an academic children’s hospital. Discontinuation of contact precautions with a bundled horizontal infection prevention platform resulted in no adverse impact on CLABSI rates.

Recommending nitrofurantoin to treat uncomplicated cystitis was associated with increased nitrofurantoin use from 3.53 to 4.01 prescriptions per 1,000 outpatient visits, but nitrofurantoin resistance in E. coli isolates remained stable at 2%. Concomitant levofloxacin resistance was a significant risk for nitrofurantoin resistance in E. coli isolates (odds ratio [OR], 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–7.17).

We conducted a 6-year retrospective analysis of monitoring of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in a large hospital in a low CPE incidence area, and we evaluated the “search and isolate” strategy implemented. In total, 40 CPE isolates were collected from 32 patients, and only 1.4% of contact patients screened were CPE carriers.

Broad-spectrum antibiotic de-escalation before and after implementation of a 72-hour antibiotic time-out alert within the electronic medical record was analyzed. De-escalation occurred significantly more often after the implementation of the alert (55.0% vs 35.1%; 95% confidence interval, −0.3491 to −0.0488; P < .01).

Little is known about prescribers’ attitudes regarding clinical nurses and antimicrobial stewardship. We conducted focus groups of prescribers and inquired about attitudes regarding nurses and stewardship. During 6 focus groups, prescribers were receptive to nursing involvement in stewardship activities, but noted structural barriers and knowledge gaps that should be addressed.

In 2017, we surveyed long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania regarding antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. Among 244 responding facilities, 93% had IPC programs and 47% had antimicrobial stewardship programs. There was significant variation in practices across facilities, and a number of program implementation challenges were identified.

Healthcare organizations are required to provide workers with respiratory protection (RP) to mitigate hazardous airborne inhalation exposures. This study sought to better identify gaps that exist between RP guidance and clinical practice to understand issues that would benefit from additional research or clarification.

Antibiotic use tracking in nursing homes is necessary for stewardship and regulatory requirements but may be burdensome. We used pharmacy data to evaluate whether once-weekly sampling of antibiotic use can estimate total use; we found no significant differences in estimated and measured antibiotic use.

An antimicrobial screen was applied to the cell phones of 26 resident physicians to determine its effects on the phone microbiome and its potential to serve as a selective agent for antibiotic or silver resistance genes. No increase of these genes was observed now was there a shift in the overall microbial community.