To evaluate the reliability and validity of a standardized measure of healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination.

Acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices, and dialysis centers from 3 US jurisdictions.

Staff from 96 healthcare facilities randomly sampled from 234 facilities that completed pilot testing to assess the feasibility of the measure.

Reliability was assessed by comparing agreement between facility staff and project staff on the classification of HCP numerator (vaccinated at facility, vaccinated elsewhere, contraindicated, declined) and denominator (employees, credentialed nonemployees, other nonemployees) categories. To assess validity, facility staff completed a series of case studies to evaluate how closely classification of HCP groups aligned with the measure's specifications. In a modified Delphi process, experts rated face validity of the proposed measure elements on a Likert-type scale.

Percent agreement was high for HCP vaccinated at the facility (99%) and elsewhere (95%) and was lower for HCP who declined vaccination (64%) or were medically contraindicated (64%). While agreement was high (more than 90%) for all denominator categories, many facilities' staff excluded nonemployees for whom numerator and denominator status was difficult to determine. Validity was lowest for credentialed and other nonemployees.

The standardized measure of HCP influenza vaccination yields reproducible results for employees vaccinated at the facility and elsewhere. Adhering to true medical contraindications and tracking decimations should improve reliability. Difficulties in establishing denominators and determining vaccination status for credentialed and other nonemployees challenged the measure's validity and prompted revision to include a more limited group of nonemployees.

To quantify and characterize overall antimicrobial use, including appropriateness of indication, among patients receiving chronic hemodialysis.

Retrospective and prospective observational study.

Two outpatient hemodialysis units.

All patients receiving chronic hemodialysis.

The rate of parenteral antimicrobial use (number of doses per 100 patient-months) was calculated retrospectively from September 2008 through July 2011. Indication and appropriateness of antimicrobial doses were characterized prospectively from August 2010 through July 2011. Inappropriate administration was defined as occasions when criteria for infection based on national guidelines were not met, failure to choose a more narrow-spectrum antimicrobial on the basis of culture data, or occasions when indications for surgical prophylaxis were not met.

Over the 35-month retrospective study period, the rate of parenteral antimicrobial use was 32.9 doses per 100 patient-months. Vancomycin was the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial, followed by cefazolin and third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins. Over the 12-month prospective study, 1,003 antimicrobial doses were prescribed. Among the 926 (92.3%) doses for which an indication for administration was available, 276 (29.8%) were classified as inappropriate. Of these, a total of 146 (52.9%) did not meet criteria for infection, 74 (26.8%) represented failure to choose a more narrow-spectrum antimicrobial, and 56 (20.3%) did not meet criteria for surgical prophylaxis. The most common inappropriately prescribed antimicrobials were vancomycin and third- or fourth- generation cephalosporins.

Parenteral antimicrobial use was extensive, and as much as one-third was categorized as inappropriate. The findings of this study provide novel information toward minimizing inappropriate antimicrobial use.

To determine prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of infection due to Escherichia coli sequence type ST131.

Retrospective cohort.

All healthcare settings in Olmsted County, Minnesota (eg, community hospital, tertiary care center, long-term care facilities, and ambulatory clinics).

Ambulatory and hospitalized children and adults with extraintestinal E. coli isolates.

We analyzed 299 consecutive, nonduplicate extraintestinal E. coli isolates submitted to Olmsted County laboratories in February and March 2011. ST131 was identified using single-nucleotide polymorphism polymerase chain reaction and further evaluated through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Associated clinical data were abstracted through medical record review.

Most isolates were from urine specimens (90%), outpatients (68%), and community-associated infections (61%). ST131 accounted for 27% of isolates overall and for a larger proportion of those isolates resistant to fluoroquinolones (81%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (42%), gentamicin (79%), and ceftriaxone (50%). The prevalence of ST131 increased with age (accounting for 5% of isolates from those 11–20 years of age, 26% of isolates from those 51–60 years of age, and 50% of isolates from those 91–100 years of age). ST131 accounted for a greater proportion of healthcare-associated isolates (49%) than community-associated isolates (15%) and for fully 76% of E. coli isolates from long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. Multivariable predictors of ST131 carriage included older age, LTCF residence, previous urinary tract infection, high-complexity infection, and previous use of fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and extended-spectrum cephalosporins. With multivariable adjustment, ST131-associated infection outcomes included receipt of more than 1 antibiotic (odds ratio [OR], 2.54 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25–5.17]) and persistent or recurrent symptoms (OR, 2.53 [95% CI, 1.08–5.96]). Two globally predominant ST131 pulsotypes accounted for 45% of STB 1 isolates.

ST131isa dominant, antimicrobial-resistant clonal group associated with healthcare settings, elderly hosts, and persistent or recurrent symptoms.

Healthcare-associated transmission of respiratory viruses is a concerning patient safety issue.

Surveillance for influenza virus among a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) was conducted in a tertiary care children's hospital from November 2009 through April 2010 using biweekly nasal swab specimen collection. If a subject reported respiratory symptoms, an additional specimen was collected. Specimens from ill HCWs and a randomly selected sample from asymptomatic subjects were tested for additional respiratory viruses by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

A total of 1,404 nasal swab specimens were collected from 170 enrolled subjects. Influenza circulated at very low levels during the surveillance period, and 74.2% of subjects received influenza vaccination. Influenza virus was not detected in any specimen. Multiplex respiratory virus PCR analysis of all 119 specimens from symptomatic subjects and 200 specimens from asymptomatic subjects yielded a total of 42 positive specimens, including 7 (16.7%) in asymptomatic subjects. Viral shedding was associated with report of any symptom (odds ratio [OR], 13.06 [95% confidence interval, 5.45–31.28]; P< .0001) and younger age (OR, 0.96 [95% confidence interval, 0.92–0.99]; P = .023) when controlled for sex and occupation of physician or nurse. After the surveillance period, 46% of subjects reported working while ill with an influenza-like illness during the previous influenza season.

In this cohort, HCWs working while ill was common, as was viral shedding among those with symptoms. Asymptomatic viral shedding was infrequent but did occur. HCWs should refrain from patient care duties while ill, and staffing contingencies should accommodate them.

To assess antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) and strategies in California general acute care hospitals and to describe the effect of state legislation (Senate Bill 739) requiring hospitals to develop processes for evaluating the judicious use of antimicrobials.

Web-based survey of general acute care hospitals.

All 422 general acute care hospital campuses in California were invited to participate.

Responses from 223 (53%) of California's general acute care hospital campuses were included and were statistically representative of all acute care hospital campuses by region but not bed size or rurality. Community hospitals represented 73% of respondents. Fifty percent of hospitals described a current ASP and 30% reported planning an ASP; of these, 51% reported measuring outcomes. Twenty percent of hospitals reported no planned ASP or uncertainty whether an ASP existed and described barriers including staffing constraints (47%), lack of funding (42%), and lack of initiation of a formal proposal to start an ASP (42%). Of 135 responding hospitals, 22% reported that Senate Bill 739 influenced initiation of their ASP.

Although many studies have been published that describe hospital-specific ASPs, most have been described within academic centers, and there are limited assessments of ASP strategies across hospital systems. Our study verifies that many ASPs exist in California, particularly in community settings where a scarcity of antimicrobial restriction was thought to exist. Additionally, Senate Bill 739 appears to have played a role in initiating many hospital ASPs, which supports the adoption of similar legislation in other states and nationally.

To validate the utility of a previously published scoring model (Italian) to identify patients infected with community-onset extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-EKP) and develop a new model (Duke) based on local epidemiology.

This case-control study included patients 18 years of age or more admitted to Duke University Hospital between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2010, with culture-confirmed infection due to an ESBL-EKP (cases). Uninfected controls were matched to cases (3 : 1). The Italian model was applied to our patient population for validation. The Duke model was developed through logistic-regression-based prediction scores calculated on variables independently associated with ESBL-EKP isolation. Sensitivities and specificities at various point cutoffs were determined, and determination of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC) was performed.

A total of 123 cases and 375 controls were identified. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for variables previously identified in the Italian model were as follows: hospitalization (3.20 [1.62–6.55]), transfer (4.31 [2.15–8.78]), urinary catheterization (5.92 [3.09–11.60]), β-lactam and/or fluoroquinolone therapy (3.76 [2.06–6.95]), age 70 years or more (1.55 [0.79–3.01]), and Charlson Comorbidity Score of 4 or above (1.06 [0.55–2.01]). Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, more than or equal to 95% and less than or equal to 47% for scores 3 or below and were less than or equal to 50% and more than or equal to 96% for scores 8 or above. The ROC AUC was 0.88. Variables identified in the Duke model were as follows: hospitalization (2.63 [1.32–5.41]), transfer (5.30 [2.67–10.71]), urinary catheterization (6.89 [3.62–13.38]), β-lactam and/or fluoroquinolone therapy (3.47 [1.91–6.41]), and immunosuppression (2.34 [1.14–4.80]). Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, more than or equal to 94% and less than or equal to 65% for scores 3 or below and were less than or equal to 58% and more than or equal to 95% for scores 8 or above. The ROC AUC was 0.89.

While the previously reported model was an excellent predictor of community-onset ESBL-EKP infection, models utilizing factors based on local epidemiology may be associated with improved performance.

USA300 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common cause of skin and soft-tissue infection (SSTI) in military personnel. USA300 MRSA has emerged as an important cause of healthcare-associated bloodstream infection (BSI) in metropolitan centers.

To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and patient outcomes associated with USA300 MRSA BSI in military tertiary medical centers.

Retrospective case-control study.

Patients admitted during the period 2001–2009 with MRSA BSI.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Washington, DC) and National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda, MD) tertiary medical centers with 500 inpatient beds combined, which provide care to active duty service members and military beneficiaries.

After identifying patients with MRSA BSI, we collected epidemiological data from electronic medical records and characterized bacterial isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

A total of 245 MRSA BSI cases were identified, and 151 isolates were available for analysis. Epidemiological characteristics for the 151 patients with available isolates included the following: mean age, 61 years; male sex, 70%; white race, 62%; and combat-wounded service members, 11%. The crude in-hospital mortality rate was 17%. PFGE demonstrated that 30 (20%) of 151 MRSA BSI cases with isolates available for analysis were due to USA300, and 27 (87%) of these 30 cases were healthcare-associated infection. USA300 was associated with a significantly increasing proportion of MRSA BSI when examined over sequential time periods: 2 (4%) of 51 isolates during 2001–2003, 9 (19%) of 47 isolates during 2004–2006, and 19 (36%) of 53 isolates during 2007–2009 (P<.001).

USA300 MRSA is emerging as a cause of healthcare-associated BSI in tertiary military medical centers.

We evaluated the clinical and molecular epidemiology of bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in older versus younger patients treated with vancomycin, determining the independent effect of increased age on outcomes.

Observational retrospective cohort study.

Detroit Medical Center, level I trauma center.

Adult older (65 years and older) and younger (younger than 65 years) patients with documented BSIs due to MRSA treated with vancomycin (2005–2010).

Collected demographics, comorbidities, microbiology, treatment, outcomes. Multivariable model used to generate propensity score for each patient on the basis of the probability of being 65 years of age or older.

Three hundred twenty patients were eligible (69 patients 65 years and older; 251 patients younger than 65 years). Catheter-related infections and endocarditis were the most common sites of infection for older (20.3%) and younger (19.1%) adults, respectively. Median first total 24-hour vancomycin dose (1,000 vs 2,000 mg; P< .001) and initial trough (13.1 vs 15.0 mg/L; P = .043) was significantly lower in older versus younger patients. Vancomycin treatment failure rates were similar among older and younger patients (49.3% vs 53.4%; P = .545). In multivariable analysis of outcomes, after controlling for predictors of older age, there was no difference in clinical outcomes between older and younger adults.

After accounting for confounders associated with increased age, failure rate of patients with BSIs due to MRSA treated with vancomycin was similar between older and younger patients. Older adults were less likely to have optimal vancomycin dosing and initial trough levels than younger patients. Efforts should be made to optimize dosing of medications such as vancomycin in older adults.

A major challenge in treating Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is relapse. Many new therapies are being developed to help prevent this outcome. We sought to establish risk factors for relapse and determine whether fields available in an electronic health record (EHR) could be used to identify high-risk patients for targeted relapse prevention strategies.

Retrospective cohort study.

Large clinical data warehouse at a 4-hospital healthcare organization.

Data were gathered from January 2006 through October 2010. Subjects were all inpatient episodes of a positive C. difficile test where patients were available for 56 days of follow-up.

Relapse was defined as another positive test between 15 and 56 days after the initial test. Multivariable regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with CDI relapse.

Eight hundred twenty-nine episodes met eligibility criteria, and 198 resulted in relapse (23.9%). In the final multivariable analysis, risk of relapse was associated with age (odds ratio [OR], 1.02 per year [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.03]), fluoroquinolone exposure in the 90 days before diagnosis (OR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.11–2.26]), intensive care unit stay in the 30 days before diagnosis (OR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.30–0.75]), cephalosporin (OR, 1.80 [95% CI, 1.19–2.71]), proton pump inhibitor (PPI; OR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.05–2.29]), and metronidazole exposure after diagnosis (OR, 2.74 [95% CI, 1.64–4.60]). A prediction model tuned to ensure a 50% probability of relapse would flag 14.6% of CDI episodes.

Data from a comprehensive EHR can be used to identify patients at high risk for CDI relapse. Major risk factors include antibiotic and PPI exposure.

To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multi-dimensional hand hygiene approach in 19 limited-resource countries and to analyze predictors of poor hand hygiene compliance.

An observational, prospective, cohort, interventional, before-and-after study from April 1999 through December 2011. The study was divided into 2 periods: a 3-month baseline period and a 7-year follow-up period.

Ninety-nine intensive care unit (ICU) members of the INICC in Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Greece, India, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, and Turkey.

Healthcare workers at 99 ICU members of the INICC.

A multidimensional hand hygiene approach was used, including (1) administrative support, (2) supplies availability, (3) education and training, (4) reminders in the workplace, (5) process surveillance, and (6) performance feedback. Observations were made for hand hygiene compliance in each ICU, during randomly selected 30-minute periods.

A total of 149,727 opportunities for hand hygiene were observed. Overall hand hygiene compliance increased from 48.3% to 71.4% (P < .01). Univariate analysis indicated that several variables were significantly associated with poor hand hygiene compliance, including males versus females (63% vs 70%; P<.001), physicians versus nurses (62% vs 72%; P<.001), and adult versus neonatal ICUs (67% vs 81%; P<.001), among others.

Adherence to hand hygiene increased by 48% with the INICC approach. Specific programs directed to improve hand hygiene for variables found to be predictors of poor hand hygiene compliance should be implemented.