Single‑Dose Pharmacokinetics and Safety of the Oral Galectin‑3 Inhibitor, Selvigaltin (GB1211), in Participants with Hepatic Impairment.

Background And Objectives: Selvigaltin (GB1211), an orally available small molecule galectin-3 inhibitor developed as a treatment for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, was evaluated to assess the effect of hepatic impairment on its pharmacokinetics and safety to address regulatory requirements.

Methods: GULLIVER-2 was a Phase Ib/IIa three-part study. Parts 1 and 3 had single-dose, open-label designs assessing pharmacokinetics (plasma [total and unbound] and urine), safety, and tolerability of 100 mg oral selvigaltin in participants with moderate (Child-Pugh B, Part 1) or severe (Child-Pugh C, Part 3) hepatic impairment, compared with healthy-matched participants (n = 6 each).

ICU outcomes following a Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) reduction quality improvement project.

Background: Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) are significant complications for hospitalized patients. Several different approaches have been used to reduce CLABSI.

Objective: This study aimed to (1) describe a systematic approach used to analyze and reduce CLABSI rates in a surgical ICU (SICU) at a quaternary care medical facility (CLABSI reduction bundle) and (2) examine the association of the bundle on CLABSI rates in the SICU, compared to six unexposed health system ICUs.

Reducing Clostridioides difficile Infections in a Medical Intensive Care Unit: A Multimodal Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background: Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection causes significant morbidity for hospitalized patients. A large medical intensive care unit had an increase in C.

Comparative analysis of sampling and detection methods for fungal contamination on common healthcare environment surface materials.

We evaluated sampling and detection methods for fungal contamination on healthcare surface materials, comparing the efficacy of foam sponges, flocked swabs, and Replicate Organism Detection And Counting (RODAC) plates alongside culture-based quantification and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Findings indicate that sponge sampling and qPCR detection performed best, suggesting a foundation for future studies aiming to surveillance practices for fungi.

Comparative epidemiology of hospital-onset bloodstream infections (HOBSIs) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) across a three-hospital health system.

Objective: To evaluate the comparative epidemiology of hospital-onset bloodstream infection (HOBSI) and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI).

Design And Setting: Retrospective observational study of HOBSI and CLABSI across a three-hospital healthcare system from 01/01/2017 to 12/31/2021.

Methods: HOBSIs were identified as any non-commensal positive blood culture event on or after hospital day 3.

Healthcare Provider N95 Respirator Contamination Worn Behind Face Shields With SARS-CoV-2 During Routine Clinical Care of Patients With COVID-19.

N95 respirator contamination with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during clinical care of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 is poorly understood. We performed a prospective observational study on healthcare provider's (HCP's) N95 respirators' and face shields' SARS-CoV-2 contamination during aerosol-generating procedures on SARS-CoV-2-positive patients housed in a COVID-19-specific unit. Medical masks worn on top of HCP's N95 respirators, and under face shields, during study aerosol-generating procedures were used as surrogates to detect contamination to avoid waste.

Identification of carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO) contamination of in-room sinks in intensive care units in a new hospital bed tower.

Background: The origins and timing of inpatient room sink contamination with carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) are poorly understood.

Methods: We performed a prospective observational study to describe the timing, rate, and frequency of CRO contamination of in-room handwashing sinks in 2 intensive care units (ICU) in a newly constructed hospital bed tower. Study units, A and B, were opened to patient care in succession.

A cluster of three extrapulmonary infections linked to well-maintained water-based heater-cooler devices.

Background: Various water-based heater-cooler devices (HCDs) have been implicated in nontuberculous mycobacteria outbreaks. Ongoing rigorous surveillance for healthcare-associated (HA-Mab) put in place following a prior institutional outbreak of alerted investigators to a cluster of 3 extrapulmonary infections among patients who had undergone cardiothoracic surgery.

Methods: Investigators convened a multidisciplinary team and launched a comprehensive investigation to identify potential sources of in the healthcare setting.

An Analysis of Outcomes Following a Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) Reduction Quality Improvement Project in a Tertiary Care Center.

Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI) continue to be a significant complication for hospitalized patients. Hospitals have used various strategies to reduce CLABSI events due to the significant complications and associated costs. In this QI analysis, we examined the impact of a CLABSI reduction quality improvement project within a single ICU at a tertiary care medical center.

Disinfection efficacy of Oxivir TB wipe residue on severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

We assessed Oxivir Tb wipe disinfectant residue in a controlled laboratory setting to evaluate low environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2. Frequency of viral RNA detection was not statistically different between intervention and control arms on day 3 (P=0.14).

Changes in medication safety indicators in England throughout the covid-19 pandemic using OpenSAFELY: population based, retrospective cohort study of 57 million patients using federated analytics.

Objective: To implement complex, PINCER (pharmacist led information technology intervention) prescribing indicators, on a national scale with general practice data to describe the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on safe prescribing.

Design: Population based, retrospective cohort study using federated analytics.

Setting: Electronic general practice health record data from 56.

Disparities in central line-associated bloodstream infection and catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates: An exploratory analysis.

This retrospective review of 4-year surveillance data revealed a higher central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate in non-Hispanic Black patients and higher catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) rates in Asian and non-Hispanic Black patients compared with White patients despite similar catheter utilization between the groups.

Using the COM-B model to identify barriers to and facilitators of evidence-based nurse urine-culture practices.

Our surveys of nurses modeled after the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Model of Behavior (COM-B model) revealed that opportunity and motivation factors heavily influence urine-culture practices (behavior), in addition to knowledge (capability). Understanding these barriers is a critical step towards implementing targeted interventions to improving urine-culture practices.

Using clinical decision support to improve urine testing and antibiotic utilization.

Objective: Urine cultures collected from catheterized patients have a high likelihood of false-positive results due to colonization. We examined the impact of a clinical decision support (CDS) tool that includes catheter information on test utilization and patient-level outcomes.

Methods: This before-and-after intervention study was conducted at 3 hospitals in North Carolina.

Colon surgical-site infections and the impact of "present at the time of surgery (PATOS)" in a large network of community hospitals.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of complex colon surgical procedures (COLO), stratified by present at time of surgery (PATOS) surgical-site infections (SSIs) and non-PATOS SSIs and their impact on the epidemiology of colon-surgery SSIs.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: SSI data were prospectively collected from patients undergoing colon surgical procedures (COLOs) as defined by the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) at 34 community hospitals in the southeastern United States from January 2015 to June 2019.

Surgical site infection trends in community hospitals from 2013 to 2018.

Objective: Sparse recent data are available on the epidemiology of surgical site infections (SSIs) in community hospitals. Our objective was to provide updated epidemiology data on complex SSIs in community hospitals and to characterize trends of SSI prevalence rates over time.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

The impact of a comprehensive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection prevention bundle on non-COVID-19 hospital-acquired respiratory viral infection (HA-RVI) rates.

After implementing a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection prevention bundle, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of non-severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (non-SARS-CoV-2) hospital-acquired respiratory viral infection (HA-RVI) was significantly lower than the IRR from the pre-COVID-19 period (IRR, 0.322; 95% CI, 0.266-0.

Enhancement of infection prevention case review process to optimize learning from defects.

Hospitals continue to struggle with preventable healthcare-associated infections. Whereas the focus is generally on proactive prevention processes, performing retrospective case reviews of infections can identify opportunities for quality improvement and maximize learning from defects. This brief article provides practical information for structuring the case review process using readily available health system platforms.

Impact of alcohol-based hand-rub disinfection on bacterial bioburden on stethoscopes in a real-world clinical setting.

In this randomized study, use of alcohol-based hand-rub disinfection significantly reduced bacterial bioburden of stethoscopes in routine clinical use. Prior cleaning of stethoscopes on the study day did not affect baseline contamination rates, which suggests that the efficacy of alcohol disinfection is short-lived and may need to be repeated between patients.

The Impact of Infection Versus Colonization on Environmental Contamination in Hospitalized Patients With Diarrhea.

Background: Patients with infections (CDIs) contaminate the healthcare environment; however, the relative contribution of contamination by colonized individuals is unknown. Current guidelines do not recommend the use of contact precautions for asymptomatic carriers. We evaluated environmental contamination in rooms housing adult inpatients with diarrhea based on status.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 environmental contamination in hospital rooms is uncommon using viral culture techniques.

We assessed environmental contamination of inpatient rooms housing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in a dedicated COVID-19 unit. Contamination with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was found on 5.5% (19/347) of surfaces via reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and 0.