Use of Community SARS-CoV-2 Case Counts and Instantaneous Reproductive Number to Predict Short-Term COVID-19 Hospital Admission Volumes.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and high hospitalization rates placed a tremendous strain on hospital resources, necessitating the use of models to predict hospital volumes and the associated resource requirements. Complex epidemiologic models have been developed and published, but many require continued adjustment of input parameters. We developed a simplified model for short-term bed need predictions that self-adjusts to changing patterns of disease in the community and admission rates.

Hospital-Acquired Bloodstream Infections in Patients Hospitalized With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection (Coronavirus Disease 2019): Association With Immunosuppressive Therapies.

Background: Immunosuppressive therapies proposed for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) management may predispose to secondary infections. We evaluated the association of immunosuppressive therapies with bloodstream-infections (BSIs) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods: This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective, multicenter, cohort study of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 over a 5-month period.

Cooling Blankets in Hospitalized Patients: Time to Reevaluate.

Background: The therapeutic benefits and rationale for treating fevers with external cooling methods remain unclear. We aimed to describe the clinical settings in which cooling blankets (CBs) are used.

Design: We conducted a retrospective chart review of CB use in adult patients admitted to our tertiary care center over a one-year period.

Estimating the predictive value of negative severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) results: A prospective study.

We performed a prospective study of 501 patients, regardless of symptoms, admitted to the hospital, to estimate the predictive value of a negative nasopharyngeal swab for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). At a positivity rate of 10.2%, the estimated negative predictive value (NPV) was 97.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Health Care Personnel in the New York City Area.

This seroprevalence survey study describes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seropositivity among health care workers at a New York City–based health system by age, sex, race, county of residence, and prior PCR-confirmed viral exposure.

Multifocal extracranial mycotic aneurysms in a patient with endocarditis.

This report describes the case of a 44-year-old man with (formerly ) endocarditis requiring surgical mitral valve replacement who developed multifocal extracranial mycotic aneurysms after the resolution of infection.

Prosthetic Valve Legionella Endocarditis.

This report describes the case of an 80-year-old man with culture-negative prosthetic valve endocarditis who ultimately was given a diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila endocarditis.

Reengineering the patient's environment: Establishment of a "Red Box" to improve communications with patients on isolation precautions.

Background: Hospitalized patients on isolation precautions are reported to have less frequent health care provider (HCP) visits owing to time required to don and doff personal protective equipment (PPE). Thus, placement on isolation precautions leads to negative patient perception and affects their care.

Methods: A "Red Box" that extended 3 feet beyond the door was marked in 50 patient rooms of a tertiary care hospital and used for patient communication by HCPs without PPE.

Modifying the risk: once-a-day bathing "at risk" patients in the intensive care unit with chlorhexidine gluconate.

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) decreases hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that can cause colonization and infection. A standard approach is the bathing of all patients with CHG to prevent MRSA transmission. To decrease CHG utilization, this study assessed selective daily administration of CHG bathing to intensive care unit patients who had an MRSA-positive result or a central venous catheter.

Replicating changes in hand hygiene in a surgical intensive care unit with remote video auditing and feedback.

Using remote video auditing (RVA) and real-time feedback, we replicated health care workers hand hygiene in a second intensive care unit. During the first 4 weeks using RVA without feedback, the compliance rate was 30.42%.

Using high-technology to enforce low-technology safety measures: the use of third-party remote video auditing and real-time feedback in healthcare.

Background: Hand hygiene is a key measure in preventing infections. We evaluated healthcare worker (HCW) hand hygiene with the use of remote video auditing with and without feedback.

Methods: The study was conducted in an 17-bed intensive care unit from June 2008 through June 2010.

Isoniazid resistance among Bacillus Calmette Guerin strains: implications on bladder cancer immunotherapy related infections.

Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy is widely used for treatment of superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Infectious complications while rare can be serious and severe disseminated infections as well as sepsis has been reported. There are no standard guidelines to direct therapy of these complications.