The Clinical Effectiveness of Fidaxomicin Compared to Vancomycin in the Treatment of Clostridioides difficile Infection, A Single-Center Real-World Experience.

Background: The use of fidaxomicin is recommended as first-line therapy for all patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). However, real-world studies have shown conflicting evidence of superiority.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center study of patients diagnosed with CDI between 2011 and 2021.

How Should Health Care Respond to Threats Antimicrobial Resistance Poses to Workers?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a looming pandemic whose poor health outcomes are unlikely to be equitably distributed. This article focuses on intersections between AMR and inequities in health care workplaces in the United States and identifies the following as key problems: lack of published data on task-specific occupational health risks related to colonization and infection with antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, limited scientific literature reporting on race and ethnicity, and poor access to infection control educational opportunities for minoritized health care workers. This article argues that an equitable approach to remediating these problems requires improving surveillance and expanding research on how AMR is likely to influence health outcomes among members of the US-based health care workforce.

Comparative Effectiveness of Fidaxomicin vs Vancomycin in Populations With Immunocompromising Conditions for the Treatment of Infection: A Single-Center Study.

Background: infection (CDI) is a leading cause of morbidity in immunocompromised hosts with increased risk of complications and recurrences. In this study, we examined the clinical effectiveness of fidaxomicin vs vancomycin in treating CDI in this patient population.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study evaluated patients with CDI between 2011 and 2021.

Maintaining the Utility of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Severity Surveillance: Evaluation of Trends in Attributable Deaths and Development and Validation of a Measurement Tool.

Background: Death within a specified time window following a positive SARS-CoV-2 test is used by some agencies for attributing death to COVID-19. With Omicron variants, widespread immunity, and asymptomatic screening, there is cause to re-evaluate COVID-19 death attribution methods and develop tools to improve case ascertainment.

Methods: All patients who died following microbiologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) and at Tufts Medical Center (TMC) were identified.

An unusual outbreak of dermatitis due to rodent mite infestation in an acute-care hospital.

We report an outbreak of dermatitis associated with and infestation in an acute ambulatory care setting. Healthcare workers developed dermatitis prior to the identification of the outbreak. A collaborative team effort resulted in complete eradication.

The impact of diagnostic stewardship interventions on Clostridiodes difficile test ordering practices and results.

Clostridiodes difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of healthcare associated infection and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Diagnostic stewardship is critical in optimizing testing accuracy for CDI. Multiple algorithms have been used for testing combining toxin A/B, glutamate dehydrogenase antigen and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) to enhance sensitivity.