Reduction of airborne and surface-borne bacteria in a medical center burn intensive care unit using active, upper-room, germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) disinfection.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of active, upper-room, germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) devices in reducing bacterial contamination in patient rooms in air and on surfaces as a supplement to the central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) air handling unit (AHU) with MERV 14 filters and UV-C disinfection.

Methods: This study was conducted in an academic medical center, burn intensive care unit (BICU), for 4 months in 2022. Room occupancy was monitored and recorded.

SHEA/IDSA/APIC Practice Recommendation: Strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections through hand hygiene: 2022 Update.

The purpose of this document is to highlight practical recommendations to assist acute-care hospitals in prioritization and implementation of strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections through hand hygiene. This document updates the , published in 2014. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology (SHEA).

Mitigating hospital-onset : The impact of an optimized environmental hygiene program in eight hospitals.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a standardized, process-validated intervention utilizing daily hospital-wide patient-zone sporicidal disinfectant cleaning on incidence density of healthcare-onset infection (HO-CDI) standardized infection ratios (SIRs).

Design: Multi-site, quasi-experimental study, with control hospitals and a nonequivalent dependent variable.

Setting: The study was conducted across 8 acute-care hospitals in 6 states with stable endemic HO-CDI SIRs.

Reimagining Construction and Renovation of Health Care Facilities During Emergence from a Pandemic.

The built environment has been integral to response to the global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). In particular, engineering controls to mitigate risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other newly emergent respiratory pathogens in the future will be important. Anticipating emergence from this pandemic, or at least adaptation given increasing administration of effective vaccines, and the safety of patients, personnel, and others in health care facilities remain the core goals.

Online Liver Imaging Course; Pivoting to Transform Radiology Education During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

Purpose: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has drastically disrupted radiology in-person education. The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of a virtual teaching method using available technology and its role in the continuity of education of practicing radiologists and trainees during the pandemic.

Methods: The authors created the Online Liver Imaging Course (OLIC) that comprised 28 online comprehensive lectures delivered in real-time and on-demand over six weeks.

The Grand SANS FLUORO (SAy No Series to FLUOROsopy) Study: Examining Fluoroscopy Use in More than 1,000 Ablation Procedures.

The majority of electrophysiologists routinely use fluoroscopy (FLUORO) during ablation procedures for common arrhythmias despite the known complications of radiation exposure and protective lead use. This study assessed the safety of catheter ablation (CA) with FLUORO versus without FLUORO (SANS FLUORO) in patients with the following common arrhythmias: atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia. A total of 1,258 CA procedures were performed in 816 consecutive patients over a 53-month period (SANS FLUORO CA: 609 patients; FLUORO CA: 209 patients).

Quantitative Results of a National Intervention to Prevent Hospital-Onset Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection: A Pre-Post Observational Study.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains one of the most common causes of health care-associated infection (HAI).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of education and a tiered, evidence-based infection prevention strategy on rates of hospital-onset MRSA bloodstream infection (BSI).

Design: Prospective, national, nonrandomized, interventional, 12-month, multiple cohort, pre-post observational quality improvement project.

Quantitative Results of a National Intervention to Prevent Hospital-Acquired Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection: A Pre-Post Observational Study.

Background: Many hospitals struggle to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a multimodal initiative on CAUTI in hospitals with high burden of health care-associated infection (HAI).

Design: Prospective, national, nonrandomized, clustered, externally facilitated, pre-post observational quality improvement initiative, for 3 cohorts active between November 2016 and May 2018.

Germicidal irradiation of portable medical equipment: Mitigating microbes and improving the margin of safety using a novel, point of care, germicidal disinfection pod.

Portable medical equipment (PME) can be an important reservoir of pathogens causing health care-associated infections. To address this, a novel, portable ultraviolet disinfection pod (UVDP) that allows for full 360-degree disinfection was developed. This investigation examined efficacy of the UVDP against microorganisms on clean, patient-ready PME.

SANS FLUORO Supersized: A case report of Fluoroless Ablation in a Super Morbidly Obese Patient.

We present the first ever reported case of a super morbidly obese patient (BMI > 70) with drug refractory, symptomatic atrial flutter who underwent a successful, uncomplicated ablation procedure using a zero fluoroscopy technique. This case demonstrates the following two critical points: (1) difficulties in the treatment of massively obese patients with arrhythmias; (2) increased use of fluoroless ablation techniques.

Severe LVAD-related infections requiring surgical treatment: Incidence, predictors, effect on survival, and impact of device selection.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are being used more frequently for treating refractory, advanced heart failure. However, infection remains a frequent complication. In this study, we analyzed the incidence of severe infections in LVAD recipients to determine its impact on survival.

Identifying safe practices for use of the urinary leg bag drainage system in the postacute and long-term care setting: An integrative review.

Background: In the postacute and long-term care setting, the practice of changing the indwelling urinary catheter large sterile drainage bag to a small-size leg drainage bag is intended to maintain a person's mobility, dignity, and comfort. There is scant evidence that assesses the impact of intermittent use of a leg bag on frequency of urinary tract infection since this breaks the closed urinary drainage system.

Methods: We reviewed research published between 1993 and 2014 for the answers to 20 practice questions developed by experts and long-term care clinicians on the risks and benefits, cleaning, connection, and storage of reusable leg bags.

Creation of a competency-based professional development program for infection preventionists guided by the APIC Competency Model: steps in the process.

Background: Infection Preventionists have varying levels of educational preparation. Many have no prior experience in IP. The diversity makes design of professional development programs challenging.

A microbiological study to investigate the carriage and transmission-potential of Clostridium difficile spores on single-use and reusable sharps containers.

Background: A 2015 study matching use of disposable and reusable sharps containers (DSCs, RSCs) with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) incidence found a decreased incidence with DSCs. We conducted microbiologic samplings and examined the literature and disease-transmission principles to evaluate the scientific feasibility of such an association.

Methods: (i) 197 RSCs were sampled for C.

A National Implementation Project to Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection in Nursing Home Residents.

Importance: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI) in nursing home residents is a common cause of sepsis, hospital admission, and antimicrobial use leading to colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms.

Objective: To develop, implement, and evaluate an intervention to reduce catheter-associated UTI.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A large-scale prospective implementation project was conducted in community-based nursing homes participating in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Long-Term Care.

Evaluating trauma team performance in a Level I trauma center: Validation of the trauma team communication assessment (TTCA-24).

Background: Nontechnical skills (NTS), such as team communication, are well-recognized determinants of trauma team performance and good patient care. Measuring these competencies during trauma resuscitations is essential, yet few valid and reliable tools are available. We aimed to demonstrate that the Trauma Team Communication Assessment (TTCA-24) is a valid and reliable instrument that measures communication effectiveness during activations.

Making infection prevention education interactive can enhance knowledge and improve outcomes: Results from the Targeted Infection Prevention (TIP) Study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess effectiveness of an interactive educational program in increasing knowledge of key infection prevention and control (IPC) principles with emphasis on indwelling device care, hand hygiene, and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) among nursing home (NH) health care personnel (HCP).

Methods: We conducted a multimodal randomized controlled study involving HCP at 12 NHs. Ten comprehensive and interactive modules covered common IPC topics.

Tools for Assessment of Communication Skills of Hospital Action Teams: A Systematic Review.

Background: Hospital action teams comprise interdisciplinary health care providers working simultaneously to treat critically ill patients. Assessments designed to evaluate communication effectiveness or "nontechnical" performance of these teams are essential to minimize medical errors and improve team productivity. Although multiple communication tools are available, the characteristics and psychometric validity of these instruments have yet to be systematically compared.

Prevention by Design: Construction and Renovation of Health Care Facilities for Patient Safety and Infection Prevention.

The built environment supports the safe care of patients in health care facilities. Infection preventionists and health care epidemiologists have expertise in prevention and control of health care-associated infections (HAIs) and assist with designing and constructing facilities to prevent HAIs. However, design elements are often missing from initial concepts.

Evaluation of the association between Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) measures and catheter-associated infections: results of two national collaboratives.

Background: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has funded national collaboratives using the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program to reduce rates of two catheter-associated infections-central-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), using evidence-based intervention bundles to improve technical aspects of care and socioadaptive approaches to foster a culture of safety.

Objective: Examine the association between hospital units' results for the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) and catheter-associated infection rates.

Methods: We analysed data from two prospective cohort studies from acute-care intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICUs participating in the AHRQ CLABSI and CAUTI collaboratives.

Beyond Infection: Device Utilization Ratio as a Performance Measure for Urinary Catheter Harm.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is considered a reasonably preventable event in the hospital setting, and it has been included in the US Department of Health and Human Services National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections. While multiple definitions for measuring CAUTI exist, each has important limitations, and understanding these limitations is important to both clinical practice and policy decisions. The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance definition, the most frequently used outcome measure for CAUTI prevention efforts, has limited clinical correlation and does not necessarily reflect noninfectious harms related to the catheter.