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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedCrnich CJ
Reimagining infection control in U.S. nursing homes in the era of COVID-19.
This paper provides an overview of nursing home (NH) infection and control, reviews the 2016 CMS changes to federal regulations, and proposes recommendations to sustain improvements. COVID-19 put further pressure on nursing homes who were already strained by rising numbers of infections from C. difficile and multidrug-resistant organisms. The author puts out a call for reimagining infection prevention and control using the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety framework. Additional recommendations are made to enhance NH infection prevention and control programs in the areas of people, tasks, tools, organization, built environment, and external environment.
AHRQ-funded; HS022465.
Citation: Crnich CJ .
Reimagining infection control in U.S. nursing homes in the era of COVID-19.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2022 Dec;23(12):1909-15. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.10.022..
Keywords: Elderly, COVID-19, Public Health, Infectious Diseases, Nursing Homes, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention
Adams C, Young D, Gastanaduy PA
Quantifying the roles of vomiting, diarrhea, and residents vs. staff in norovirus transmission in U.S. nursing home outbreaks.
Norovirus transmissibility is poorly understood and the goal of this study was to examine transmission via vomiting, diarrhea, and patient exposures. Six nursing home outbreaks in South Carolina were examined from 2014 to 2016. Vomiting infected 2.12 times the number of individuals as non-vomiters, diarrhea 1.39 times, and resident cases infected 1.53 times the number of individuals as staff cases. This finding is important for not just nursing homes, but other sites of norovirus outbreaks such as cruise ships.
AHRQ-funded; HS025987.
Citation: Adams C, Young D, Gastanaduy PA .
Quantifying the roles of vomiting, diarrhea, and residents vs. staff in norovirus transmission in U.S. nursing home outbreaks.
PLoS Comput Biol 2020 Mar;16(3):e1007271. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007271..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Infectious Diseases, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention, Public Health
Woodard JA, Leekha S, Jackson SS
Beyond entry and exit: Hand hygiene at the bedside.
This study assessed compliance with, knowledge of, and attitudes toward the World Health Organization (WHO) 5 moments for hand hygiene (HH) using a modified WHO HH observation form and a survey that assessed health care personnel (HCP) knowledge, opinions, and barriers to HH. Of the 218 HCPs who completed the survey, less than one-third were familiar with the WHO 5 moments and only 21& of that group could recall the 5 moments. 302 HH opportunities in 104 unique HCP-patient interactions were observed, but with infrequent compliance. The researchers conclude that lack of recognition of opportunities at the bedside and for glove use may contribute to low compliance.
AHRQ-funded; HS024108.
Citation: Woodard JA, Leekha S, Jackson SS .
Beyond entry and exit: Hand hygiene at the bedside.
Am J Infect Control 2019 May;47(5):487-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2018.10.026..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Patient Safety, Prevention, Provider, Public Health
Pogorzelska-Maziarz M, de Cordova PB, Herzig M, de Cordova PB, Herzig CTA
Perceived impact of state-mandated reporting on infection prevention and control departments.
Currently, most US states have adopted legislation requiring hospitals to submit health care-associated infection (HAI) data. In this study, the authors evaluated the perceived impact of state HAI laws on infection prevention and control (IPC) departments. They concluded that respondents in states with laws reported negative effects on their IPC department, beyond what was required by federal mandates.
AHRQ-funded; HS024339.
Citation: Pogorzelska-Maziarz M, de Cordova PB, Herzig M, de Cordova PB, Herzig CTA .
Perceived impact of state-mandated reporting on infection prevention and control departments.
Am J Infect Control 2019 Feb;47(2):118-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2018.08.012..
Keywords: Public Reporting, Policy, Public Health, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Hospitals
Baker AW, Haridy S, Salem J
Performance of statistical process control methods for regional surgical site infection surveillance: a 10-year multicentre pilot study.
The authors performed a pilot study within a large network of community hospitals to evaluate performance of statistical process control (SPC) methods for detecting surgical site infections (SSI) outbreaks. Their findings illustrated the potential usefulness and feasibility of real-time SPC surveillance of SSI to rapidly identify outbreaks and improve patient safety. Further study is needed to optimize SPC chart selection and calculation, statistical outbreak detection rules and the process for reacting to signals of potential outbreaks.
AHRQ-funded; HS023821.
Citation: Baker AW, Haridy S, Salem J .
Performance of statistical process control methods for regional surgical site infection surveillance: a 10-year multicentre pilot study.
BMJ Qual Saf 2018 Aug;27(8):600-10. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2017-006474..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Surgery, Hospitals, Public Health, Prevention, Adverse Events