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Research Studies is a monthly compilation of research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers and recently published in journals or newsletters.
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1 to 25 of 405 Research Studies DisplayedMorgan DJ, Dubberke ER, Hink T
The impact of universal glove and gown use on Clostridioides difficile acquisition: a cluster-randomized trial.
This article described a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized trial in medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) in 20 US hospitals to assess whether universal gown and glove use decreases Clostridioides difficile infection. ICUs were randomized to standard practice for glove and gown use versus all healthcare workers required to wear gloves and gowns for all patient contact or when entering a patient room. The results showed no significant difference in the rate of toxigenic C. difficile with universal gown and glove use.
AHRQ-funded; HS025456.
Citation: Morgan DJ, Dubberke ER, Hink T .
The impact of universal glove and gown use on Clostridioides difficile acquisition: a cluster-randomized trial.
Clin Infect Dis 2023 Feb 8; 76(3):e1202-e07. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac519..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention
Gregory ME, MacEwan SR, Sova LN
A qualitative examination of interprofessional teamwork for infection prevention: development of a model and solutions.
The objective of this study was to investigate the role of interprofessional teamwork in the prevention of health care-associated infections (HAIs), focusing on central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention. The authors interviewed participating physicians, nurses, and other staff from 18 hospitals about interprofessional collaboration, and proposed an Input-Mediator-Output-Input (IMOI) model as well as strategies to support teamwork for the prevention of HAIs.
AHRQ-funded; HS024958.
Citation: Gregory ME, MacEwan SR, Sova LN .
A qualitative examination of interprofessional teamwork for infection prevention: development of a model and solutions.
Med Care Res Rev 2023 Feb;80(1):30-42. doi: 10.1177/10775587221103973..
Keywords: Teams, Prevention, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
McNeil JC, Sommer LM, Vallejo JG
Going back in time: Increasing penicillin susceptibility among methicillin-susceptible staphylococcus aureus osteoarticular infections in children.
Researchers investigated the prevalence of penicillin susceptibility (PSSA) among pediatric methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) acute hematogenous osteoarticular infection (OAI) isolates; the isolates were obtained through surveillance studies at Texas Children's and St. Louis Children's Hospitals. Overall, PSSA isolates were found to be associated with a similar clinical presentation as penicillin-resistant isolates. The researchers concluded that potential for use of penicillin treatment in PSSA OAI merits further study.
AHRQ-funded; HS026896'HS021736' HS024269.
Citation: McNeil JC, Sommer LM, Vallejo JG .
Going back in time: Increasing penicillin susceptibility among methicillin-susceptible staphylococcus aureus osteoarticular infections in children.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023 Jan 24; 67(1):e0119622. doi: 10.1128/aac.01196-22..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Medication, Prevention
Goto M, Hasegawa S, Balkenende EC
Effectiveness of ultraviolet-c disinfection on hospital-onset gram-negative rod bloodstream infection: a nationwide stepped-wedge time-series analysis.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of enhanced terminal room cleaning with ultraviolet C (UV-C) disinfection in reducing gram-negative rod (GNR) infections. The authors used information regarding UV-C use and the timing of implementation through a survey of all Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals providing inpatient acute care from January 2010 and December 2018. Among 128 Veterans Health Administration hospitals, 120 provided complete survey responses with 40 reporting implementations of UV-C systems. UV-C use was associated with a 19% lower incident of hospital-onset (HO) GNR bloodstream infection (BSI).
AHRQ-funded; HS027472.
Citation: Goto M, Hasegawa S, Balkenende EC .
Effectiveness of ultraviolet-c disinfection on hospital-onset gram-negative rod bloodstream infection: a nationwide stepped-wedge time-series analysis.
Clin Infect Dis 2023 Jan 13; 76(2):291-98. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac776..
Keywords: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Prevention, Sepsis
Patel P, Deshpande A, Yu PC
Association of fluoroquinolones or cephalosporin plus macrolide with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) after treatment for community-acquired pneumonia.
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between the antibiotic regimens of empiric therapy with a respiratory fluoroquinolone or cephalosporin plus macrolide combination and the development of hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The researchers used data from 638 United States hospitals and included adults admitted with pneumonia and discharged from July 2010 through June 2015 with a pneumonia diagnosis code who received 3 or more days of either antibiotic regimen. The study sample included 58,060 patients treated with either cephalosporin plus macrolide (36,796 patients) or a fluoroquinolone alone (21,264 patients). 0.35% of patients who received cephalosporin plus macrolide and 0.31% who received a fluoroquinolone developed CDI, making CDI risks similar for fluoroquinolones versus cephalosporin plus macrolide.
AHRQ-funded; HS024277.
Citation: Patel P, Deshpande A, Yu PC .
Association of fluoroquinolones or cephalosporin plus macrolide with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) after treatment for community-acquired pneumonia.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2023 Jan; 44(1):47-54. doi: 10.1017/ice.2022.60..
Keywords: Pneumonia, Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Medication, Infectious Diseases, Community-Acquired Infections
Baker AW, Ilieş I, Benneyan JC
Early recognition and response to increases in surgical site infections using optimised statistical process control charts - the early 2RIS trial: a multicentre stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.
This study compared outcomes of traditional surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance versus optimized statistical control process (SPC) surveillance post-surgery. The authors conducted a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial of patients who underwent any of 13 types of common surgical procedures across 29 community hospitals in the Southeastern United States. They divided the 13 procedures into six clusters. The study period was from March 2016 through February 2020 with 204,233 unique patients undergoing 237,704 surgical procedures. SSIs occurred more frequently in patients assigned control surveillance (1171 procedures) compared to 781 procedures that received the intervention. More formal investigations were also generated from control surveillance – 74 formal investigations versus 24. Multiple best practice deficiencies were identified from optimized SPC surveillance as well.
AHRQ-funded; HS023821.
Citation: Baker AW, Ilieş I, Benneyan JC .
Early recognition and response to increases in surgical site infections using optimised statistical process control charts - the early 2RIS trial: a multicentre stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.
EClinicalMedicine 2022 Dec;54:101698. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101698..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
Crnich 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
Govindan S, O'Malley ME, Flanders SA
The MI-PICC Score: a risk-Prediction Model for PICC-associated Complications in the ICU.
The authors examined predictive factors for adverse events in critically ill patients with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). They found that PICC-related complications in the ICU were significantly associated with history of deep vein thrombosis, active diagnosis of cancer, presence of a second central venous catheter, blood transfusion through the PICC, and PICC dwell time.
AHRQ-funded; HS025891.
Citation: Govindan S, O'Malley ME, Flanders SA .
The MI-PICC Score: a risk-Prediction Model for PICC-associated Complications in the ICU.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022 Nov 15;206(10):1286-89. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202204-0760LE..
Keywords: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Risk, Adverse Events
Krauss DM, Molefe A, Hung L
Emergent themes from a quality improvement programme for CLABSI/CAUTI prevention in ICUs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this study, researchers summarized themes for maintaining infection prevention activities learned from the implementation of a quality improvement (QI) program during the COVID-19 pandemic. They concluded that future shocks such as the pandemic must be anticipated, and the healthcare system must be resilient to the resulting disruptions to healthcare-associated infection prevention activities. Their study encountered four themes for successful maintenance of infection prevention activities during the current pandemic: the value of a pre-existing infection prevention infrastructure; a flexibility in approach; broad buy-in for maintaining QI programs; and the facilitation of idea-sharing.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 233201500016I.
Citation: Krauss DM, Molefe A, Hung L .
Emergent themes from a quality improvement programme for CLABSI/CAUTI prevention in ICUs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
BMJ Open Qual 2022 Nov;11(4):e001926. doi: 10.1136/bmjoq-2022-001926..
Keywords: COVID-19, Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Prevention, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Infectious Diseases
Likosky DS, Yang G, Zhang M
Interhospital variability in health care-associated infections and payments after durable ventricular assist device implant among Medicare beneficiaries.
The purpose of this study was to examine differences in durable ventricular assist device implantation infection rates and associated costs across hospitals. The researchers utilized clinical data for 8,688 patients who received primary durable ventricular assist devices from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (Intermacs) hospitals (n = 120) and merged that data with post-implantation 90-day Medicare claims. The primary outcome included infections within 90 days of implantation and Medicare payments. The study found that 27.8% of patients developed 3982 identified infections. The median adjusted incidence of infections (per 100 patient-months) across hospitals was 14.3 and differed according to hospital. Total Medicare payments from implantation to 90 days were 9.0% more in high versus low infection tercile hospitals. The researchers concluded that health-care-associated infection rates post durable ventricular assist device implantation varied according to hospital and were associated with increased 90-day Medicare expenditures.
AHRQ-funded; HS026003.
Citation: Likosky DS, Yang G, Zhang M .
Interhospital variability in health care-associated infections and payments after durable ventricular assist device implant among Medicare beneficiaries.
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2022 Nov;164(5):1561-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2021.04.074..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Medical Devices, Medicare, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Hospitals, Payment, Healthcare Costs
Warren DK, Peacock KM, Nickel KB
Postdischarge prophylactic antibiotics following mastectomy with and without breast reconstruction.
The authors investigated factors associated with post-discharge prophylactic antibiotic use after mastectomy with and without immediate reconstruction and the impact on surgical-site infection (SSI). They found that anti-methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus antibiotics were associated with decreased risk of SSI for patients who had mastectomy only and those who had mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. They concluded that the high numbers needed to treat suggest that potential benefits of post-discharge antibiotics should be weighed against potential harms associated with antibiotic overuse.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Warren DK, Peacock KM, Nickel KB .
Postdischarge prophylactic antibiotics following mastectomy with and without breast reconstruction.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2022 Oct;43(10):1382-88. doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.400..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Medication, Surgery, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention, Women, Practice Patterns
Lee PT, Krecko LK, Savage S
Which hospital-acquired conditions matter the most in trauma? An evidence-based approach for prioritizing trauma program improvement.
The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare the impacts of six different hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) on early clinical outcomes and resource utilization in hospitalized trauma patients. The researchers included 529,856 adult patients from the 2013 to 2016 American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Data Files with 5 days or longer of hospitalization and had an Injury Severity Score of 9 or higher. The study found the incidences of HACs were: pneumonia, 5.2%; urinary tract infection, 3.4%; venous thromboembolism, 3.3%; surgical site infection, 1.3%; pressure ulcer, 1.3%; and central line-associated blood stream infection, 0.2%. The HAC of pneumonia demonstrated the largest association with in-hospital outcomes and resource utilization. The researchers reported that prevention of pneumonia within the study group would have resulted in estimated reductions of: 22.1% for end organ dysfunction, 8.7% for prolonged hospitalization, 7.8% for mortality, 7.1% for prolonged intensive care unit stay, and 6.8% for need for mechanical ventilation. The researchers concluded that pneumonia prevention should be a priority activity in program improvement efforts.
AHRQ-funded; HS025224.
Citation: Lee PT, Krecko LK, Savage S .
Which hospital-acquired conditions matter the most in trauma? An evidence-based approach for prioritizing trauma program improvement.
J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2022 Oct 1;93(4):446-52. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000003645..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Pneumonia, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Blood Clots
Kim KD, Funk RJ, Hou H
Association between care fragmentation and total spending after durable left ventricular device implant: a mediation analysis of health care-associated infections within a national Medicare-Society of Thoracic Surgeons INTERMACS linked dataset.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between care fragmentation and total spending for durable left ventricular assisted device (LVAD) implant, and whether this relationship is mediated by infections. The researchers developed a measure of care fragmentation based on the number of shared medical professionals providing care to 4,987 Medicare beneficiaries undergoing LVAD implantation. The study found that the indirect effect of care fragmentation, through infections, was positive and statistically significant. The researchers concluded that higher care fragmentation associated with durable LVAD implantation is related with a greater incidence of infections and higher Medicare beneficiary payments.
AHRQ-funded; HS026003.
Citation: Kim KD, Funk RJ, Hou H .
Association between care fragmentation and total spending after durable left ventricular device implant: a mediation analysis of health care-associated infections within a national Medicare-Society of Thoracic Surgeons INTERMACS linked dataset.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2022 Sep;15(9):e008592. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.121.008592..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Medicare, Medical Devices, Healthcare Delivery
Morey DA, Rayo MF, Li M
From reactive to proactive safety: joint activity monitoring for infection prevention.
The authors explored Joint Activity Monitoring (JAM) as one key component of a proactive safety program within infection prevention. This paper described their strategies and challenges in developing this capability and discussed the implications for supporting a successful proactive safety implementation.
AHRQ-funded; HS027200.
Citation: Morey DA, Rayo MF, Li M .
From reactive to proactive safety: joint activity monitoring for infection prevention.
Proc Int Symp Hum Factors Ergon Healthc 2022 Sep; 11(1):48-52. doi: 10.1177/2327857922111009..
Keywords: Prevention, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety
MacEwan SR, Beal EW, Gaughan AA
Perspectives of hospital leaders and staff on patient education for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
The purpose of this study was to contribute to evidence of standardized approaches to educate patients about how they can prevent infections. The researchers explored the perspectives of hospital leaders and staff across 18 hospitals about patient education for device-related healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) including catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). A total of 471 interviews were conducted with key informants and analyzed to identify themes within the topic of preventing infection through patient education. The study found that the key informants identified CAUTI and CLABSI infection-prevention-specific patient education topics including: the necessity of hand hygiene, the importance of maintenance care, the risks of indwelling urinary catheters and central lines, and having the support to voice concerns. The study concluded that hospital leaders and staff identified patient education topics and ways to deliver the information that were important in the prevention of CAUTIs and CLABSIs, and can provide guidance on how patient education can be improved.
AHRQ-funded; HS024958.
Citation: MacEwan SR, Beal EW, Gaughan AA .
Perspectives of hospital leaders and staff on patient education for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2022 Sep;43(9):1129-34. doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.271..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Schlick CJR, Huang R, Brajcich BC
Unbundling bundles: evaluating the association of individual colorectal surgical site infection reduction bundle elements on infection rates in a statewide collaborative.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of individual surgical site infection reduction bundle elements with infection rates. Focusing on patients who had elective colorectal resections at participating hospitals from 2016 to 2017, findings showed that bundle elements had varying association with infection reduction. Recommendations included implementation of colorectal surgical site infection reduction bundles in order to focus on the specific elements associated with low surgical site infections.
AHRQ-funded; HS024516.
Citation: Schlick CJR, Huang R, Brajcich BC .
Unbundling bundles: evaluating the association of individual colorectal surgical site infection reduction bundle elements on infection rates in a statewide collaborative.
Dis Colon Rectum 2022 Aug;65(8):1052-61. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000002223..
Keywords: Surgery, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Skube SJ, Hu Z, Simon GJ
Accelerating surgical site infection abstraction with a semi-automated machine-learning approach.
The purpose of this study was to test a supervised machine learning algorithm developed for testing surgical site infection (SSI) on performing semi-automated SSI abstraction, and to demonstrate that a semi-automated approach to health data abstraction provides a high level of accuracy and significant efficiencies. The researchers evaluated data from 6,188 patients in a 2011-2013 dataset and 5,132 patients in a 2015-2015 dataset. The study concluded that very good performance is achieved using the semi-automated machine learning-aided SSI abstraction, which also accelerates the abstraction process.
AHRQ-funded; HS024532.
Citation: Skube SJ, Hu Z, Simon GJ .
Accelerating surgical site infection abstraction with a semi-automated machine-learning approach.
Ann Surg 2022 Jul 1;276(1):180-85. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004354..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Surgery, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Huang J, Park GW, Jones RM
Efficacy of EPA-registered disinfectants against two human norovirus surrogates and Clostridioides difficile endospores.
This study’s goal was to determine the efficacy of a panel of nine EPA-registered disinfectants against two human norovirus (HuNoV) surrogates (feline calicivirus [FCV] and Tulane virus [TuV]) and Clostridioides difficile endospores. These products, five of which contained H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) as the active ingredient, were tested against infectious FCV, TuV, and C. difficile endospores using two ASTM methods, a suspension and carrier test. Products containing hydrogen peroxide were the most efficacious. Of the five products containing hydrogen peroxide, no strong correlation was observed between disinfection efficacy and hydrogen peroxide concentration. Addition of 0.025% ferrous sulphate to 1% hydrogen peroxide solution improved efficacy against FCV, TuV and C. difficile.
AHRQ-funded; HS025987.
Citation: Huang J, Park GW, Jones RM .
Efficacy of EPA-registered disinfectants against two human norovirus surrogates and Clostridioides difficile endospores.
J Appl Microbiol 2022 Jun;132(6):4289-99. doi: 10.1111/jam.15524..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention, Patient Safety
McAlearney AS, MacEwan SR, Gregory ME
Identifying management practices for promoting infection prevention: perspectives on strategic communication.
The purpose of this study was to better understand the topics and communication strategies used by hospital administrative and clinical leaders to facilitate healthcare-associated infection prevention. Between 2017 and 2019 the researchers interviewed 188 administrative and clinical leaders in 18 U.S. Hospitals and interviewed them about management practices used to promote the prevention of HAI, with a focus on strategic communications. The study found that information sharing regarding infection prevention focused on two main topics: facilitators of success and barriers to success. The researchers also reported that storytelling using examples of real events was useful. The study concluded that the findings provide useful information about how the strategic communication of HAI information can contribute to improvement and advance hospitals’ infection prevention plans and efforts.
AHRQ-funded; HS024958.
Citation: McAlearney AS, MacEwan SR, Gregory ME .
Identifying management practices for promoting infection prevention: perspectives on strategic communication.
Am J Infect Control 2022 Jun;50(6):593-97. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.11.025..
Keywords: Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Prevention, Communication
Hannum SM, Oladapo-Shittu O, Salinas AB
A task analysis of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) surveillance in home infusion therapy.
This study’s objective was to describe barriers to, facilitators for, and suggested strategies for successful home infusion central line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) surveillance. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with team members involved in CLABSI surveillance at 5 large home infusion agencies to explore work systems used by members for home infusion. They analyzed 21 transcribed interviews qualitatively for themes. Eight steps for performing CLABSI surveillance were revealed. Major surveillance barriers identified included the need for training of the surveillance staff, lack of a standardized definition, inadequate information technology support, struggles communicating with hospitals, inadequate time, and insufficient clinician engagement and leadership support.
AHRQ-funded; HS027819.
Citation: Hannum SM, Oladapo-Shittu O, Salinas AB .
A task analysis of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) surveillance in home infusion therapy.
Am J Infect Control 2022 May;50(5):555-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2022.01.008..
Keywords: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Sepsis
Makic MBF, Stevens KR, Gritz RM
Dashboard design to identify and balance competing risk of multiple hospital-acquired conditions.
A national patient safety priority is hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) such as falls, hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI), and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Most HAC prevention interventions focus on each risk individually, and do not take into consideration how addressing one HAC independently can compete with other HACs and cause unintended consequences. The purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to design a framework to identify, evaluate, and quantify competing individual HAC interventions and the related risks of multiple HACs (MHACs), and design a dashboard to help guide provider decisions. The researchers focused on the how the removal of urinary catheters for reduction of CAUTI could unintentionally impact falls and HAPI. A database to quantify the competing risks of HACs was developed using data from five hospital systems; three of those hospitals tested the resulting predictive model dashboard developed by the researchers and provided feedback. Twenty-five clinicians participated in the qualitative interviews. The clinicians confirmed that a visual dashboard is useful for guiding their decision-making for MHAC risks, and preferred a red, green, yellow stoplight visual for understanding. The researchers also found that clinicians did not want mandatory alerts for tool integration into the electronic health record. The study concluded that additional research is needed to better understand multiple hospital acquired risks and methods for guiding provider decision-making.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 2332015000251.
Citation: Makic MBF, Stevens KR, Gritz RM .
Dashboard design to identify and balance competing risk of multiple hospital-acquired conditions.
Appl Clin Inform 2022 May;13(3):621-31. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1749598..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
McCleskey SG, Shek L, Grein J
Economic evaluation of quality improvement interventions to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in the hospital setting: a systematic review.
This systematic review looked at economic evaluations of quality improvement (QI) interventions to reduce rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). A literature review was conducted for conference abstracts and studies from January 2000 to October 2020. Dual reviewers assessed study design, effectiveness, costs and study quality for eligibility. The reviewers performed a cost-consequence analysis from the hospital perspective, estimating the incidence rate ratio and increment net cost/savings per hospital over 3 years for each eligible study. Fifteen unique economic evaluations were eligible, and 12 studies were amenable to standardization. QI interventions were associated with a 43% decline in infections and wide ranges of net costs relative to usual care.
AHRQ-funded; HS022644.
Citation: McCleskey SG, Shek L, Grein J .
Economic evaluation of quality improvement interventions to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in the hospital setting: a systematic review.
BMJ Qual Saf 2022 Apr;31(4):308-21. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2021-013839..
Keywords: Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Healthcare Costs
Pienta MJ, Shore S, Watt TMF
Patient factors associated with left ventricular assist device infections: a scoping review.
This article is a scoping review that systematically summarized all existing studies examining patient-related factors associated with infections after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Studies published between January 2006 and February 2019 were used, with 31 studies meeting inclusion criteria. All included studies were observational, and 17 focused on driveline infections. Other factors most commonly studied included body composition (n = 8), diabetes and other comorbidities (n = 8), and psychosocial/socio-economic factors (n = 6). Studies were frequently single-center, and patient race and sex did not correlate with infection risk. There was also no consistent association noted between obesity, diabetes, or psychosocial/socio-economic factors and LVAD recipient infections. Two studies did report a significant association between malnutrition and hypoalbuminemia and post implant infections.
AHRQ-funded; HS026003.
Citation: Pienta MJ, Shore S, Watt TMF .
Patient factors associated with left ventricular assist device infections: a scoping review.
J Heart Lung Transplant 2022 Apr; 41(4):425-33. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2022.01.011..
Keywords: Medical Devices, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions
Eisenberg MT, Block AM, Vopat ML
Rates of infection after ACL reconstruction in pediatric and adolescent patients: a MarketScan database study of 44,501 patients.
This study’s objective was to describe and analyze the rates of surgical site infections after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery in pediatric patients. The Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database was used to access data for privately insured individuals aged 5 to 30 years old. ACL reconstruction operation records were accessed for operations performed from 2006 to 2018. The database identified 44,501 individuals up to 18 years old, and 63,495 individuals aged 18 to 30 years old that underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. No differences in infection rates were found between the two groups. However, among patients younger than 18 years, patients below 15 years old had a significantly lower infection rate at 0.37% compared with adolescents 15 to 17 years old at 0.55%. Among young adults, males had a higher infection rate than females, while no differences were observed in the pediatric and adolescent population.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Eisenberg MT, Block AM, Vopat ML .
Rates of infection after ACL reconstruction in pediatric and adolescent patients: a MarketScan database study of 44,501 patients.
J Pediatr Orthop 2022 Apr;42(4):e362-e66. doi: 10.1097/bpo.0000000000002080..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Surgery, Orthopedics, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Adverse Events, Injuries and Wounds
Cannon JL, Park GW, Anderson B
Hygienic monitoring in long-term care facilities using ATP, crAssphage, and human noroviruses to direct environmental surface cleaning.
Norovirus and C. difficile can be transmitted by contaminated environmental surfaces and are associated with diarrheal illnesses and deaths in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Hygienic monitoring tools such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence and indicators of fecal contamination can help to identify LTC facility surfaces with cleaning deficiencies. The researchers swabbed and tested high-touch surfaces in 11 LTC facilities for contamination by norovirus, a fecal indicator virus, crAssphage, and ATP. The study found that greater than 90% of surfaces tested positive for crAssphage or failed in their ATP scores. Norovirus contamination was not detected. Handrails, equipment controls, and patient beds were 4 times more likely than other surfaces or locations to have high levels of crAssphage. Patient bed handrails and tables and chairs in patient lounges had high levels of both ATP and crAssphage.
AHRQ-funded; HS025987.
Citation: Cannon JL, Park GW, Anderson B .
Hygienic monitoring in long-term care facilities using ATP, crAssphage, and human noroviruses to direct environmental surface cleaning.
Am J Infect Control 2022 Mar; 50(3):289-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.11.014..
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Prevention, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Clostridium difficile Infections
