Multidrug-resistant Organisms Carriage Research Articles

Reducing Hospitalizations and Multidrug-Resistant Organisms via Regional Decolonization in Hospitals and Nursing Homes

Infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, length of hospitalization, and health care costs. Regional interventions may be advantageous in mitigating MDROs and associated infections. To evaluate whether implementation of a decolonization collaborative is associated with reduced regional MDRO prevalence, incident clinical cultures, infection-related hospitalizations, costs, and deaths. This quality improvement study was conducted from July 1, 2017, to July 31, 2019, across 35 health care facilities in Orange County, California. Chlorhexidine bathing and nasal iodophor antisepsis for residents in long-term care and hospitalized patients in contact precautions (CP). Baseline and end of intervention MDRO point prevalence among participating facilities; incident MDRO (nonscreening) clinical cultures among participating and nonparticipating facilities; and infection-related hospitalizations and associated costs and deaths among residents in participating and nonparticipating nursing homes (NHs). Thirty-five facilities (16 hospitals, 16 NHs, 3 long-term acute care hospitals [LTACHs]) adopted the intervention. Comparing decolonization with baseline periods among participating facilities, the mean (SD) MDRO prevalence decreased from 63.9% (12.2%) to 49.9% (11.3%) among NHs, from 80.0% (7.2%) to 53.3% (13.3%) among LTACHs (odds ratio [OR] for NHs and LTACHs, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.40-0.57), and from 64.1% (8.5%) to 55.4% (13.8%) (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60-0.93) among hospitalized patients in CP. When comparing decolonization with baseline among NHs, the mean (SD) monthly incident MDRO clinical cultures changed from 2.7 (1.9) to 1.7 (1.1) among participating NHs, from 1.7 (1.4) to 1.5 (1.1) among nonparticipating NHs (group × period interaction reduction, 30.4%; 95% CI, 16.4%-42.1%), from 25.5 (18.6) to 25.0 (15.9) among participating hospitals, from 12.5 (10.1) to 14.3 (10.2) among nonparticipating hospitals (group × period interaction reduction, 12.9%; 95% CI, 3.3%-21.5%), and from 14.8 (8.6) to 8.2 (6.1) among LTACHs (all facilities participating; 22.5% reduction; 95% CI, 4.4%-37.1%). For NHs, the rate of infection-related hospitalizations per 1000 resident-days changed from 2.31 during baseline to 1.94 during intervention among participating NHs, and from 1.90 to 2.03 among nonparticipating NHs (group × period interaction reduction, 26.7%; 95% CI, 19.0%-34.5%). Associated hospitalization costs per 1000 resident-days changed from $64 651 to $55 149 among participating NHs and from $55 151 to $59 327 among nonparticipating NHs (group × period interaction reduction, 26.8%; 95% CI, 26.7%-26.9%). Associated hospitalization deaths per 1000 resident-days changed from 0.29 to 0.25 among participating NHs and from 0.23 to 0.24 among nonparticipating NHs (group × period interaction reduction, 23.7%; 95% CI, 4.5%-43.0%). A regional collaborative involving universal decolonization in long-term care facilities and targeted decolonization among hospital patients in CP was associated with lower MDRO carriage, infections, hospitalizations, costs, and deaths.

Comparison of Daily versus Admission and Discharge Surveillance Cultures for Multidrug-Resistant Organism Detection in an Intensive Care Unit.

Admission and discharge screening of patients for asymptomatic gut colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is a traditional approach to active surveillance, but its sensitivity for detecting colonization is uncertain. Daily rectal or fecal swab samples and clinical data were collected over 12 months from patients in one 25-bed intensive care unit (ICU) in Chicago, IL USA and tested for the following multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs): vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE); third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL); and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). MDRO detection by (1) admission/discharge surveillance cultures or (2) clinical cultures were compared to daily surveillance cultures. Samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing to measure the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) corresponding to each MDRO. Compared with daily surveillance cultures, admission/discharge cultures detected 91% of prevalent MDRO colonization and 63% of incident MDRO colonization among medical ICU patients. Only a minority (7%) of MDRO carriers were identified by clinical cultures. Higher relative abundance of MDRO-associated OTUs and specific antibiotic exposures were independently associated with higher probability of MDRO detection by culture. Admission and discharge surveillance cultures underestimated MDRO acquisitions in an ICU. These limitations should be considered when designing sampling strategies for epidemiologic studies that use culture-based surveillance.

Lyophilized fecal microbiome transfer for primary Clostridioides difficile infection: a multicenter randomized controlled trial (DONATE Study)

Background Primary Clostridioides difficile infection (pCDI) carries high recurrence and mortality rates and is globally spread. pCDI is often a consequence of exposure to antibiotics, disrupting the healthy intestinal microbiota composition. Not surprisingly, in this antibiotic-associated infection, failure of the standard antibiotic treatment is high. Frozen fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), the introduction of the microbial community from a healthy donor, has been shown to be safe and highly effective in cases of recurrent CDI, reaching >90% cumulative success rate. Importantly, FMT has shown potential for intestinal decolonization of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), and/or mitigation of their ability to cause invasive infection. The use of FMT for pCDI, has been tested in small studies, showing promising results. The use of frozen FMT graft is often administered via colonoscopy or enteral (naso-jejunal) tubes, which are invasive procedures, placing significant burden on these often frail patients and the institutions providing the services. Moreover, frozen FMT is hampered by storage needs which limit accessibility and spread. Methods We have developed a lyophilized FMT product (Lyo-FMT - a dry compound that does not need freezing) that retains viability, prolongs the shelf time of the product and improves patient acceptance. In a randomized controlled multicenter trial, we aim to assess the efficacy of Lyo-FMT for pCDI in comparison to standard antibiotic therapy. Expected results This easy-to-administer product will restore the microbial community, fight the infective agent and reduce the overall antibiotic-resistant gene burden. This, in turn, will lower the recurrence rate and decrease carriage of other MDRO, coupled with a reduction in antibiotic use. Data on microbial shifts during treatment will shed light on our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. Clinicaltrials.gov registration NCT05709184, 2023-02-24

The role of centre and country factors on process and outcome indicators in critically ill patients with hospital-acquired bloodstream infections.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between centre/country-based factors and two important process and outcome indicators in patients with hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HABSI). We used data on HABSI from the prospective EUROBACT-2 study to evaluate the associations between centre/country factors on a process or an outcome indicator: adequacy of antimicrobial therapy within the first 24h or 28-day mortality, respectively. Mixed logistical models with clustering by centre identified factors associated with both indicators. Two thousand two hundred nine patients from two hundred one intensive care units (ICUs) were included in forty-seven countries. Overall, 51% (n = 1128) of patients received an adequate antimicrobial therapy and the 28-day mortality was 38% (n = 839). The availability of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for aminoglycosides everyday [odds ratio (OR) 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-2.14] or within a few hours (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.34-2.38), surveillance cultures for multidrug-resistant organism carriage performed weekly (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.09-1.93), and increasing Human Development Index (HDI) values were associated with adequate antimicrobial therapy. The presence of intermediate care beds (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.47-0.84), TDM for aminoglycoside available everyday (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.44-1.00) or within a few hours (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.37-0.70), 24/7 consultation of clinical pharmacists (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47-0.95), percentage of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) between 10% and 25% in the ICU (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.00-2.80), and decreasing HDI values were associated with 28-day mortality. Centre/country factors should be targeted for future interventions to improve management strategies and outcome of HABSI in ICU patients.

Effectiveness of tailored screening for multidrug-resistant organisms upon admission to an intensive care unit in the United Arab Emirates.

Multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) screening may identify high-risk patients for MDRO infection and curb the spread of these resistant pathogens. However, the heterogeneous practices in MDRO screening and the diversity of MDRO risk factors necessitate a tailored approach for successful implementation. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of tailored MDRO screening in predicting MDRO carriage compared to universal screening. Critically ill patients who underwent MDRO screening tests upon intensive care unit admission between September 2015 and December 2019 were included in the study. A risk-predicting model was developed using risk factors identified through multivariable logistic regression analysis. If an individual had one or more identified risk factors, the individual was deemed to be at risk of MDRO carriage and undergo tailored screening. The sensitivity of tailored screening was compared with universal screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales). The use of tracheostomy or endotracheal tubes, previous antibiotic exposure, previous multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli carriage history, admission to the medical department, peripheral vascular disease, and liver disease were associated with positive screening for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli. These six risk factors accounted for all positive screening for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli, requiring 38.6% of all tests. Notably, MRSA had different risk factor profiles, and the risk factor-based screening approach detected only 43.1% (31 out of 72) of MRSA-positive cases. Tailored screening based on identified risk factors showed variable sensitivities to individual MDROs compared to universal screening. A tailored screening approach for individual MDROs may enhance the overall effectiveness of MDRO screening programs.

2076. Intestinal colonization with multidrug-resistant organisms, horizontal transmission and risk for bloodstream infection

Abstract Background The association between rectal colonization and subsequent bloodstream infections (BSI) by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) remains to be clarified. We aimed to investigate the relative risk of BSI in rectal carriers of MDROs and in the case of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), whether BSI was due to the patient’s own colonizing strain. Methods We retrospectively included all adult inpatients hospitalized from Jan 2019 to Dec 2022, in ICUs or medical wards of 3 Greek hospitals (Athens: “Attikon” Hospital, Piraeus: Tzaneio Hospital, Thessaloniki: AHEPA Hospital), who were screened for intestinal MDRO carriage at admission and weekly. Screening was performed by selective media and immunochromatography for the carbapenemase in CRE. Patients were followed up for BSI by the same colonizing organism; relative risk (95% CI) was estimated after adjustment for ICU hospitalization and age. MDROs included CRE, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The CRE-colonizers and BSI-pathogens were analyzed for carbapenemase type to identify potential similarities. Results Of 4,427 patients screened, 1,321 (29.8%) were colonized by CRE, 1,255 (28.3%) with CRAB, 252 (5.7%) with CRPA and 859 (27.9% of 3,082 patients tested) with VRE. Of those, 207 (15.7%), 247 (19.7%), 23 (9.1%) and 30 (3.5%) subsequently developed CRE-BSI, CRAB-BSI, CRPA-BSI and VRE-BSI, respectively. Intestinal CRE colonization was associated with 4-fold higher risk of subsequent CRE-BSI, after adjusted for ICU stay and age [RR (95%CI): 4.1 (3.2, 5.2)]. The respective relative risk (95%CI) for BSI in patients with colonization by CRAB, CRPA and VRE were 2.3 (1.9, 2.8), 8.2 (5.1, 13.4) and 2.1 (1.3, 3.4). To evaluate possible horizontal transmission, 286 paired CRE strains from 143 patients were analyzed; in 111 (77.6%), both colonizers and BSI pathogens belonged to the same bacterial species and carried the same carbapenemase type.Table 1:Rectal colonization with MDROs and the risk for BSI from the same pathogenTable 2:Carbapenemase types in rectal carriers of CRE who developed subsequent BSI with the same pathogen Conclusion Intestinal colonization by MDROs was associated with increased risk of BSI by the colonizing bacteria. Clinicians should evaluate this information for empiric treatment, while genome-wide data are needed to substantiate horizontal transmission. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Ampicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium infections: clinical features, causal clades, and contribution of MALDI-TOF to early detection.

Enterococcus faecium, a common resident of the human gastrointestinal tract, is also a major pathogen. Prompt initiation of appropriate treatment is essential to improve patient outcome in disseminated E. faecium infections. However, ampicillin resistance is frequent in this species, rendering treatment difficult. We used a comprehensive approach, including clinical data review, whole-genome sequencing, and mass spectrometry, to characterize ampicillin-susceptible (EFM-S) and ampicillin-resistant (EFM-R) isolates. We included all patients with culture-confirmed E. faecium infection attending our hospital over a 16-month period. A comparison of 32 patients infected with EFM-S strains and 251 patients infected with EFM-R strains revealed that EFM-R isolates were strongly associated with a longer hospital stay, history of prior hospitalization, and the carriage of multidrug-resistant organisms. An analysis of the genomes of 26 EFM-S and 26 EFM-R isolates from paired patients revealed a population structure almost perfectly matching ampicillin susceptibility, with resistant isolates in clade A1, and susceptible isolates in clades A2 and B. The clade B and A2 isolates mostly came from digestive or biliary tract samples, whereas clade A1 isolates were mostly obtained from urine and blood. Finally, we built a custom database for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), which differentiated between clade B and clade A1/A2 strains with high-positive and high-negative predictive values (95.6% and 100%, respectively). This study provides important new insight into the clinical features and clades associated with EFM-S and EFM-R isolates. In combination with MALDI-TOF MS, these data could facilitate the rapid initiation of the most appropriate treatment.IMPORTANCEEnterococcus faecium is an important human pathogen in which the prevalence of ampicillin resistance is high. However, little is known about the clinical characteristics of patients infected with ampicillin-resistant and ampicillin-susceptible strains. Indeed, current knowledge is based on genus-wide studies of Enterococcus or studies of very small numbers of susceptible isolates, precluding robust conclusions. Our data highlight specific clinical features related to the epidemiology of EFM-S and EFM-R strains, such as length of hospital stay, history of prior hospitalization, carriage of multidrug-resistant organisms, and type of sample from which the isolate was obtained. The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry with a custom-built database may make it possible to distinguish clade B isolates, which are typically susceptible to ampicillin, from clade A1/A2 isolates (A1 being typically resistant), thereby facilitating the management of these infections.

Epidemiology and molecular typing of multidrug-resistant bacteria in day care centres in Flanders, Belgium.

The global prevalence and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) represent an emerging public health threat. Day care centre (DCC) attendance is a risk factor for MDRO carriage in children and their environment. This study aimed to map the epidemiology of carriage and potential transmission of these organisms within 18 Flemish DDCs (Belgium). An MDRO prevalence survey was organised between November 2018 and February 2019 among children attending the centres. Selective chromogenic culture media were used for the detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) in faecal swabs obtained from diapers or jars (n=448). All isolated MDROs were subjected to resistance gene sequencing. A total of 71 of 448 samples (15.8%) yielded isolates of ESBL-E with a predominance of Escherichia coli (92.2% of ESBL-E) and ESBL resistance gene blaCTX-M-15 (50.7% of ESBL coding genes in E. coli). ESBL-E prevalence varied between DCCs, ranging from 0 to 50%. Transmission, based on the clonal relatedness of ESBL-E strains, was observed. CPE was identified in only one child carrying an E. coli with an OXA-244 gene. VRE was absent from all samples. The observed prevalence of ESBL-E in Flemish DCCs is high compared with previous studies, and our findings re-emphasise the need for rigorous hygiene measures within such centres to control the further spread of MDROs in the community.

Early Economic Assessment of Faecal Microbiota Transplantation for Patients with Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Organisms.

The use of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to eradicate intestinal carriage of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) has been described in case reports and small case series. Although few in numbers, these patients suffer from recurrent infections that may exacerbate both the patients' comorbidities and their healths. In the current study, we hypothesized that FMT for MDRO-related urinary tract infections (UTIs) reduces hospitalisations and associated costs. In a cohort of patients referred for FMT from 2015 to 2020, we selected all patients who had consecutively been referred for eradication of MRDO carriage with UTIs. An early economic assessment was performed to calculate hospital-related costs. The overall study cohort was registered at ClinicalTrials, study identifier NCT03712722. We consecutively included five patients with UTIs caused by MDROs. Four of the patients were renal transplant recipients. Patients were followed for median 126days (range 60-320), where the follow-up duration for each patient was aligned with the number of days from the first UTI to FMT. The median number of UTIs per patient dropped from 4 to 0. Investigating hospital costs, hospital admission days dropped by 87% and monthly hospital costs by 79%. FMT was effective in reducing the occurrence of UTIs and mediated a marked reduction in hospital costs. We suggest that this strategy is cost-effective. ClinicalTrials, study identifier NCT03712722.

Identifying patients at high risk for multidrug-resistant organisms after hospitalization abroad.

We quantified the percentage of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) carriers among repatriated patients. We identified factors associated with MDRO carriage, and we evaluated the yield of MDRO detection per screened body site. Retrospective cohort study. A tertiary-care center in Switzerland. Adult patients after a stay in a healthcare institution abroad. Patients were screened for MDRO carriage. Standard sites, including nose and throat, groins, and (since mid-2018) rectum, and risk-based sites (wounds, urine, tracheal secretion) were sampled. MDROs were defined as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales, and MDR nonfermenting gram-negative rods. Risk factors for MDRO carriage were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Between May 2017 and April 2019, 438 patients were screened and 107 (24.4%) tested positive for an MDRO, predominantly ESBL-producing and MDR Enterobacterales. Risk factors for MDRO colonization were the length of stay in hospital abroad, antibiotic treatment with 'Watch' and 'Reserve' antibiotics, and region of hospitalization abroad. Rectal swabs had the highest yield for detecting patients with MDR intestinal bacteria, but nose/throat and groins,or wound samples were more sensitive for MRSA or nonfermenting gram-negative organisms, respectively. We identified risk factors for MDRO carriage and body sites with the highest yield for a specific MDRO, which might help to target screening and isolation and reduce screening costs.

Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Healthy Adults in Shenzhen, China.

Public health problems caused by the high transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) have attracted widespread international attention. However, studies on healthy adults in this field are scarce. In this article, we report the microbiological screening results of 180 healthy adults recruited from 1,222 participants between 2019 and 2022 in Shenzhen, China. Findings show a high MDRO carriage rate of 26.7% in those individuals who did not use any antibiotics in the past 6 months and had not been hospitalized within the past year. MDROs were mainly extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli with high resistance to cephalosporin. With the assistance of metagenomic sequencing technology, we also performed long-term observations of several participants and found that drug-resistant gene fragments were prevalent even when MDROs were not detected by drug sensitivity testing. Based on our findings, we suggest that healthcare regulators limit the medical overuse of antibiotics and enact measures to limit its nonmedical use.

515. Comparing Different Delivery Methods of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Abstract Background The increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) carriage imposes significant medical challenges by increasing healthcare costs. Since MDRO carriage impacts treatment outcome and prognosis, many decolonization strategies were proposed but were not as effective as expected. Recently, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been discussed as a novel and effective method of MDRO decolonization. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of different FMT delivery methods to find suitable methods and optimize the success rate of decolonization for the patients with MDRO carriage. Methods In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled patients with MDRO carriage from 2018 to 2021. Patients received FMT via one of the four following methods; oral capsule, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, or gastric tube. FMT delivery method was chosen according to the medical condition or eligibility for oral diet. The participants were followed up for one year. Decolonization and recolonization with MDRO were determined by the follow-up stool cultures. Microbiome analysis was done to assess the successful restoration of the gut microbiome. Results A total of 57 patients received FMT for MDRO decolonization. The number of patients who received FMT via oral capsule, EGD, colonoscopy, and gastric tubes was 14, 9, 23, and 11. The overall decolonization rate was 69.2%, and the recolonization rate was 19.3%. The colonoscopy group required the shortest time for decolonization, while the EGD group was the longest (24.9 vs. 190.4 days, p-value=0.022). The decolonization rate was the highest in the EGD group (85.7%) and the lowest in the gastric tube group (50.5%). The oral capsule group had a comparable decolonization rate to the EGD group (84.6% vs. 85.7%, p=0.730). The clinical factor associated with decolonization was antibiotic usage after FMT (Odds ratio= 6.810, p-value=0.008). Microbiome analysis data showed improvement in alpha index in the Oral capsule and the EGD group. All four groups showed a reduced proportion of MDRO species after FMT. Comparison of ACE index of Taxonomic data with different FMT modalities Conclusion The oral capsule is an effective FMT method for patients who are tolerable to an oral diet compared to the other conventional methods. Discontinuation of antibiotics after FMT is critical in decolonization. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Comparing the efficacy of different methods of faecal microbiota transplantation via oral capsule, oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, or gastric tube

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) carriage poses major challenges to medicine as healthcare costs increase. Recently, faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been discussed as a novel and effective method for decolonizing MDRO. To compare the efficacy of different FMT methods to optimize the success rate of decolonization in patients with MDRO carriage. This prospective cohort study enrolled patients with MDRO carriages from 2018 to 2021. Patients underwent FMT via one of the following methods: oral capsule, oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, or gastric tube. A total of 57 patients underwent FMT for MDRO decolonization. The colonoscopy group required the shortest time for decolonization, whereas the EGD group required the longest (24.9 vs 190.4 days, P= 0.022). The decolonization rate in the oral capsule group was comparable to that in the EGD group (84.6% vs 85.7%, P= 0.730). An important clinical factor associated with decolonization failure was antibiotic use after FMT (odds ratio= 6.810, P= 0.008). All four groups showed reduced proportions of MDRO species in microbiome analysis after FMT. Compared to other conventional methods, the oral capsule is an effective FMT method for patients who can tolerate an oral diet. The discontinuation of antibiotics after FMT is a key factor in the success of decolonization.

Introduction of surgical site surveillance post transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy and the impact on infection rates

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is associated with infection rates between 0.3 % and 3.2%. Infectious complications include urinary tract infection, prostatitis, bacteraemia and sepsis. Surgical site surveillance in this patientcohort is becoming increasingly important given global increases in antimicrobial resistance. Surgical site surveillance for patients undergoing TRUS biopsies was introduced in our hospital in 2017. All patients had a risk assessment form completed to assess for carriage or risk of carriage of multi-drug resistant organisms. An intense analysis was completed on any patient who developed an infection post-TRUS biopsy. Data was fed back on a quarterly basis to a multi-disciplinary working group. Members of this group include a Consultant Microbiologist, Infection Prevention and Control Nurse, Consultant Urologist, Antimicrobial Pharmacists and Clinical Nurse Ward Managers. 784 TRUS-guided biopsy of the prostate procedures were performed between January 1 st 2017 and the end of the third quarter, 2021. The rate of infection post-TRUS was 2.7% in 2017, 3.4% in 2018 and 3.2% in 2019. This improved to 0% in 2020 and 0.8% in the first three quarters of 2021. Several interventions were introduced resulting in a sustained reduction in infection rates in this cohort. These include changing the choice of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis, improvement in the timing of antibiotic prophylaxis and scheduling of other urology procedures. The introduction of surgical site surveillance and multi-disciplinary input has demonstrated a reduction in infection rates post TRUS biopsy.

A qualitative study examining the impact of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) carriage on the daily lives of carriers and parents of carriers with experiences of hospital precautionary measures

BackgroundMultidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) carriage may have an adverse impact on the quality of life of carriers, in particular those who have experienced hospital precautionary measures. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of how MDRO carriage has affected the daily lives of carriers with these experiences.MethodsThis was a qualitative study based on 15 semi-structured interviews with MDRO carriers or parents of carriers, which were analysed by thematic analysis.ResultsThree main themes were identified: (1) Feeling dirty and unworthy portrays the feelings that MDRO carriers often expressed and how these were related to the language usage describing the MDRO, the perceived avoidance by staff and those in their personal networks, and the effects of the precautionary measures implemented in the hospital. (2) MDROs are invisible, but impact is visible covers how the microbe, despite its apparent invisibility, still impacted carriers in their physical and psychological health. MDRO carriage disrupted their lives, by affecting their other unrelated medical conditions at times and by causing varying levels of fear for their own and others’ health. (3) Carrying the burden on one’s own shoulders describes the lingering questions, uncertainties and confusion that carriers continued to live with and the perceived burden and responsibility that lay on their own shoulders with respect to carrying and preventing the transmission of the MDRO.ConclusionsMDRO carriage can negatively influence the quality of people’s lives in various ways. Improved support and sensitivity from health care providers (HCPs) are needed to address feelings of unworthiness among MDRO carriers and the fears that many experience. Clearer information and guidelines are also needed from HCPs to address the many questions and uncertainties that MDRO carriers face outside of the hospital in their daily lives.

Nursing care for patients carrying multi-drug resistant organisms: Experiences, intention to use protective equipment and ability to comply with measures.

The aims of the study were to explore the impact of caring for patients carrying multi-drug resistant organisms on nursing staff and identify factors predicting their intention to use personal protective equipment and their ability to comply with advised infection prevention and control measures. Carriage of multi-drug resistant organisms and corresponding infection prevention and control measures have a major impact on patients. Limited research has been done to investigate the impact of caring for these patients on nursing staff. A cross-sectional design. Online survey among Dutch nursing staff in various healthcare settings. Prediction analyses were conducted using random forest. The STROBE checklist was used preparing the manuscript. 974 respondents were included. The majority of nursing staff reported to have experience in caring for patients carrying multi-drug resistant organisms. Relevant dilemmas in daily practice were identified. Important predictors of the intention to use protective equipment were practicing hand hygiene, usable protocols, favourable attitudes and perceptions, as well as knowledge. Important predictors of the ability to comply with advised measures were usable and findable protocols, a suitable work environment and practicing hand hygiene. We have gained comprehensive insight into experiences, attitudes, perceptions, knowledge and dilemmas in daily practice of nursing staff caring for patients carrying multi-drug resistant organisms. To enhance their intention to use protective equipment and their ability to comply with advised measures, activities should focus on improving hand hygiene and the usability of protocols. Additionally, efforts are needed to improve knowledge, provide better resources and a more supportive work environment. All of which need to be specifically tailored to each healthcare setting. The results can be used in the development of interventions to improve nursing care while reducing the unfavourable impact on nursing staff and supporting adherence to advised measures.

Evaluating a Continuously Active Disinfectant Wipe on High Touch Surfaces in Rooms of Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs)

<h3>Background</h3> Recontamination of the patient's environment occurs quickly after thorough disinfection and could contribute to the transmission of healthcare-associated infections. We aimed to determine whether a continuous active disinfectant wipe (CADW) could provide sustained disinfection for rooms of MDRO carriers. <h3>Methods</h3> We sampled a small number of rooms of MDRO carriers in an academic hospital and nursing home setting. Rooms underwent routine cleaning by environmental services immediately followed by additional high-touch cleaning by Infection Preventionists with 1) routine disinfecting wipes (RDW) and 2) CADW on separate days. Five pre-specified high-touch surfaces were cultured with pre-moistened spongesicles 23 hours post-cleaning in four hospital rooms, eight hours post-cleaning in two hospital rooms, and eight hours post-cleaning in three nursing home rooms. Spongesicles were processed at a CLIA-certified laboratory with 40cc of phosphate-buffered saline, stomaching for one minute, centrifuging the liquid, reconstituting in 5cc of fluid, and plating per CLSI standards. <h3>Results</h3> At 23 hours, three of four rooms had MDRO contamination after RDW (two MRSA and one C. auris), with same findings after CADW. Six RDW objects were positive for MRSA and two for C. auris. Five CADW objects were positive for MRSA and one for C. auris. At 8 hours, four of five hospital/nursing home rooms had MDRO contamination after RDW (two MRSA, one C. auris, one VRE) compared to three of five rooms after CADW (2 MRSA and 1 C. auris). Six RDW objects were positive for MRSA, two for C. auris, and one for VRE. Six CADW objects were positive for MRSA and one for C. auris. <h3>Conclusions</h3> In this exploratory analysis, CADW did not provide a clinically meaningful reduction in MDRO contamination of high-touch surfaces at either 8 or 23 hours compared to RDW. Ongoing efforts to demonstrate effective and sustained surface antimicrobial activity to reduce fomites is needed.

Five-Year Survey of Asymptomatic Colonization with Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in a Romanian Tertiary Care Hospital.

PurposeTo determine the rate of carriage of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) between 2015 and 2019 among patients admitted to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Balș,” from Bucharest, Romania.MethodsNasal, throat, and rectal/perirectal screening swabs were collected either immediately or during the first 24 hours of admission and sent to the microbiology laboratory where the following MDROs were identified: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant/carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CRE/CPE), multidrug-resistant/extended drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR/XDR-AB), and multidrug-resistant/extended drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR/XDR-PA).ResultsA total of 5083 unique patients were screened for MRSA and 5008 for VRE, ESBL/CRE/CPE, MDR/XDR-AB, and MDR/XDR-PA. MRSA was detected in 8.24% of patients, VRE in 17.67%, ESBL Enterobacterales in 25.85%, and CPE in 6.13%. MDR/XDR-AB was found in 1.59% and MDR/XDR-PA in 1.91% of patients. The rates of carriage increased between 2015 and 2019 for MRSA (7.23–7.6%), VRE (9–16.68%), CPE (1.15–6.77%), MDR/XDR-PA (1.15–1.91%), and MDR/XDR-AB (1.15–2.04%). OXA-48-type carbapenemase was predominant in Klebsiella pneumoniae (68.62%) and Escherichia coli (89.47%). CPE bacteria other than Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli identified in our study carried mostly metallo-beta-lactamase (n = 28, 84.85%).ConclusionIn this study, 37% of the unique patients screened over five years were found to be MDRO carriers. The proportion of VRE and CPE rectal carriers increased significantly between 2015 and 2019. The most frequently isolated carbapenemase was the OXA-48 type.

High prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria carriage in children screened prospectively for multidrug resistant organisms at admission to a paediatric hospital, Hamburg, Germany, September 2018 to May 2019.

BackgroundIncreasing resistance to antibiotics poses medical challenges worldwide. Prospective data on carriage prevalence of multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO) in children at hospital admission are limited and associated risk factors are poorly defined.AimTo determine prevalence of MDRO carriage in children at admission to our paediatric hospital in Hamburg and to identify MDRO carriage risk factors.MethodsWe prospectively obtained and cultured nasal/throat and inguinal/anal swabs from children (≤ 18 years) at admission between September 2018 and May 2019 to determine prevalence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MRGN) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) and associated species. We collected medical histories using a questionnaire and evaluated 31 risk factors using logistic regression models.ResultsMDRO carriage prevalence of 3,964 children was 4.31% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.69–5.00). MRSA carriage prevalence was 0.68% (95% CI: 0.44–0.99), MRGN prevalence was 3.64% (95% CI: 3.07–4.28) and VRE prevalence 0.08% (95% CI: 0.02–0.22). MDRO carriage was associated with MRGN history (odds ratio (OR): 6.53; 95% CI: 2.58–16.13), chronic condition requiring permanent care (OR: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.07–6.13), antibiotic therapy (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.24–2.94), living in a care facility (OR: 3.34; 95% CI: 0.72–12.44) and refugee status in previous 12 months (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 0.27–8.02). Compared to established practice, screening using risk-factors had better diagnostic sensitivity (86.13%; 95% CI: 80.89–91.40) and specificity (73.54%; 95% CI: 72.12–74.97).ConclusionMRGN carriage was higher than MRSA and VRE. Extended risk-factor-based admission screening system seems warranted.

How to improve hospital admission screening for patients at risk of multidrug-resistant organism carriage: a before-and-after interventional study and cost-effectiveness analysis

BackgroundInfection prevention and control (IPC) is a prioritised task for healthcare workers in emergency department (ED). Here, we examined compliance with admission screening (AS) and additional precautions (AP) measures for...