The next frontier of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance metrics: Beyond device-associated infections
In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that surveillance metrics for invasive device-associated infections (ie, central-line-associated bloodstream infections, ventilator-associated pn
The impact of minimally invasive surgical approaches on surgical-site infections
Along with colleagues at UNC Health, the DICON team performed a literature review to describe the risk of surgical-site infection (SSI) in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) compared to standard open
A cluster of three extrapulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus infections linked to well-maintained water-based heater-cooler devices
Various water-based heater-cooler devices (HCDs) have been implicated in nontuberculous mycobacteria outbreaks. Ongoing rigorous surveillance for healthcare-associated M.
Implementation of a diagnostic stewardship intervention to improve blood-culture utilization in 2 surgical ICUs: Time for a blood-culture change
DICON and IPHE Physician, Dr. Jessie Seidelman, and team compared the number of blood-culture events before and after the introduction of a blood-culture algorithm and provider feedback.
Strategies to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 Update
DICON faculty, Dr. Sonali Advani, was part of the long anticipated Compendium updates, with specific work on CAUTI prevention strategies.
A 7-year analysis of attributable costs of healthcare-associated infections in a network of community hospitals in the southeastern United States
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a leading threat to patient safety, affecting 3% of hospitalized patients in the United States. In addition to their contribution to p
Assessing the Impact of Two-Step Clostridioides difficile Testing at the Healthcare Facility Level
Two-step testing for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) aims to improve diagnostic specificity, but may also influence reported epidemiology and patterns of treatment.
Disparities in central line-associated bloodstream infection and catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates: An exploratory analysis
This retrospective review of 4-year surveillance data revealed a higher central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate in non-Hispanic Black patients and higher catheter-associated uri
My winding journey to a career in hospital epidemiology: Serendipity, detours and opportunities
The term “hospital epidemiology” was not in my lexicon when I began my career in infectious diseases (ID) in 1977.
Central-line-associated bloodstream infections secondary to anaerobes: Time for a definition change?
Primary central-line–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) pathogenesis occurs via 1 of 2 mechanisms: bacteria on the skin migrate along the external surface of the catheter from the catheter e