Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology最新文献

{"title":"Targeted blower-assisted thermal disinfection for persistent distal outlet Legionella contamination in a tertiary hospital water system.","authors":"Jiahua Seah, Deborah Chooi Mun Lai, Hui Xian Toh, Chai Yin Soh, Ismawati Mohd Amin, Moi Lin Ling","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10526","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10526","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1074-1075"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148701256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The efficacy of needleless connector designs (split septum vs mechanical valve) on preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in very preterm or very low-birth-weight neonates: a randomized clinical trial.","authors":"Putri Maharani Tristanita Marsubrin, Muhamad Azharry Rully Sjahrullah, Nurul Fajri Widyasari, Jessica Sylvania Oswari, Rosalina Dewi Roeslani, R Adhi Teguh Permana Iskandar, Distyayu Sukarja, Ahmad Kautsar, Rinawati Rohsiswatmo","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10447","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10447","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To determine whether split septum needleless connector prevent central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) better than mechanical valve in very preterm or very low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>This is an open-label, parallel, randomized controlled trial. Participants were followed up to 48 hours after central line removal for the primary outcome.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>This is a single-center study conducted at level III neonatal intensive care unit in public tertiary hospital.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Very premature or VLBW neonates requiring central access.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>Participants were randomized to receive either a split septum or mechanical valve needleless connector.</p><p><strong>Primary outcome: </strong>The primary outcomes were CLABSI incidence rate and the estimated hazard ratio of CLABSI between the two groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 60 neonates were included in the analysis, in which 30 neonates were allocated to each intervention (split septum) (mean±SD gestational age, 27.37 ± 7.7 weeks; 15 [50%] male) and control (mechanical valve) group (mean±SD gestational age, 30.27 ± 2.7 weeks; 17 [56.7%] male). The CLABSI incidence rate was lower in the intervention group (3.0 vs 16.2 per 1,000 catheter days). The adjusted hazard ratio for the intervention compared to control group was 0.153 (95% CI 0.02-1.52; <i>P</i> = .109). Although not statistically significant, the control group demonstrated higher CLABSI-related mortality (7% vs 0%), length of stay (49.8 ± 24.2 vs 42.3 ± 23.8), and hospital cost (130.5 (79.4-215.9) vs 104.1 (86.4-152.7).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Split septum demonstrated a trend in lower incidence of CLABSI. This result should be weighed carefully in determining the needleless connector type best suited for very preterm or VLBW neonates.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"985-991"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148678388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improving urine testing stewardship with a technology-leveraged urine testing guideline - ERRATUM.","authors":"Christian J Ostrowski, Mandy C Swann, Anthony Baffoe-Bonnie, Jacob R Gillen","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10495","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10495","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1077"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148864821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimating the impact of a healthcare facility-onset antibiotic-treated <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection surveillance definition on the number of cases reportable by US veterans affairs medical centers.","authors":"Martin Evans, Brian McCauley, Natalie Hicks, Makoto Jones, Loretta Simbartl","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10451","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10451","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The impact of adopting the proposed National HealthCare Safety Network healthcare facility-onset antibiotic-treated <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (HT-CDI) surveillance definition on the number of CDI cases that would qualify for healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance reporting from US Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities is unknown.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively evaluated CDI cases from 25 acute care VA medical centers from July 2022 through June 2024 using the proposed HT-CDI surveillance definition.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 789 cases were analyzed. Use of the HT-CDI surveillance definition increased the number of reportable CDI HAIs by 23%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In VA, adoption of the proposed HT-CDI surveillance definition increased the number of reportable cases.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1012-1015"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148712354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying the contributions of asymptomatic and symptomatic colonized patients to <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> acquisition in oncological units.","authors":"Savannah Curtis, Mary M Lee, Tiffany Hink, Kimberly A Reske, Emily Struttmann, Zainab Hassan Iqbal, Candice Cass, Margaret Olsen, Sankalp Arya, Carey-Ann Burnham, Suzanne Lenhart, Erik Dubberke, Cristina Lanzas","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10557","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10557","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Leukemic and hematopoietic cell transplant patients have one of the highest incidences of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (CDI). Although CDI patients are considered the primary source of transmission, asymptomatic colonized (AC) patients can progress to CDI or contribute to in-unit transmission. We aim to quantify the roles of CDI and AC patients in <i>C. difficile</i> importation and transmission within oncological units.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Prospective cohort study.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Two leukemia and hematopoietic cell transplant units in a large tertiary care hospital in the United States for a 6-month period.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We developed a stochastic, individual-based network model to simulate <i>C. difficile</i> acquisition and transmission. Data from cultures and nucleic acid amplification testing obtained at admission and weekly, and toxin enzyme immunoassay tests used for CDI diagnosis were used to calibrate the model. Healthcare worker room assignments informed the network structure. Key parameters were estimated via particle filtering.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The model reproduced observed weekly test counts and transmission pairs. Only 23% of new colonization events were observed via testing. AC patients were the primary source of new colonizations: 51% (range: 38%-70%) were due to importation (of those, 87% were admitted as AC), and 49% (30%-62%) were due to transmission (AC was the source in 92% of transmissions that resulted in new colonizations).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings reinforce the role of AC, particularly via admission importation, in sustaining <i>C. difficile</i> transmission in high-risk hospital settings. Infection control focused on CDI effectively reduced onward transmission, as indicated by CDI's low contribution to new colonizations.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149108726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of a single-set blood culture restriction during the 2024 national blood culture bottle shortage on patient outcomes: an interrupted time series analysis.","authors":"Joseph B Ladines-Lim, Bailey Van, Leigh Cressman, Warren B Bilker, Laurel Glaser, Kathleen Degnan, Michael Z David","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10527","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10527","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate the clinical and stewardship consequences of a single-set blood culture restriction implemented during the 2024 national blood culture bottle shortage.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Interrupted time series analysis of hospitalizations from June 26, 2023, to June 25, 2025.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Two tertiary hospitals in an urban academic health system.</p><p><strong>Patients: </strong>116,341 inpatient hospitalizations, including 31,034 with ≥1 blood culture obtained.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>A systemwide electronic health record order restriction from June 26 to December 23, 2024, limiting clinicians to one blood culture set per patient every 24 hours.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In-hospital mortality or hospice discharge declined before restriction (-1.3%/week; <i>P</i> < .001), flattened during restriction (+0.8%/week; <i>P</i> = .20), and declined again after restriction (-2.8%/week; <i>P</i> < .001). Overall blood culture positivity increased from 9.6% prerestriction to 11.2% during restriction and decreased to 10.2% postrestriction. Upon restriction onset, hospitalizations with ≥1 blood culture decreased 29.7% (<i>P</i> < .001). Among hospitalizations with ≥1 blood culture, mean cultures per hospitalization decreased 52.6% (<i>P</i> < .001), time to first culture increased 39.5% (<i>P</i> < .001), and time to first antimicrobial increased 13.8% (<i>P</i> = .04). Days of antimicrobial therapy increased among hospitalizations with and without blood cultures by 12.6% (<i>P</i> = .001) and 10.6% (<i>P</i> < .001), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A near-universal single-set blood culture restriction was associated with decreased and delayed diagnostic testing, delayed antimicrobial initiation, increased antimicrobial exposure, and temporal changes in clinical outcomes. Crisis-driven diagnostic stewardship interventions should include indication-specific guidance and real-time safety monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1053-1063"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148827711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of hand hygiene on the detection of multidrug-resistant organisms and other pathogens of epidemiologic significance after implementation of an automated hand hygiene monitoring system.","authors":"Radhika Prakash-Asrani, Kayoko Shioda, Chris W Bower, James P Steinberg, Scott K Fridkin, Jesse T Jacob, Lindsey B Gottlieb","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10524","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10524","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess the association between hand hygiene adherence, as measured by an automated hand hygiene monitoring system (AHHMS), and multidrug-resistant organisms and other pathogens of epidemiologic significance (MDRO+).</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Retrospective cohort study.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Acute care hospitals within an academic healthcare system.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Hand hygiene data was collected from all badged staff January 2021 through September 2022. Adult inpatients on non-maternity units during this period were eligible for inclusion.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>After implementing an AHHMS, we analyzed correlations between monthly unit-level hand hygiene adherence (proportion of room entry-exit opportunities during which hand hygiene solution was dispensed) and hospital-onset MDRO+ rates from all clinical cultures and <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> stool tests. Mixed-effect negative binomial regression models evaluated associations between monthly unit-level hand hygiene adherence and MDRO+ rates while adjusting for the number of clinical tests ordered, unit type, and average number of inpatient COVID-19 cases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During the study period, there were 22,767,036 hand hygiene opportunities. Mean hand hygiene adherence improved from 41% (January 2021) to 57% (September 2022). 1,847 MDRO+ detections were observed in 752,341 patient days with a median composite MDRO+ rate of 1.7 per 1,000 patient days (IQR: 0-3.6). The mixed-effect negative binomial regression model found a null association between hand hygiene adherence and MDRO+ rates (rate ratio 1.01; 95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite an improvement in hand hygiene adherence, we did not find a resultant impact on MDRO+ detection, likely owing to the complex interaction between the two variables and unmeasured confounders.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1039-1045"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148827961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of a procalcitonin protocol with active antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist feedback on antibiotic use in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pragmatic interrupted time series study.","authors":"Matthew Labreche, Alexa Molina, Anthony Chase Palisch, Kala Mehta, Bradley Frazee","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10521","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10521","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Evaluate the influence of a procalcitonin (PCT) protocol and the incremental impact of a focused antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist intervention on antimicrobial exposure and hospital length of stay in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Prospective, observational, interrupted time series.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Safety-net teaching hospital in Oakland, California.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We compared the care and outcomes of inpatients with non-severe AECOPD during three periods: <i>Baseline Phase</i> (before PCT testing), <i>Intervention Phase I</i> (after introduction of PCT testing and education) and <i>Intervention Phase II</i> (PCT testing and education plus an antimicrobial stewardship intervention to promote adherence). The primary study outcome was antibiotic exposure measured as mean antibiotic days per AECOPD episode.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>341 total admissions were included, 134 in the Baseline Phase, 121 in Intervention Phase I and 86 in Intervention Phase II. Patient comorbidities were well balanced. Mean (SD) total antibiotic days decreased across the study from 4.7(3.8) to 3.5 (3.2) to 2.1(2.7) days in the Baseline Phase, Intervention Phase I and Intervention Phase II, respectively (<i>P</i> < .001). Median (IQR) hospital lengths of stay decreased from 3.7(2.6-5.2) to 2.8 (1.5-5.2) to 1.5(0.3-4.1) days (<i>P</i> = .003). Inclusion in Intervention Phase II was the strongest predictor of total antibiotic days (IRR = 0.45,95% CI [0.64-0.83]) and hospital length of stay (IRR = 0.68, 95% CI [0.53-0.88]). All cause 30-day readmission rates were similar across the study (16%, 21%, and 21%; <i>p</i>-trend 0.16).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Reductions in antimicrobial exposure and hospital length of stay achieved with PCT testing alone improved further with addition of a focused antibiotic stewardship pharmacist intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1046-1052"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148818234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hospital characteristics associated with healthcare-associated viral respiratory infection rates in a Canadian acute care network.","authors":"Erin McGill, Diane Lee, Caroline Quach, Jerome A Leis, Mark Downing, John Conly, Jennifer Ellison, John M Embil, Bonita E Lee, Yves Longtin, Dominik Mertz, Stephanie Smith, Reena Titoria, Olivia Varsaneux, Joseph Vayalumkal, Nisha Thampi, Charles Frenette","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10490","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10490","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To determine if hospital characteristics were associated with rates of healthcare-associated (HA) viral respiratory infections (VRIs) in a large Canadian acute care hospital network.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Survey of hospital characteristics and prospective surveillance of HA-VRI.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program is a sentinel surveillance system with 89 hospitals participating in adult and pediatric VRI surveillance.</p><p><strong>Patients: </strong>Patients with laboratory confirmed infection from SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B or RSV associated with their hospitalization from participating hospitals between January 1-December 31, 2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 15-item survey was distributed to hospitals to collect information on hospital infrastructure, infection prevention and control practices, and occupational health measures for healthcare workers. HA-VRI rates/10,000 patient-days were analyzed alongside survey responses using univariable and multivariable negative binomial regression models in R to determine associations. Hospitals without case data were excluded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 89 hospitals, 93% (n = 83) responded to the survey, with 79 included in the analysis. The national HA-VRI rate was 8.15/10,000 patient-days. Pediatric hospitals had a 56% lower HA-VRI rate than adult/mixed hospitals (<i>P</i> < .001) that increased with the exclusion of SARS-CoV-2. Each 10% increase in the percentage of single-bed rooms corresponded to a 12% reduction in infection rate (<i>P</i> < .001). Teaching vs. Non-teaching hospitals were associated with a 32% lower HA-VRI rate. Universal masking was not associated with a statistically significant reduction in HA-VRI rates (RR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.56-1.19).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In a large surveillance network, lower HA-VRI rates were seen in pediatric hospitals, teaching hospitals, and in hospitals with higher proportions of single-bed rooms.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1023-1031"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148548753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A quality improvement initiative to optimize diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship of ventilator-associated tracheitis in the pediatric intensive care unit.","authors":"Evin Feldman, Aidan Doona, Denise Iacono, Jesse Honig, Anupama Subramony, Todd Sweberg, Mundeep K Kainth","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10522","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10522","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To reduce frequency of endotracheal aspirate culture (EAC) collection and decrease antibiotic days of therapy (DOT) for ventilator-associated tracheitis (VAT).</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Quality improvement intervention.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Tertiary-care pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).</p><p><strong>Patients: </strong>Admitted to the PICU with an endotracheal tube (ETT) or tracheostomy.</p><p><strong>Interventions: </strong>A clinical decision-support tool was implemented to provide clinical criteria for culture collection and microbiologic criteria for diagnosis, and to reduce treatment duration to 3 days. Key stakeholders were engaged, a nurse champion was identified, and a protocol was implemented. Culture rates (overall and serially repeated) and antibiotic DOT for VAT, each per 100 ETT/tracheostomy days, were analyzed. The proportion of VAT episodes treated for 3 days was also evaluated. Balancing measures included PICU mortality, ventilator-associated events, ventilator days, and length of stay. Statistical process control methods were used to analyze the data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across 1072 EACs sent and 213 VAT cases diagnosed, interventions led to a 23% reduction in monthly cultures (9.2 to 7.1 per 100 ETT/tracheostomy days) and a 53% reduction in serial culture use (1.5 to 0.7 per 100 ETT/tracheostomy days). There was a 53% reduction in monthly antibiotic DOT for VAT (10.8 to 5.1 per 100 ETT/tracheostomy days) and a 13-fold increase in the proportion of 3-day antibiotic prescriptions (5 to 65%). There was no increase in mortality, ventilator-associated events, ventilator days, or length of stay.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Standardized VAT guidelines in critically ill children can safely and effectively decrease culture and antibiotic use.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"999-1006"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148706566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}