Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology最新文献

{"title":"Containing a <i>Candidozyma</i> (formerly <i>Candida</i>) <i>auris</i> outbreak in Institute of Mental Health, Singapore: challenges and strategies for infection prevention and control.","authors":"Xiqing Lin, Zhanpo Shi, Kalisvar Marimuthu, Raymond Tzer Pin Lin, Michelle Ang, Jonathan Jie Lee, Yehua Liu, Jinxian Feng, Cynthia Qi Yi Mok, Jason Kim Huat Lee","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10530","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2026.10530","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148827499","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":"Effectiveness of gaseous ozone in reducing microbial contamination: evaluation of environmental disinfection in healthcare settings.","authors":"Riccardo Mastrantonio, Alessia Romantini, Camilla Lombardo, Angela Civisca, Mario Muselli, Annalucia Moretti, Giovanna Micolucci, Leila Fabiani","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10468","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10468","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Environmental contamination is a significant factor in the transmission of healthcare-associated infections. This study evaluated the effectiveness of gaseous ozone in reducing microbial contamination within hospital settings, focusing on both air and surfaces.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A cross-sectional study conducted in a single healthcare facility.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Two experimental protocols were implemented using the Sany-Plus ozonator: a three-timepoint protocol (3T), which included routine cleaning followed by ozone disinfection, and a two-timepoint protocol (2T), where ozone treatment occurred after patient activity without intermediate cleaning. We conducted active air and surface samplings using RODAC plates. Microbial loads were quantified in terms of colony-forming units (CFU) for both bacteria and molds/yeasts. Data analysis was performed using the Friedman and Wilcoxon tests, applying Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the 3T protocol, bacterial and fungal contamination on surfaces significantly decreased between patient activity and postcleaning, with <i>P</i>-values of .0024 and .0060, respectively. However, no further reduction was observed after ozone disinfection. Airborne microbial loads did not show any statistically significant changes. In the 2T protocol, there was no significant overall decrease in bacterial contamination (<i>P</i> = .0766), although fungal contamination did experience a significant reduction (<i>P</i> = .0058). No changes in air contamination were detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that routine cleaning is the primary determinant of surface decontamination, while ozone treatment may provide a limited complementary antifungal effect. No significant impact on airborne microorganisms was noted. Therefore, ozone should be regarded as an adjunct to, rather than a replacement for, conventional cleaning and disinfection in healthcare environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"798-804"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148042233","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":"Dust-driven transmission of carbapenem-resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> during replacing bed linens: a hidden airborne route.","authors":"Li Wei, Yu Feng, Lin Cai, Yuhua Deng, Jing Huang, Hongxia Wen, Lina Liu, Meilin Li, Xiaopan Guo, Fu Qiao, Zhiyong Zong","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10494","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10494","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Replacing soiled bed linens is a common practice in intensive care units . We identified dust-driven transmission of carbapenem-resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> correlated with changing bed linens by air sampling and genome-based analysis. This uncovers a hidden airborne route, which needs to be considered to design countermeasures against multidrug-resistant organisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"843-845"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148258069","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":"Association between social vulnerability index and rates of carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales infections in the Denver metropolitan region, 2016-2019.","authors":"Alyssa Beck, Jennifer Driscoll, Karlie Hoetzer, Alison G Abraham, Rebecca Conway, Johnna Bakalar, Helen Johnston, Christopher A Czaja","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10402","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Denver area census tracts during the years 2016-2019, the rate of carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales (CRE) infection increased by 10% for every 0.1 unit increase in Social Vulnerability Index (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06, 1.14). This finding suggests that community factors may influence risk of healthcare-associated infections such as CRE.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"840-842"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13311447/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148217800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparing rapid molecular and culture methods for detecting fungal contamination in healthcare environments.","authors":"Bobby G Warren, Amanda Graves, Aaron Barrett, Guerbine Fils-Aime, Matthew Stiegel, Becky A Smith, Ilan Schwartz, Deverick J Anderson","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10491","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10491","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fungal contamination of healthcare environments is increasingly recognized as a potential contributor to healthcare-associated infections, yet standardized environmental surveillance strategies remain poorly defined. Culture-based methods are widely used but have limitations including low sensitivity and prolonged turnaround time. Molecular approaches such as quantitative PCR (qPCR) may improve detection but have not been extensively evaluated in real-world hospital environments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a longitudinal observational study across three inpatient units at a tertiary academic medical center from September 2023 through June 2024. Environmental samples were collected monthly from patient rooms and shared unit areas, including air, bathroom floors, HVAC components, patient bedrails, and linen storage areas. Samples were analyzed using direct-from-sample 18S qPCR and culture-based detection followed by 18S or ITS sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 742 samples collected, 474 (64%) were positive for fungi by qPCR compared with 213 (29%) by culture (<i>P</i> < .01). qPCR showed higher detection rates across most sample types, including air (35% vs 3%), bathroom floors (86% vs 42%), HVAC exhaust vents (72% vs 41%), and patient bedrails (78% vs 10%). Culture methods identified a broader diversity of fungi, including <i>Talaromyces</i>, <i>Candida</i>, and <i>Penicillium</i>, while qPCR detections were dominated by <i>Malassezia</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Molecular and culture-based methods provide complementary insights into hospital fungal contamination. qPCR demonstrated greater sensitivity, while culture identified a broader range of viable fungi. Future surveillance strategies may benefit from leveraging qPCR sensitivity using targeted primers for clinically important fungi, reducing the need for broad sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"805-814"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13311461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148270717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating patient in-hospital transfer patterns into automated outbreak detection systems: a single-center retrospective study.","authors":"Susanne Pinto, Marieke A M Harmelink-de Zoete, Maaike S M van Mourik","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10485","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10485","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Timely detection of pathogen-related outbreaks in hospitals is important for preventing onward transmission and can be supported by automated outbreak detection systems (AODS). Many methods overlook in-hospital patient transfers and focus only on patient locations at the time of sampling. This study compares three approaches for incorporating patient transfers into AODS.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Two existing AODS frameworks, a local percentile-based system and a statistical modeling-based system were extended to include patient transfers: 1) grouping wards into communities based on frequent patient exchange, 2) including prior ward visits in the past 14 days, and 3) including both prior ward visits and time spent on wards. Alerts generated were reviewed for clinical relevance.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>Data from January 2014 to December 2021 from a University Medical Center in the Netherlands.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Using the percentile-based approach, the baseline scenario detected 99 possible outbreaks. Extension with ward community groupings, prior ward visits, and prior ward visits accounting for time spent in each ward increased this number with 16 (+15%), 42 (+42%), and 106 (+110%) possible outbreaks, respectively. Of the alerts generated by including individual patient transfer history, 35% were judged as requiring investigation. The trade-off between increased detection and relevance was less favorable for the other approaches. Similar findings were found for statistical modeling-based methods.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Inclusion of patient transfer data in AODS improved sensitivity, at the cost of increasing the alert burden. Therefore, ongoing refinement should further optimize the balance between accurate outbreak detection and a manageable alert burden.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"778-785"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345268","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":"Collaborative approaches to masking: statewide threshold development and performance across three respiratory seasons.","authors":"Jessica Nerby, Wendy Berg, Mindy McFarren, Frank Rhame","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10487","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10487","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Transmission of respiratory illnesses in health care settings poses significant risks to patients and staff. Without clear, standardized masking thresholds, policies may vary, resulting in confusion. We developed statewide consensus thresholds to guide masking in Minnesota health care systems over three respiratory seasons.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A multidisciplinary workgroup consisting of infection preventionists, infectious disease providers, occupational health specialists, and representatives from the state health department reviewed available data, including hospitalization rates, influenza-like illness levels, test positivity, and wastewater data. Thresholds used for masking were evaluated and updated each year after analyzing performance and feedback from health care facilities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis of the first season thresholds revealed issues with data sources selected and resulted in the group changing threshold recommendations from illness levels to hospitalization rates. Analysis of the second season thresholds revealed issues with masking timing and threshold recommendations for COVID-19 hospitalization leading to changes in COVID-19 masking thresholds and the addition of a masking implementation date for season three. Nine of out ten health systems reporting implementing universal masking during the respiratory season. Those that implemented masking reporting strong staff and leadership support due to the aligned metrics.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Development of standardized thresholds improved staff support for masking and reduced staff and patient confusion. Use of basic epidemiology tools in threshold development allowed for replication across healthcare systems and easy communication of thresholds to staff and patients. Data reporting lags can delay masking during periods of rapidly increasing illness.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"823-829"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148217767","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":"Exploring unconventional antimicrobial stewardship models: options beyond traditional prospective audit and feedback.","authors":"Alyssa B Christensen, Gary L Cochran, Sean N Avedissian, Brent Footer, Zachary Nelson, Maxx Enzmann, Sarah Rebecca Peglow","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10500","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10500","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prospective audit and feedback (PAF) is a core antimicrobial stewardship strategy. Discontinuing PAF in favor of alternative interventions has not been previously evaluated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive study assessed changes in antimicrobial days of therapy per 1,000 patient days (DOTs/1,000 PD) following PAF removal at two urban hospitals. Preintervention PAF included daily review of broad-spectrum antibiotics and oral therapy transitions. Postintervention efforts emphasized system standardization, education, guideline optimization, and electronic medical record enhancements. Secondary outcomes included trends in antibiotics previously reviewed under PAF: antibiotics targeting methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) or <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, carbapenems, and oral antibiotics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hospital A demonstrated a change in the trend of DOTs/1,000 PD with a significant downward slope after PAF removal (-5.994; 95% CI -8.072 to -3.929; P < .001). Hospital B continued to down-trend postintervention. At hospital A, carbapenem use decreased significantly postintervention (slope change -0.117; 95% CI -0.198 to -0.036; P = .007), with no changes in anti-MRSA or anti-pseudomonal agents. Hospital B demonstrated increasing use of anti-MRSA (slope change + 0.394; 95% CI 0.198 to 0.589; P < .001), anti-pseudomonal (slope change + 0.378; 95% CI 0.075 to 0.681; P = .016), and carbapenem agents (slope change + 0.124; 95% CI 0.020 to 0.228; P = .021). No changes were observed in oral antibiotic use or C. difficile rates.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Shifting stewardship resources away from PAF did not increase total antibiotic use trends. Broad-spectrum antibiotics increased modestly with unclear clinical significance (≤1.3 DOT/1,000 PD). Antimicrobial stewardship strategies, beyond PAF, should continue to be assessed to maximize effectiveness relative to effort.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"830-835"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148308019","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":"Perioperative approaches to <i>Candida auris</i> colonization in surgical and transplant patients: insights from an EIN Quick Query.","authors":"Dana Hassneiah, Dana Pepe, Preeti Mehrotra, Susan Beekmann, Philip Polgreen, Matthew Lee","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10428","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10428","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Candida auris</i> is an emerging, multidrug-resistant pathogen with limited perioperative prevention guidance. A poll of U.S. infectious diseases professionals revealed <i>C. auris</i> perioperative guidelines, preoperative screening, and antifungal prophylaxis was uncommon. 19% of respondents had encountered postoperative <i>C. auris</i> infections, highlighting a need for research and standardized prevention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"850-852"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148015361","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":"Donor-derived and nosocomial-acquired <i>Candida auris</i> transmission involving solid organ transplant recipients.","authors":"Adam Lowe, Courtney E Harris, Evan Rivere, Eric G Meissner, Alexandra Mills, Adrienne Lorek McGarity, Scott R Curry","doi":"10.1017/ice.2026.10471","DOIUrl":"10.1017/ice.2026.10471","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13663,"journal":{"name":"Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology","volume":" ","pages":"861-862"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148029901","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}