Infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship program needs and practices in 2021: A survey of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Research Network.

2023

1-3

03/2023

1559-6834

In total, 50 healthcare facilities completed a survey in 2021 to characterize changes in infection prevention and control and antibiotic stewardship practices. Notable findings include sustained surveillance for multidrug-resistant organisms but decreased use of human resource-intensive interventions compared to previous surveys in 2013 and 2018 conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

10.1017/ice.2022.222

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

36916202

COVID-19 Research Agenda for Healthcare Epidemiology.

2021

1-81

2021 Jan 25

1559-6834

<p>This SHEA white paper identifies knowledge gaps and challenges in healthcare epidemiology research related to COVID-19 with a focus on core principles of healthcare epidemiology. These gaps, revealed during the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, are described in 10 sections: epidemiology, outbreak investigation, surveillance, isolation precaution practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), environmental contamination and disinfection, drug and supply shortages, antimicrobial stewardship, healthcare personnel (HCP) occupational safety, and return to work policies. Each section highlights three critical healthcare epidemiology research questions with detailed description provided in supplemental materials. This research agenda calls for translational studies from laboratory-based basic science research to well-designed, large-scale studies and health outcomes research. Research gaps and challenges related to nursing homes and social disparities are included. Collaborations across various disciplines, expertise and across diverse geographic locations will be critical.</p>

10.1017/ice.2021.25

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

33487199

The Role of Stewardship in Addressing Antibacterial Resistance: Stewardship and Infection Control Committee of the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group.

2017

S36-S40

2017 Mar 15

1537-6591

<p>Antibacterial resistance is increasing globally and has been recognized as a major public health threat. Antibacterial stewardship is the coordinated effort to improve the appropriate use of antibiotics with the aim to decrease selective pressure for multidrug-resistant organisms in order to preserve the utility of antibacterial agents. This article describes the activities of the Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) in the area of antibacterial stewardship. To date, the ARLG has focused intensely on development of rapid diagnostic tests, which (when coupled with educational and institutional initiatives) will enable the robust stewardship that is needed to address the current crisis of antibacterial resistance. In addition to exploring the effectiveness of stewardship techniques in community hospitals, the ARLG has also developed strategy trials to assess the feasibility of reducing antibacterial usage while preserving patient outcome.</p>

10.1093/cid/ciw830

Clin. Infect. Dis.

28350902

Point-of-prescription interventions to improve antimicrobial stewardship.

2015

1252-8

04/2015

1537-6591

<p>Antimicrobial stewardship is pivotal to improving patient outcomes, reducing adverse events, decreasing healthcare costs, and preventing further emergence of antimicrobial resistance. In an era in which antimicrobial resistance is increasing, judicious antimicrobial use is the responsibility of every healthcare provider. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) have made headway in improving antimicrobial prescribing using such "top-down" methods as formulary restriction and prospective audit with feedback; however, engagement of prescribers has not been fully explored. Strategies that include frontline prescribers and other unit-based healthcare providers have the potential to expand stewardship, both to augment existing centralized ASPs and to provide alternative approaches to perform stewardship at healthcare facilities with limited resources. This review discusses interventions focusing on antimicrobial prescribing at the point of prescription as well as a pilot project to engage unit-based healthcare providers in antimicrobial stewardship.</p>

10.1093/cid/civ018

Clin. Infect. Dis.

25595748