Executive Summary: A Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute-Care Hospitals: 2022 Updates

International expert consensus statement on PICU admission and early critical care management for paediatric patients following haematopoietic cell transplant and immune effector cell therapy

Advances in paediatric haematopoietic cell transplantation strategies using immune-effector cells (HCT-IEC) and in intensive care management have improved survival expectations for patients with malignant and non-malignant diseases. However, critical illness still complicates the clinical course for 10-35% of patients undergoing HCT-IEC because of disease-related complications or treatment-related toxicities. Given the improvement in survival for these patients in paediatric intensive care units (PICU), the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC), the HCT-Cancer Immunotherapy Subgroup of the Paediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network, and the Paediatric Diseases Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) derived expert consensus statements to guide PICU admission and early critical care management of patients following HCT-IEC. 27 statements were drafted by the steering committee and subsequently voted on by 20 expert panel members with expertise in HCT and IEC. 20 statements received strong agreement and seven received weak agreement. This consensus statement serves as a guide for intensivists, haematologists, and oncologists during the challenging process of PICU admission and critical care management of patients who have undergone HCT-IEC and can serve as a basis for prioritising future research in the field.

Surveillance of MRSA, ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and Clostridioides difficile in Catalan Hospitals: Findings from the VINCat Program

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to describe the epidemiological trends of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and Clostridioides difficile in Catalonia, Spain.

METHODS

We analyzed data from hospitals participating in the VINCat Program from 2008 to 2022. The study analyzed antimicrobial susceptibility data from isolates collected in acute care hospital settings. Key metrics: annual MRSA rate, incidence density of new MRSA cases, MRSA bacteremia, and hospital-acquired MRSA cases. We assessed the rate of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae and carbapenemase-resistant (CR)-K. pneumoniae, CR-Enterobacter cloacae, and CR-Escherichia coli. For C. difficile infections (CDI), the incidence density was determined.

RESULTS

While MRSA rate slightly decreased over the study period, the incidence of MRSA bacteremia increased. Global hospital-acquired MRSA incidence decreased but increased in small hospitals. Among patients with bacteremia, the rate of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae remained stable; in contrast, the rate of CR-K. pneumoniae rose in large centers as well as did the rates of CR-E. cloacae and CR-E. coli. CDI incidence rose substantially over the study period.

CONCLUSION

VINCat's hospital surveillance system has provided valuable insights into the evolving incidence of key multidrug-resistant organisms and CDI. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, particularly for MRSA in smaller hospitals and for CR-Enterobacteriaceae and CDI across all hospital sizes.

Nosocomial Bloodstream Infection in Critically Ill Patients: Is Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation a Relevant Factor?

BACKGROUND

Nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSIs) in critically ill patients can cause clinical deterioration, extend intensive care unit (ICU) stays, and increase mortality risk. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (ECMO) is a known risk factor for BSI, and infections in these patients are assumed to have a worse prognosis. However, no comparative studies exist between ECMO and non-ECMO patients.

METHODS

A three-year prospective observational study was conducted in a 24-bed medical ICU. Consecutive nosocomial BSIs episodes were recorded, and BSIs in mechanically ventilated patients were analyzed based on ECMO treatment status.

FINDINGS

A total of 98 BSI episodes were included: 30 (30.6%) in ECMO and 68 (69.3%) in non-ECMO patients. The total number of ECMO patients during the study period was 110, with a bacteraemia rate of 27.7% (20.26 episodes per 1000 treatment-days). In non-ECMO patients, the BSI rate was 7.9% (p<0.001). ECMO patients were younger and had fewer co-morbidities. BSI type and aetiology were similar between groups, but severity was higher in ECMO patients. Although multidrug-resistant microorganisms were more frequent in ECMO patients, the appropriate treatment rate was similar. ICU-mortality was 66.6% in ECMO patients and 30.8% in non-ECMO patients (p <0.001). However, CRRT (OR 3.67), SOFA score (OR 1.54) and COVID-19 diagnosis (OR 1.54) were the only independent risk factors associated with mortality in BSI patients.

CONCLUSION

Although BSI was more frequent and severe in ECMO patients, ECMO support was not independently related to mortality in patients with healthcare-associated BSI.

Trends in surveillance indicators for central-catheter-associated bloodstream infections in a tertiary hospital in Switzerland

BACKGROUND

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are associated with relevant morbidity and mortality. Longitudinal dynamics in CLABSI incidence and the spectrum of causative microorganisms are limited.

AIM

To describe trends in CLABSI incidence, use of central lines, and causative pathogens.

METHODS

We analysed prospectively collected data on CLABSI at a Swiss tertiary care hospital between January 2016 and December 2023. We investigated longitudinal changes of incidence densities, catheter utilization and causative pathogens.

FINDINGS

A total of 707 CLABSIs were observed, corresponding to an incidence density of 1.69 (95% confidence interval 1.56-1.81) CLABSIs per 1000 catheter-days. There was no significant trend of CLABSI incidence density per 1000 catheter-days (z = 0.86, P=0.391), but an increase of catheter utilization ratio (z = 8.88, P<0.001). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (N = 207, 23.4%) and Enterococcus spp. (N = 134, 15.2%; E. faecium N = 94, 10.6%; E. faecalis N = 37, 4.1%; other Enterococcus spp. N = 3, 0.34%) were the most frequent causative pathogens. Over the years, the proportion of Enterococcus spp. (z = 3.4, P<0.001), driven by an increase of E. faecium (z = 3.2, P=0.001), and yeast (z = 2.3, P=0.020) increased, whereas coagulase-negative staphylococci decreased (z = -6.1, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Prospective CLABSI surveillance indicated stable incidence densities per 1000 catheter-days, but there were significant shifts of causative microorganisms over time.

Horizontal versus vertical strategies for infection prevention: current practices and controversies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a major burden on healthcare facilities. Effective infection prevention strategies are essential to prevent the spread of HAIs. These can be broadly classified as vertical and horizontal interventions. Through this review, we aim to assess the merits of these strategies.

RECENT FINDINGS

Vertical strategies include active surveillance testing and isolation for patients infected or colonized with a particular organism. These strategies are beneficial to curb the spread of emerging pathogens and during outbreaks. However, the routine use of contact precautions for organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus remains controversial. Horizontal interventions are larger-scale and reduce HAIs by targeting a common mode of transmission shared by multiple organisms. Among these, hand hygiene, chlorhexidine gluconate bathing of select patients and environmental decontamination are the most high-yield and must be incorporated into infection prevention programs. As antimicrobial stewardship is also an effective horizontal strategy, antimicrobial stewardship programs must operate in synergy with infection prevention programs for maximal impact.

SUMMARY

Overall, horizontal interventions are considered more cost-effective and have a broader impact. Infection control programs may opt for a combination of vertical and horizontal strategies based on local epidemiology and available resources.