Charting the Course for the Future of Science in Healthcare Epidemiology: Results of a Survey of the Membership of the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America

Objective.To describe the results of a survey of members of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) that (1) measured members' perceptions of gaps in the healthcare epidemiology knowledge base and members' priorities for SHEA research goals, (2) assessed whether members would be willing to participate in consortia to address identified gaps in knowledge, and (3) evaluated the need for training for the next generation of investigators in the field of healthcare epidemiology.Design.Electronic and paper survey of members of SHEA, a professional society formed to advance the science of healthcare epidemiology through research and education.Participants.All society members were invited to participate.Results.Of 1,289 SHEA members, 593 (46.0%) responded. Respondents identified the following issues as important for the Research Committee of SHEA: setting the scientific agenda for healthcare epidemiology, developing collaborative infrastructure to conduct research, and developing funding mechanisms for research. Respondents ranked multidrug-resistant gram-negative organisms, antimicrobial stewardship, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, adherence to effective hand hygiene guidelines, and Clostridium difficile infections as the most important scientific issues facing the field. Respondents ranked inadequate project funding, lack of protected time for research, and inability to obtain a grant, contract, and/or outside funding as the most significant barriers to conducting research. More than 92% of respondents support creating a SHEA research consortium; more than 40% would participate even if no additional funding were available; nearly 90% identified developing research training as a key function for SHEA.Conclusions.These data provide a road map for the SHEA Research Committee for the next decade.

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Road Map for Research Training in the Residency Learning Experience

Journal of Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/0897190017727382 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 489-496 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Heather A. Personett ◽

Drayton A. Hammond ◽

Erin N. Frazee ◽

Lee P. Skrupky ◽

Thomas J. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Literature ◽

Research Training ◽

Learning Experience ◽

Research Participation ◽

Successful Completion ◽

Road Map ◽

Approach To Teaching ◽

Conducting Research ◽

American Society ◽

Interest In Research

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists residency accreditation standards require all postgraduate residency training programs to teach and evaluate a resident’s ability to advance practice through project development and presentation, underscoring the importance of conducting research in today’s professional climate. Although many residents express strong interest in research participation and contributing to the medical literature, many obstacles to publication have been identified. We aim to illustrate a deliberate approach to teaching this material and structuring the longitudinal experience in a way that maximizes resources to overcome these barriers. Such efforts should aid residents, advisors, and program directors in establishing curriculum which leads to successful completion and publication of pharmacy resident’s research projects.

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The Evolving Landscape of Healthcare-Associated Infections: Recent Advances in Prevention and a Road Map for Research

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1086/675821 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 480-493 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Nasia Safdar ◽

Deverick J. Anderson ◽

Barbara I. Braun ◽

Philip Carling ◽

Stuart Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Research Priorities ◽

White Paper ◽

Research Network ◽

Healthcare Associated Infections ◽

Research Committee ◽

Road Map ◽

Research Questions ◽

Healthcare Associated ◽

Healthcare Epidemiology ◽

National Approach

This white paper identifies knowledge gaps and new challenges in healthcare epidemiology research, assesses the progress made toward addressing research priorities, provides the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Research Committee's recommendations for high-priority research topics, and proposes a road map for making progress toward these goals. It updates the 2010 SHEA Research Committee document, “Charting the Course for the Future of Science in Healthcare Epidemiology: Results of a Survey of the Membership of SHEA,” which called for a national approach to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and a prioritized research agenda. This paper highlights recent studies that have advanced our understanding of HAIs, the establishment of the SHEA Research Network as a collaborative infrastructure to address research questions, prevention initiatives at state and national levels, changes in reporting and payment requirements, and new patterns in antimicrobial resistance.

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Interfacility transfer communication of multidrug-resistant organism colonization or infection status: Practices and barriers in the acute-care setting

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology ◽

10.1017/ice.2021.131 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Katherine D. Ellingson ◽

Brie N. Noble ◽

Genevieve L. Buser ◽

Graham M. Snyder ◽

Jessina C. McGregor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Care ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Research Network ◽

Resistant Organism ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hospital Size ◽

Academic Affiliation ◽

Healthcare Epidemiology

Abstract Objective: To describe interfacility transfer communication (IFTC) methods for notification of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) status in a diverse sample of acute-care hospitals. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Participants: Hospitals within the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Research Network (SRN). Methods: SRN members completed an electronic survey on protocols and methods for IFTC. We assessed differences in IFTC frequency, barriers, and perceived benefit by presence of an IFTC protocol. Results: Among 136 hospital representatives who were sent the survey, 54 (40%) responded, of whom 72% reported having an IFTC protocol in place. The presence of a protocol did not differ significantly by hospital size, academic affiliation, or international status. Of those with IFTC protocols, 44% reported consistent notification of MDRO status (>75% of the time) to receiving facilities, as opposed to 13% from those with no IFTC protocol (P = .04). Respondents from hospitals with IFTC protocols reported significantly fewer barriers to communication compared to those without (2.8 vs 4.3; P = .03). Overall, however, most respondents (56%) reported a lack of standardization in communication. Presence of an IFTC protocol did not affect whether respondents perceived IFTC protocols as having a significant impact on infection prevention or antimicrobial stewardship. Conclusions: Most respondents reported having an IFTC protocol, which was associated with reduced communication barriers at transfer. Standardization of protocols and clarity about expectations for sending and receipt of information related to MDRO status may facilitate IFTC and promote appropriate and timely infection prevention practices.

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Attitudes of primary health care physician managers toward research: a pre-experimental study

Australian Journal of Primary Health ◽

10.1071/py11146 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 171 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Saulat Jahan ◽

Basem Henary

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Training Program ◽

Research Training ◽

Attitude Score ◽

Primary Health ◽

Study Results ◽

Post Test ◽

The Mean ◽

Conducting Research

Research in primary health care (PHC) is underdeveloped and scarce, especially in developing countries. It is important to understand the attitudes and aspirations of PHC physicians for the promotion of research. The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of PHC physician managers toward research in Qassim province and to identify barriers that impede performing research in the PHC system. The study was based on social cognitive theory framework, and was pre-experimental with a ‘one-group pre-test–post-test’ design. The study participants were physician managers in PHC administration, Qassim. The participants’ attitudes were measured by adapting statements from the Attitude Towards Research scale. The intervention was the 1-day training program ‘Introduction to Research in Primary Health Care’. A total of 23 PHC physicians participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 45.4 (±1.6) years, and the mean years of work experience was 16.2 (±2.2) years. Only one participant had an article published in a peer-reviewed journal. The results of the study showed that PHC physicians had a baseline positive attitude toward research that was further enhanced after participating in an introductory research-training program. During the pre-test, out of the total score of 63, the mean score on attitude toward research was 48.35 (±6.8) while the mean total attitude score in the post-test was 49.7 (±6.6). However, the difference was not statistically significant at P < 0.05. The item with the highest score regarded the role of research in the improvement of health care services, while the lowest-scoring item was about support from administration to conduct research. The participants recognised lack of skills, lack of training and inadequate resources as major barriers in conducting research. Our study results suggest that the PHC physicians’ positive attitudes toward research can be further improved through in-service training. To promote research in PHC in Qassim, regular research-training programs and incentives for conducting research should be provided to the PHC physicians.

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Hospital-acquired infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms in Hungary, 2005-2010

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/ese.18.02.20352-en ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

Author(s):

S Caini ◽

A Hajdu ◽

A Kurcz ◽

K Böröcz

Keyword(s):

Infection Control ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Special Focus ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Hospital Acquired Infections ◽

Health Authorities ◽

Multidrug Resistant Organisms ◽

Public Health Authorities ◽

Gram Negative Organisms ◽

Hospital Acquired

Healthcare-associated infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms are associated with prolonged medical care, worse outcome and costly therapies. In Hungary, hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) due to epidemiologically important multidrug-resistant organisms are notifiable by law since 2004. Overall, 6,845 case-patients (59.8% men; median age: 65 years) were notified in Hungary from 2005 to 2010. One third of case-patients died in hospital. The overall incidence of infections increased from 5.4 in 2005 to 14.7 per 100,000 patient-days in 2010. Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most frequently reported pathogen (52.2%), but while its incidence seemed to stabilise after 2007, notifications of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms have significantly increased from 2005 to 2010. Surgical wound and bloodstream were the most frequently reported sites of infection. Although MRSA incidence has seemingly reached a plateau in recent years, actions aiming at reducing the burden of HAIs with special focus on Gram-negative multidrug-resistant organisms are needed in Hungary. Continuing promotion of antimicrobial stewardship, infection control methodologies, reinforced HAI surveillance among healthcare and infection control practitioners, and engagement of stakeholders, hospital managers and public health authorities to facilitate the implementation of existing guidelines and protocols are essential.

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Genomic epidemiology of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1111/nyas.13672 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1435 (1) ◽

pp. 39-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Shawn E. Hawken ◽

Evan S. Snitkin

Keyword(s):

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Genomic Epidemiology ◽

Gram Negative Organisms

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129. Antimicrobial Activity of Ceftazidime–avibactam and Comparator Agents Tested against Gram-Negative Organisms Isolated from Patients with Bloodstream Infections in United States Medical Centers (2017–2018)

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.204 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S93-S94

Author(s):

Cecilia G Carvalhaes ◽

Mariana Castanheira ◽

Rodrigo E Mendes ◽

Helio S Sader

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

New York ◽

Bloodstream Infections ◽

The United States ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Medical Centers ◽

Carbapenem Resistant ◽

Gram Negative Organisms ◽

Esbl Producers

Abstract Background We evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobacterales (ENT) and P. aeruginosa (PSA) causing bloodstream infections (BSIs) in the United States (US) hospitals. Methods A total of 3,317 ENT and 331 PSA isolates were consecutively collected (1/patient) from patients with BSI in 68 US medical centers in 2017–2018 and tested for susceptibility (S) by reference broth microdilution methods in a central laboratory as part of the International Network for Optimal Resistance Monitoring (INFORM) Program. β-Lactamase screening was performed by whole-genome sequencing on ENT with decreased S to broad-spectrum cephalosporins (ESBL phenotype). Results The most common ENT species isolated from BSI were E. coli (EC; 41.9% of ENT), K. pneumoniae (KPN; 24.4%), and E. cloacae (ECL; 8.7%), and the most active agents against ENT were ceftazidime–avibactam (CAZ-AVI; 99.9%S), amikacin (AMK; 99.6%S) and meropenem (MEM; 99.3%S). CAZ-AVI was active against all EC and KPN isolates (100.0%S). Only 2 ENT isolates (0.06%) were CAZ-AVI resistant, 2 NDM-1-producing ECL isolated in the New York City area. Ceftolozane–tazobactam (C-T) and piperacillin–tazobactam (PIP-TAZ) showed good activity against EC and KPN (92.2–98.9%S; Table), with limited activity against ECL (81.9–83.7%S). The most common ESBLs were CTX-M-type, which was observed in 93% of ESBL producers (mainly CTX-M-15 [64% of ESBL producers] and CTX-M-27 [13%]), and OXA-1/OXA-30 (42%); 42% of ESBL producers (n = 333, excluding carbapenemase producers) displayed ≥2 ESBL genes, mainly CTX-M-15 and OXA-1/OXA-30 (40% of ESBL producers). The most active agents against ESBL producers were CAZ-AVI (100.0%S), imipenem (99.4%S), and colistin (COL; 99.1%S). Only CAZ-AVI (99.4%S), AMK (96.2%S) and MEM (92.8%S) were active against >90% of multidrug-resistant (MDR) ENT. Among 19 carbapenem-resistant ENT (CRE; 0.6% of ENT), 9 produced a KPC-like, 2 an NDM-1, and 2 an NMC-A; carbapenemase genes were not found in 6 CRE isolates. COL (100.0%S), CAZ-AVI (98.5%S), AMK (98.5%S), C-T (98.1%S), and tobramycin (97.0%S) were very active against PSA. Conclusion CAZ-AVI exhibited potent in vitro activity and great spectrum against ENT (99.9%S) and PSA (98.5%) isolated from patients with BSI from US hospitals. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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