Older people who live in residential aged care homes (RACHs) are particularly vulnerable to infections. Without staff commitment and engagement, even the most well-designed policies and guidelines may fail to achieve infection prevention and control (IPAC) effectiveness. The aim of this study was to examine staff perceptions of their roles in IPAC in RACHs.
Methods
A qualitative descriptive study using semistructured interviews with 21 direct care and support staff was conducted on 2 RACHs in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were interviewed from May to October 2024. Transcribed audio-recordings of interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results
Both direct care and support staff perceived their primary role in IPAC as providing both physical safety and emotional support to older people. While they recognized the importance of routine and outbreak-related IPAC practices, they identified key barriers such as older people’s cognitive impairment, home-like environments, and staffing challenges. Most participants felt supported by organizational training but emphasized the need for ongoing IPAC education regardless of role.
Conclusions
The findings highlight the importance of tailored IPAC training, including communication strategies for supporting older people with cognitive impairment, along with team collaboration and workforce retention measures to sustain effective IPAC in RACHs.
{"title":"Staff perceptions of their roles in infection prevention and control in residential aged care homes: A qualitative study","authors":"Nantanit van Gulik RN, PhD , Wendy Calder RN, MSc , Philippa Blencowe RN, MSc , Alexandra Mikus-Cunningham DipN , Roslyn Carmichael RN, GradCert IPC , Stephane Bouchoucha RN, PhD , Tejashree Kangutkar BDS, MHHSM, PhD , Julie Considine RN, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Older people who live in residential aged care homes (RACHs) are particularly vulnerable to infections. Without staff commitment and engagement, even the most well-designed policies and guidelines may fail to achieve infection prevention and control (IPAC) effectiveness. The aim of this study was to examine staff perceptions of their roles in IPAC in RACHs.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A qualitative descriptive study using semistructured interviews with 21 direct care and support staff was conducted on 2 RACHs in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were interviewed from May to October 2024. Transcribed audio-recordings of interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Both direct care and support staff perceived their primary role in IPAC as providing both physical safety and emotional support to older people. While they recognized the importance of routine and outbreak-related IPAC practices, they identified key barriers such as older people’s cognitive impairment, home-like environments, and staffing challenges. Most participants felt supported by organizational training but emphasized the need for ongoing IPAC education regardless of role.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings highlight the importance of tailored IPAC training, including communication strategies for supporting older people with cognitive impairment, along with team collaboration and workforce retention measures to sustain effective IPAC in RACHs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7621,"journal":{"name":"American journal of infection control","volume":"54 1","pages":"Pages 22-29"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145008046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.10.028
Madison Willingham BSN, RN, Christina Cunningham BSN, RN, CEN, Julie McCord MSN, MPH, NP-C, CIC, Priscilla Graves RN
Accurate blood culture collection is essential for guiding appropriate antibiotic therapy, with contamination posing a risk to diagnostic reliability. The American Society for Microbiology recommends contamination rates below 3% for optimal patient outcomes. In collaboration with the emergency and microbiology departments, a large rural hospital implemented a standardized blood culture collection kit as a quality improvement initiative that led to a reduction in contamination rates, reaching a low of 0.97% over several months.
准确的血培养收集对于指导适当的抗生素治疗至关重要，污染对诊断可靠性构成风险。美国微生物学会（American Society for Microbiology）建议，为了获得最佳的治疗效果，污染率应低于3%。一家大型农村医院与急诊科和微生物科合作，实施了标准化的血液培养收集包，作为一项质量改进举措，降低了污染率，在几个月内达到0.97%的低水平。
{"title":"Using a standardized blood culture collection kit to reduce the rate of contamination in the emergency room","authors":"Madison Willingham BSN, RN, Christina Cunningham BSN, RN, CEN, Julie McCord MSN, MPH, NP-C, CIC, Priscilla Graves RN","doi":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.10.028","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.10.028","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate blood culture collection is essential for guiding appropriate antibiotic therapy, with contamination posing a risk to diagnostic reliability. The American Society for Microbiology recommends contamination rates below 3% for optimal patient outcomes. In collaboration with the emergency and microbiology departments, a large rural hospital implemented a standardized blood culture collection kit as a quality improvement initiative that led to a reduction in contamination rates, reaching a low of 0.97% over several months.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7621,"journal":{"name":"American journal of infection control","volume":"54 1","pages":"Pages 91-93"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.021
Austin R. Penna MPH, CIC, Nijika Shrivastwa PhD, MHSA, MPH, Penelope Strid MPH, Joseph F. Perz DrPH, MA, Jennifer C. Hunter DrPH, MPH
Background
Outbreaks and other adverse patient safety events can occur in any healthcare setting and warrant investigation to minimize harm; however, national-level data for outpatient setting investigations are limited. We reviewed data reported by health departments to characterize these investigations.
Methods
Health department investigations of novel or targeted multidrug-resistant organisms (nMDRO investigations) or clusters of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by non-nMDROs and infection control breaches with or without reported infections (HAI investigations) conducted from August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2023, were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reviewed to describe investigations involving outpatient settings only. SARS-CoV-2 investigations were excluded.
Results
Among 4,182 reported investigations, 330 (8%) involved ≥ 1 outpatient settings. Of these, 230 (70%) involved outpatient settings only, including 38 dental (17%), 21 ambulatory surgery (9%), and 21 urology (9%) investigations. Of the 230, 148 (64%) were HAI investigations, and 82 (36%) were nMDRO investigations. Infection control breaches were reported in 100 of 148 (68%) HAI investigations, including in 78 (53%) without reported infections. Device reprocessing (56, 56%) breaches were most common overall.
Conclusions
Infection risks were identified across a variety of outpatient settings, highlighting the role of health departments in addressing urgent outpatient safety issues.
{"title":"Public health investigations in outpatient healthcare settings nationwide, August 2019 to July 2023","authors":"Austin R. Penna MPH, CIC, Nijika Shrivastwa PhD, MHSA, MPH, Penelope Strid MPH, Joseph F. Perz DrPH, MA, Jennifer C. Hunter DrPH, MPH","doi":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Outbreaks and other adverse patient safety events can occur in any healthcare setting and warrant investigation to minimize harm; however, national-level data for outpatient setting investigations are limited. We reviewed data reported by health departments to characterize these investigations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Health department investigations of novel or targeted multidrug-resistant organisms (nMDRO investigations) or clusters of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by non-nMDROs and infection control breaches with or without reported infections (HAI investigations) conducted from August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2023, were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reviewed to describe investigations involving outpatient settings only. SARS-CoV-2 investigations were excluded.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 4,182 reported investigations, 330 (8%) involved ≥ 1 outpatient settings. Of these, 230 (70%) involved outpatient settings only, including 38 dental (17%), 21 ambulatory surgery (9%), and 21 urology (9%) investigations. Of the 230, 148 (64%) were HAI investigations, and 82 (36%) were nMDRO investigations. Infection control breaches were reported in 100 of 148 (68%) HAI investigations, including in 78 (53%) without reported infections. Device reprocessing (56, 56%) breaches were most common overall.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Infection risks were identified across a variety of outpatient settings, highlighting the role of health departments in addressing urgent outpatient safety issues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7621,"journal":{"name":"American journal of infection control","volume":"54 1","pages":"Pages 7-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145273683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.003
Allison Wentland West MSN, RN, CPHQ, a-IPC , Erin Macsay MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG , Kamie J. Snure MSN, RN, CIC , William I. Northern MLS, SM (ASCP)
A phased Candida auris screening program was implemented in a large acute care hospital system. This program used high-risk criteria as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to successfully identify C auris early in the hospital stay. Interdisciplinary collaboration enabled continuous quality improvement which improved screening processes for early detection and implementation of isolation precautions. Ultimately, safety for patients and staff was improved.
{"title":"A phased approach to implementation of a Candida auris screening program in a large, acute care hospital system","authors":"Allison Wentland West MSN, RN, CPHQ, a-IPC , Erin Macsay MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG , Kamie J. Snure MSN, RN, CIC , William I. Northern MLS, SM (ASCP)","doi":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A phased <em>Candida auris</em> screening program was implemented in a large acute care hospital system. This program used high-risk criteria as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to successfully identify <em>C auris</em> early in the hospital stay. Interdisciplinary collaboration enabled continuous quality improvement which improved screening processes for early detection and implementation of isolation precautions. Ultimately, safety for patients and staff was improved.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7621,"journal":{"name":"American journal of infection control","volume":"54 1","pages":"Pages 66-70"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145058215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common postoperative complications that are frequently missed or diagnosed late due to limited follow-up. This study evaluated a smartphone-based wound follow-up system for detecting SSIs after discharge.
Methods
This quasi-experimental study selected 90 patients aged 18 to 70 years undergoing general surgery at Taleghani hospital. The intervention group (n = 30) submitted postoperative wound photos via smartphone for immediate feedback; the control group (n = 60) received routine telephone follow-up at 1 month. Data were analyzed in SPSS using independent t tests and logistic regression to compare SSI detection between groups.
Results
The mean age was 41.6 ± 13.0 years, with no significant difference between groups. SSIs were detected in 5 patients in the smartphone group and 2 in the control group (P = .043). Both groups had primarily moderate infections, with one high-risk infection observed in the smartphone group only. The smartphone intervention was associated with significantly higher odds of SSI detection (odds ratio = 5.8; 95% CI, 1.05-31.92).
Conclusions
Smartphone-based wound follow-up detected higher SSI rates and may enable earlier diagnosis. However, given the quasi-experimental design and small sample size, larger randomized multicenter studies are needed to confirm effectiveness and to evaluate longer-term patient outcomes.
{"title":"The impact of smartphone-based wound follow-up on surgical site infection detection: A quasi-experimental study","authors":"Pourya Khani MSc , Leili Rostamnia PhD , Rostam Jalali PhD , Behnam Darabi PhD , Nader Salari PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common postoperative complications that are frequently missed or diagnosed late due to limited follow-up. This study evaluated a smartphone-based wound follow-up system for detecting SSIs after discharge.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This quasi-experimental study selected 90 patients aged 18 to 70<!--> <!-->years undergoing general surgery at Taleghani hospital. The intervention group (n = 30) submitted postoperative wound photos via smartphone for immediate feedback; the control group (n = 60) received routine telephone follow-up at 1<!--> <!-->month. Data were analyzed in SPSS using independent t tests and logistic regression to compare SSI detection between groups.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean age was 41.6<!--> <!-->±<!--> <!-->13.0<!--> <!-->years, with no significant difference between groups. SSIs were detected in 5 patients in the smartphone group and 2 in the control group (<em>P</em> = .043). Both groups had primarily moderate infections, with one high-risk infection observed in the smartphone group only. The smartphone intervention was associated with significantly higher odds of SSI detection (odds ratio = 5.8; 95% CI, 1.05-31.92).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Smartphone-based wound follow-up detected higher SSI rates and may enable earlier diagnosis. However, given the quasi-experimental design and small sample size, larger randomized multicenter studies are needed to confirm effectiveness and to evaluate longer-term patient outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7621,"journal":{"name":"American journal of infection control","volume":"54 1","pages":"Pages 55-59"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145058230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.10.021
Sara M. Reese PhD, MPH, CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC, Bryan Knepper MPH, MS, CIC, FAPIC, Rebecca Crapanzano-Sigafoos DrPH, CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC
{"title":"Response to letter to the editor: “What constitutes an adequate sample size for monitoring hand hygiene adherence?”","authors":"Sara M. Reese PhD, MPH, CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC, Bryan Knepper MPH, MS, CIC, FAPIC, Rebecca Crapanzano-Sigafoos DrPH, CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC","doi":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.10.021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.10.021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7621,"journal":{"name":"American journal of infection control","volume":"54 1","pages":"Pages 104-105"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145562392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.014
Joanne Tropea BPhysio, MPH, PhD , Jacqueline Gilbert MBBS, FRACP, MClinEpid , Noleen Bennett RN, MPH, PhD , Lyn-li Lim MBBS, FRACP , Kirsty L. Buising MBBS, FRACP, MPH, MD , Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh RN, MA, PhD , Jason C. Kwong MBBS, FRACP, PhD , Douglas F. Johnson MBBS, FRACP, PhD , Caroline Marshall MBBS, FRACP, PhD, Grad Dip Clin Epi , Madelaine Flynn MBA, CIC, RN, GAICD , Paul A. Yates MBBS, FRACP, PhD , Craig Aboltins MBBS(Hons), FRACP, DMedSc , Wen K. Lim MBBS, FRACP, MD , Sanne Peters BEd, MEd, PhD
Background
Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices are crucial in residential aged care homes (RACHs), yet gaps between evidence-based recommendations and what is done in practice (called evidence-practice gaps) continue. Understanding barriers and enablers to implementing evidence-based IPC is essential for improvement. This study aims to identify barriers and enablers to RACH staff performing evidence-based IPC practices, according to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and map these domains to associated behavior change techniques (BCTs) to inform interventions.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 staff from 9 RACHs in Victoria, Australia. Interviews explored 7 prioritized IPC evidence-practice gaps. The TDF guided data collection and analysis. Key domains were mapped to BCTs.
Results
Key enablers included knowledge of IPC importance, access to equipment and resources, skills and experience, self-confidence, visual cues, and beliefs about protecting self and others. Main barriers were related to environmental context and resources, including limited access to hand hygiene products and personal protective equipment. Social influences and competing priorities also posed challenges. The BCTs mapping suggested strategies to improve environmental setup, education, and infrastructure.
Conclusions
RACH staff reported engagement with evidence-based IPC, highlighting its importance. Barriers mainly related to environmental and resource factors. Recommended strategies based on BCTs offer actionable, resource-efficient interventions to improve IPC practice in RACHs.
{"title":"Identifying barriers and enablers to effective infection prevention and control in residential aged care: A qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework","authors":"Joanne Tropea BPhysio, MPH, PhD , Jacqueline Gilbert MBBS, FRACP, MClinEpid , Noleen Bennett RN, MPH, PhD , Lyn-li Lim MBBS, FRACP , Kirsty L. Buising MBBS, FRACP, MPH, MD , Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh RN, MA, PhD , Jason C. Kwong MBBS, FRACP, PhD , Douglas F. Johnson MBBS, FRACP, PhD , Caroline Marshall MBBS, FRACP, PhD, Grad Dip Clin Epi , Madelaine Flynn MBA, CIC, RN, GAICD , Paul A. Yates MBBS, FRACP, PhD , Craig Aboltins MBBS(Hons), FRACP, DMedSc , Wen K. Lim MBBS, FRACP, MD , Sanne Peters BEd, MEd, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.014","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.09.014","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices are crucial in residential aged care homes (RACHs), yet gaps between evidence-based recommendations and what is done in practice (called evidence-practice gaps) continue. Understanding barriers and enablers to implementing evidence-based IPC is essential for improvement. This study aims to identify barriers and enablers to RACH staff performing evidence-based IPC practices, according to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and map these domains to associated behavior change techniques (BCTs) to inform interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 staff from 9 RACHs in Victoria, Australia. Interviews explored 7 prioritized IPC evidence-practice gaps. The TDF guided data collection and analysis. Key domains were mapped to BCTs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Key enablers included knowledge of IPC importance, access to equipment and resources, skills and experience, self-confidence, visual cues, and beliefs about protecting self and others. Main barriers were related to environmental context and resources, including limited access to hand hygiene products and personal protective equipment. Social influences and competing priorities also posed challenges. The BCTs mapping suggested strategies to improve environmental setup, education, and infrastructure.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>RACH staff reported engagement with evidence-based IPC, highlighting its importance. Barriers mainly related to environmental and resource factors. Recommended strategies based on BCTs offer actionable, resource-efficient interventions to improve IPC practice in RACHs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7621,"journal":{"name":"American journal of infection control","volume":"54 1","pages":"Pages 30-38"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145211334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.08.033
Lyn-Li Lim MBBS, MPH, Grad Dip Clin Epi , Ann Bull BSC(Hons), MApp Epid, PhD , Stephanie K. Tanamas BBiomedSc(Hons), PhD , Noleen Bennett RN, Grad Dip Infec Cont, MPH, PhD , Leon J. Worth MBBS, Grad Dip Clin Epi, PhD , N. Deborah Friedman MBBS, MD, MPH
Background
Effective hospital infection prevention and control (IPC) programs require adequate and specialized resourcing. To advocate for future resourcing, we reviewed existing hospital IPC program resourcing in Victoria, Australia.
Methods
A cross-sectional study design was used. A voluntary survey was distributed to IPC program leads in Victorian hospitals. Data were collected on hospital characteristics (acute bed numbers, services), IPC program staffing (roles, experience, full-time equivalent [FTE]), and program portfolio. Anonymized responses were analyzed by sector and bed size.
Results
Overall, 113 facilities responded, corresponding to 45% of Victorian hospitals. Hospitals with ≥ 200 beds reported that IPC programs had a median FTE per 100 acute beds of 1.6, compared to hospitals in the small (50-99 beds) and medium (100-199) categories, which reported 0.8 and 0.5 FTE, respectively. Median FTE per 100 acute beds was higher in public (3.2) than private (0.4) hospitals. Public hospitals had larger teams and more experienced IPC staff than private hospitals.
Conclusions
Differences in IPC program resourcing are evident in Victorian hospitals, when assessed by sector and bed size. With increasing demands on IPC programs, an understanding of current resourcing assists in future workforce planning.
{"title":"Resourcing of hospital infection prevention and control programs in Victoria, Australia","authors":"Lyn-Li Lim MBBS, MPH, Grad Dip Clin Epi , Ann Bull BSC(Hons), MApp Epid, PhD , Stephanie K. Tanamas BBiomedSc(Hons), PhD , Noleen Bennett RN, Grad Dip Infec Cont, MPH, PhD , Leon J. Worth MBBS, Grad Dip Clin Epi, PhD , N. Deborah Friedman MBBS, MD, MPH","doi":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.08.033","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.08.033","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Effective hospital infection prevention and control (IPC) programs require adequate and specialized resourcing. To advocate for future resourcing, we reviewed existing hospital IPC program resourcing in Victoria, Australia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study design was used. A voluntary survey was distributed to IPC program leads in Victorian hospitals. Data were collected on hospital characteristics (acute bed numbers, services), IPC program staffing (roles, experience, full-time equivalent [FTE]), and program portfolio. Anonymized responses were analyzed by sector and bed size.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Overall, 113 facilities responded, corresponding to 45% of Victorian hospitals. Hospitals with ≥ 200 beds reported that IPC programs had a median FTE per 100 acute beds of 1.6, compared to hospitals in the small (50-99 beds) and medium (100-199) categories, which reported 0.8 and 0.5 FTE, respectively. Median FTE per 100 acute beds was higher in public (3.2) than private (0.4) hospitals. Public hospitals had larger teams and more experienced IPC staff than private hospitals.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Differences in IPC program resourcing are evident in Victorian hospitals, when assessed by sector and bed size. With increasing demands on IPC programs, an understanding of current resourcing assists in future workforce planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7621,"journal":{"name":"American journal of infection control","volume":"54 1","pages":"Pages 39-43"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145136359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.01.020
Antonio E. Pontiroli MD , Ivan Zanoni PhD , Lucia La Sala PhD , Elena Tagliabue BSc
{"title":"Comment on a recent meta-analysis of influenza vaccination and COVID-19 infection","authors":"Antonio E. Pontiroli MD , Ivan Zanoni PhD , Lucia La Sala PhD , Elena Tagliabue BSc","doi":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.01.020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ajic.2025.01.020","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7621,"journal":{"name":"American journal of infection control","volume":"54 1","pages":"Pages 99-101"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143405170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.10.012
Kelly R. Reveles PharmD, PhD , Kelsey A. Strey PharmD, PhD , Cory Evans OTR/L , Diego Sierra PharmD , Victor Herrera PharmD , Glenn S. Tillotson PhD, FIDSA
Background
Skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents are at increased risk of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). The study describes the role of SNFs in CDI transitions of care among hospitalized patients in the United States.
Methods
This was a retrospective cohort study using the PINC AI Healthcare Database. Older adults (65+ years) were included if they had an index, nonrecurrent CDI hospitalization between July 2019 and December 2022. Patient and CDI characteristics, health outcomes (inpatient mortality, hospital length of stay, and readmissions), and hospital costs were compared between patients admitted from or discharged to a SNF.
Results
Among 86,646 index CDI hospitalizations, only 5.1% of CDI patients were admitted from a SNF; however, 28.3% were discharged to a SNF. Patients admitted from SNFs more commonly experienced inpatient mortality (13.5% vs 8.2%), all-cause readmission (31.0% vs 28.0%), higher median hospital costs ($18,610 vs $15,270), and longer median hospital length of stay (8 vs 7 days) (P < .05 for all). Similar trends were noted for patients discharged to a SNF.
Conclusions
Older, hospitalized CDI patients originating from SNFs disproportionately experience poor health outcomes and financial burden. Over one-quarter of CDI patients were discharged to a SNF suggesting a need for higher levels of health care following CDI.
背景：熟练护理机构（SNF）的住院人员感染艰难梭菌（CDI）的风险增加。该研究描述了snf在美国住院患者CDI护理转变中的作用。方法采用PINC AI医疗数据库进行回顾性队列研究。如果老年人（65岁以上）在2019年7月至2022年12月期间有指数非复发性CDI住院，则纳入该研究。比较了SNF收治和出院患者的患者和CDI特征、健康结果（住院死亡率、住院时间和再入院）和住院费用。结果在86646例CDI住院患者中，仅5.1%的CDI患者是由SNF入院的；然而，28.3%的人被送往SNF。snf患者更常见的住院死亡率（13.5% vs 8.2%）、全因再入院（31.0% vs 28.0%）、住院费用中位数较高（18,610美元vs 15,270美元）、住院时间中位数较长（8天vs 7天）（所有患者P <； 0.05）。在SNF出院的患者中也发现了类似的趋势。结论snf源性CDI住院患者的健康状况和经济负担不佳的比例较高。超过四分之一的CDI患者出院到SNF，这表明在CDI之后需要更高水平的卫生保健。
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