To evaluate the efficacy of detergent and friction on removal of traditional biofilm and cyclic-buildup biofilm (CBB) from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) channels and to evaluate the efficacy of glutaraldehyde to kill residual bacteria after cleaning.

PTFE channels were exposed to artificial test soil containing 108 CFU/mL of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis, followed by full cleaning and high-level disinfection (HLD) for five repeated rounds to establish CBB. For traditional biofilm, the HLD step was omitted. Cleaning with enzymatic and alkaline detergents, bristle brush, and Pull Thru channel cleaner were compared to a water flush only. Carbohydrate, protein, viable count, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were analyzed and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was performed.

In the absence of friction, cleaning of traditional biofilm and CBB was not effective compared to the positive control (Dunn-Bonferroni tests; P > .05) regardless of the detergent used. ATP, protein, and carbohydrate analyses were unable to detect traditional biofilm or CBB. The AFM analysis showed that fixation resulted in CBB being smoother and more compact than traditional biofilm.

Friction during the cleaning process was a critical parameter regardless of the detergent used for removal of either traditional biofilm or CBB. Glutaraldehyde effectively killed the remaining microorganisms regardless of the cleaning method used.

To develop a regional antibiogram within the Chicagoland metropolitan area and to compare regional susceptibilities against individual hospitals within the area and national surveillance data.

Multicenter retrospective analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility data from 2017 and comparison to local institutions and national surveillance data.

The analysis included 51 hospitals from the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin Metropolitan Statistical Area within the state of Illinois. Overall, 18 individual collaborator hospitals provided antibiograms for analysis, and data from 33 hospitals were provided in aggregate by the Becton Dickinson Insights Research Database.

All available antibiogram data from calendar year 2017 were combined to generate the regional antibiogram. The final Chicagoland antibiogram was then compared internally to collaborators and externally to national surveillance data to assess its applicability and utility.

In total, 167,394 gram-positive, gram-negative, fungal, and mycobacterial isolates were collated to create a composite regional antibiogram. The regional data represented the local institutions well, with 96% of the collaborating institutions falling within ±2 standard deviations of the regional mean. The regional antibiogram was able to include 4–5-fold more gram-positive and -negative species with ≥30 isolates than the median reported by local institutions. Against national surveillance data, 18.6% of assessed pathogen–antibiotic combinations crossed prespecified clinical thresholds for disparity in susceptibility rates, with notable trends for resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Developing an accurate, reliable regional antibiogram is feasible, even in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The biogram is useful in assessing susceptibilities to less commonly encountered organisms and providing clinicians a more accurate representation of local antimicrobial resistance rates compared to national surveillance databases.

To assess the impact of a newly developed Central-Line Insertion Site Assessment (CLISA) score on the incidence of local inflammation or infection for CLABSI prevention.

A pre- and postintervention, quasi-experimental quality improvement study.

Adult inpatients with central venous catheters (CVCs) hospitalized in an intensive care unit or oncology ward at a large academic medical center.

We evaluated CLISA score impact on insertion site inflammation and infection (CLISA score of 2 or 3) incidence in the baseline period (June 2014–January 2015) and the intervention period (April 2015–October 2017) using interrupted times series and generalized linear mixed-effects multivariable analyses. These were run separately for days-to-line removal from identification of a CLISA score of 2 or 3. CLISA score interrater reliability and photo quiz results were evaluated.

Among 6,957 CVCs assessed 40,846 times, percentage of lines with CLISA score of 2 or 3 in the baseline and intervention periods decreased by 78.2% (from 22.0% to 4.7%), with a significant immediate decrease in the time-series analysis (P < .001). According to the multivariable regression, the intervention was associated with lower percentage of lines with a CLISA score of 2 or 3, after adjusting for age, gender, CVC body location, and hospital unit (odds ratio, 0.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.34; P < .001). According to the multivariate regression, days to removal of lines with CLISA score of 2 or 3 was 3.19 days faster after the intervention (P < .001). Also, line dwell time decreased 37.1% from a mean of 14 days (standard deviation [SD], 10.6) to 8.8 days (SD, 9.0) (P < .001). Device utilization ratios decreased 9% from 0.64 (SD, 0.08) to 0.58 (SD, 0.06) (P = .039).

The CLISA score creates a common language for assessing line infection risk and successfully promotes high compliance with best practices in timely line removal.

To determine whether carbapenem consumption and Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance rates can be used as benchmarks to compare and improve antimicrobial stewardship programs across multiple pediatric hospitals.

A prospective study.

Healthcare institutions in Japan with >100 pediatric beds.

An annual survey of the total days of therapy (DOT) per 1,000 patient days for carbapenem antibiotics (meropenem, imipenem-cilastatin, panipenem-betamipron, doripenem) and susceptibility rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to meropenem and imipenem-cilastatin from each institution was conducted over a 7-year period. Data were reported to the administration, as well as to the infection control team, of each institution annually.

Data were obtained from 32 facilities. The median total carbapenem DOT per 1,000 patient days was 16.6 and varied widely, with a range of 2.7 to 59.0. The median susceptibility to meropenem was 86.6%, ranging from 78.6% to 96.6%. We detected an inverse correlation between total carbapenem DOT versus susceptibility (r = – 0.36; P < .01). Over the 7-year period, the DOT per 1,000 patient days of carbapenem decreased by 27% from a median of 16.0 to 11.7 (P < .01). We also observed an improvement in susceptibility to meropenem from a median of 87% to 89.7% (P = .01) and to imipenem-cilastatin from 79% to 85% (P < .01). The decreases in the use of carbapenem were greater in institutions with antimicrobial stewardship programs led by pediatric infectious disease specialists.

Antimicrobial use and resistance, targeting carbapenems and P. aeruginosa, respectively, can serve as benchmarks that can be utilized to promote antimicrobial stewardship across pediatric healthcare institutions.

A guideline for the prevention of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in 127 Veterans Health Administration acute-care facilities was implemented in July 2012. Beginning in 2015, a targeted assessment for prevention strategy was used to evaluate facilities for hospital-onset healthcare-facility–associated CDIs to focus prevention efforts where they might have the most impact in reaching a reduction goal of 30% nationwide.

We calculated standardized infection ratios (SIRs) and cumulative attributable differences (CADs) using a national data baseline. Facilities were ranked by CAD, and those with the 10 highest CAD values were targeted for periodic conference calls or a site visit from January 2016–September 2019.

The hospital-onset healthcare-facility–associated CDI rate in the 10 facilities with the highest CADs declined 56% during the process improvement period, compared to a 44% decline in the 117 nonintervention facilities (P = .03).

Process improvement interventions targeting facilities ranked by CAD values may be an efficient strategy for decreasing CDI rates in a large healthcare system.

To determine whether Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) exhibits spatiotemporal interaction and clustering.

Retrospective observational study.

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

This study included 1,963 CDI cases, January 2005 through December 2011.

We extracted location and time information for each case and ran the Knox, Mantel, and mean and maximum component size tests for time thresholds (T = 7, 14, and 21 days) and distance thresholds (D = 2, 3, 4, and 5 units; 1 unit = 5–6 m). All tests were implemented using Monte Carlo simulations, and random CDI cases were constructed by randomly permuting times of CDI cases 20,000 times. As a counterfactual, we repeated all tests on 790 aspiration pneumonia cases because aspiration pneumonia is a complication without environmental factors.

Results from the Knox test and mean component size test rejected the null hypothesis of no spatiotemporal interaction (P < .0001), for all values of T and D. Results from the Mantel test also rejected the hypothesis of no spatiotemporal interaction (P < .0003). The same tests showed no such effects for aspiration pneumonia. Our results from the maximum component size tests showed similar trends, but they were not consistently significant, possibly because CDI outbreaks attributable to the environment were relatively small.

Our results clearly show spatiotemporal interaction and clustering among CDI cases and none whatsoever for aspiration pneumonia cases. These results strongly suggest that environmental factors play a role in the onset of some CDI cases. However, our results are not inconsistent with the possibility that many genetically unrelated CDI cases occurred during the study period.

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) are commonly diagnosed and major drivers of antibiotic prescribing. Clinician-focused interventions can reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for ARIs. We elicited clinician feedback to design sustainable interventions to improve ARI management by understanding the mental framework of clinicians surrounding antibiotic prescribing within Veterans’ Health Administration clinics.

We conducted one-on-one interviews with clinicians (n = 20) from clinics targeted for intervention at 5 facilities. The theory of planned behavior guided interview questions. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis. An iterative coding approach identified 6 themes.

Emergent themes: (1) barriers to appropriate prescribing are multifactorial and include challenges of behavior change; (2) antibiotic prescribing decisions are perceived as autonomous yet, diagnostic uncertainty and perceptions of patient demand can make prescribing decisions difficult; (3) clinicians perceive variation in peer prescribing practices and influences; (4) clinician-focused interventions are valuable if delivered with sensitivity; (5) communication strategies for educating patients are preferred to a shared decisions process; and (6) team standardization of practice and communication are key to facilitate appropriate prescribing. Clinicians perceived audit-and-feedback with peer comparison, academic detailing, and enhanced patient communication strategies as viable approaches to improving appropriate prescribing.

Implementation strategies that enable clinicians to overcome diagnostic uncertainty, perceived patient demand, and improve patient education are desired. Implementation strategies were welcomed, and some were more readily accepted (eg, audit feedback) than others (eg, shared decision making). Implementation strategies should address clinicians’ perceptions of antibiotic prescribing practices and should enhance their patient communication skills.

To describe an investigation into 5 clinical cases of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).

Epidemiological investigation supplemented by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of clinical and environmental isolates.

A tertiary-care academic health center in Boston, Massachusetts.

Individuals identified with CRAB clinical infections.

A detailed review of patient demographic and clinical data was conducted. Clinical isolates underwent phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing and WGS. Infection control practices were evaluated, and CRAB isolates obtained through environmental sampling were assessed by WGS. Genomic relatedness was measured by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis.

Four clinical cases spanning 4 months were linked to a single index case; isolates differed by 1–7 SNPs and belonged to a single cluster. The index patient and 3 case patients were admitted to the same room prior to their development of CRAB infection, and 2 case patients were admitted to the same room within 48 hours of admission. A fourth case patient was admitted to a different unit. Environmental sampling identified highly contaminated areas, and WGS of 5 environmental isolates revealed that they were highly related to the clinical cluster.

We report a cluster of highly resistant Acinetobacter baumannii that occurred in a burn ICU over 5 months and then spread to a separate ICU. Two case patients developed infections classified as community acquired under standard epidemiological definitions, but WGS revealed clonality, highlighting the risk of burn patients for early-onset nosocomial infections. An extensive investigation identified the role of environmental reservoirs.

Ambulatory healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur frequently in children and are associated with morbidity. Less is known about ambulatory HAI costs. This study estimated additional costs associated with pediatric ambulatory central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and surgical site infections (SSIs) following ambulatory surgery.

Retrospective case-control study.

Four academic medical centers.

Children aged 0–22 years seen between 2010 and 2015 and at risk for HAI as identified by electronic queries.

Chart review adjudicated HAIs. Charges were obtained for patients with HAIs and matched controls 30 days before HAI, on the day of, and 30 days after HAI. Charges were converted to costs and 2015 USD. Mixed-effects linear regression was used to estimate the difference-in-differences of HAI case versus control costs in 2 models: unrecorded charge values considered missing and a sensitivity analysis with unrecorded charge considered $0.

Our search identified 177 patients with ambulatory CLABSIs, 53 with ambulatory CAUTIs, and 26 with SSIs following ambulatory surgery who were matched with 382, 110, and 75 controls, respectively. Additional cost associated with an ambulatory CLABSI was $5,684 (95% confidence interval [CI], $1,005–$10,362) and $6,502 (95% CI, $2,261–$10,744) in the 2 models; cost associated with a CAUTI was $6,660 (95% CI, $1,055, $12,145) and $2,661 (95% CI, −$431 to $5,753); cost associated with an SSI following ambulatory surgery at 1 institution only was $6,370 (95% CI, $4,022–$8,719).

Ambulatory HAI in pediatric patients are associated with significant additional costs. Further work is needed to reduce ambulatory HAIs.

To assess the effect of a multimodal intervention on hand hygiene compliance (HHC) in nursing homes.

HHC was evaluated using direct, unobtrusive observation in a cluster randomized controlled trial at publicly funded nursing homes in the Netherlands. In total, 103 nursing home organizations were invited to participate; 18 organizations comprising 33 nursing homes (n = 66 nursing home units) participated in the study. Nursing homes were randomized into a control group (no intervention, n = 30) or an intervention group (multimodal intervention, n = 36). The primary outcome measure was HHC of nurses. HHC was appraised at baseline and at 4, 7, and 12 months after baseline. Observers and nurses were blinded.

Audits regarding hand hygiene (HH) materials and personal hygiene rules, 3 live lessons, an e-learning program, posters, and a photo contest. We used a new method to teach the nurses the WHO-defined 5 moments of HH: Room In, Room Out, Before Clean, and After Dirty.

HHC increased in both arms. The increase after 12 months was larger for units in the intervention arm (from 12% to 36%) than for control units (from 13% to 21%) (odds ratio [OR], 2.10; confidence interval [CI], 1.35–3.28). The intervention arm exhibited a statistically significant increase in HHC at 4 of the 5 WHO-defined HH moments. At follow-up, HHC in the intervention arm remained statistically significantly higher (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.59–2.34) for indications after an activity (from 37% to 39%) than for indications before an activity (from 14% to 27%).

The HANDSOME intervention is successful in improving HHC in nursing homes.

Central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) cause morbidity and mortality in critically ill children. We examined novel and/or modifiable risk factors for CLABSI to identify new potential targets for infection prevention strategies.

This single-center retrospective matched case-control study of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients was conducted in a 60-bed PICU from April 1, 2013, to December 31, 2017. Case patients were in the PICU, had a central venous catheter (CVC), and developed a CLABSI. Control patients were in the PICU for ≥2 days, had a CVC for ≥3 days, and did not develop a CLABSI. Cases and controls were matched 1:4 on age, number of complex chronic conditions, and hospital length of stay.

Overall, 72 CLABSIs were matched to 281 controls. Univariate analysis revealed 14 risk factors, and 4 remained significant in multivariable analysis: total number of central line accesses in the 3 days preceding CLABSI (80+ accesses: OR, 4.8; P = .01), acute behavioral health needs (OR, 3.2; P = .02), CVC duration >7 days (8–14 days: OR, 4.2; P = .01; 15–29 days: OR, 9.8; P < .01; 30–59 days: OR, 17.3; P < .01; 60–89 days: OR, 39.8; P < .01; 90+ days: OR, 4.9; P = .01), and hematologic/immunologic disease (OR, 1.5; P = .05).

Novel risk factors for CLABSI in PICU patients include acute behavioral health needs and >80 CVC accesses in the 3 days before CLABSI. Interventions focused on these factors may reduce CLABSIs in this high-risk population.

Enterococcus causes clinically significant bloodstream infections (BSIs). In centers with a higher prevalence of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) colonization, a common clinical question is whether empiric treatment directed against VRE should be initiated in the setting of a suspected enterococcal BSI. Unfortunately, VRE treatment options are limited, and relatively expensive, and subject patients to the risk of adverse reactions. We hypothesized that the results of VRE colonization screening could predict vancomycin resistance in enterococcal BSI.

We reviewed 370 consecutive cases of enterococcal BSI over a 7-year period at 2 tertiary-care hospitals to determine whether vancomycin-resistant BSIs could be predicted based on known colonization status (ie, patients with swabs performed within 30 days, more remotely, or never tested). We calculated sensitivity and specificity, and we plotted negative predictives values (NPVs) and positive predictive values (PPVs) as a function of prevalence.

A negative screening swab within 30 days of infection yielded NPVs of 90% and 95% in settings where <27.0% and 15.0% of enterococcal BSI are resistant to vancomycin, respectively. In patients with known VRE colonization, the PPV for VRE in enterococcal BSI was >50% at any prevalence exceeding 25%.

The results of a negative VRE screening test result performed within 30 days can help eliminate unnecessary empiric therapy in patients with suspected enterococcal BSI. Conversely, patients with positive VRE screening swabs require careful consideration of empiric VRE-directed therapy when enterococcal BSI appears likely.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are associated with increased mortality and healthcare costs. In 2007, a Veterans’ Affairs (VA) hospital implemented a MRSA nasal screening program, following a nationwide VA mandate, in an effort to reduce healthcare-associated MRSA infections.

To evaluate the correlation between the nasal screening results for MRSA and culture results of wound and tissue sites.

This retrospective study was conducted on inpatients at our VA hospital. Patients were included if they had undergone nasal screening for MRSA plus culture of a wound or tissue site within 30 days of hospital admission.

In total, 337 patients underwent nasal screening and wound culture and 211 underwent nasal screening and wound and tissue cultures. The prevalence of MRSA nasal colonization was 14.2% for wound samples and 15.2% for tissue samples. The sensitivities of MRSA nasal screening for detecting MRSA were 64.6% for wound cultures and 65.5% for tissue cultures. Specificities were 86.2% and 88.8% for wound and tissue cultures, respectively. The positive predictive values (PPVs) were 43.7% and 51.2% for wound and tissue cultures, respectively, and the negative predictive values (NPVs) were high at 93.6% and 93.5%, respectively.

In cases of wound or tissue samples for which culture results are pending, a negative MRSA nasal swab may be a component of the decision to withhold or discontinue MRSA-active agents.

The reported incidence of Clostridoides difficile infection (CDI) has increased in recent years, partly due to broadening adoption of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) replacing enzyme immunoassay (EIA) methods. Our aim was to quantify the impact of this switch on reported CDI rates using a large, multihospital, empirical dataset.

We analyzed 9 years of retrospective CDI data (2009–2017) from 47 hospitals in the southeastern United States; 37 hospitals switched to NAAT during this period, including 24 with sufficient pre- and post-switch data for statistical analyses. Poisson regression was used to quantify the NAAT-over-EIA incidence rate ratio (IRR) at hospital and network levels while controlling for longitudinal trends, the proportion of intensive care unit patient days, changes in surveillance methodology, and previously detected infection cluster periods. We additionally used change-point detection methods to identify shifts in the mean and/or slope of hospital-level CDI rates, and we compared results to recorded switch dates.

For hospitals that transitioned to NAAT, average unadjusted CDI rates increased substantially after the test switch from 10.9 to 23.9 per 10,000 patient days. Individual hospital IRRs ranged from 0.75 to 5.47, with a network-wide IRR of 1.75 (95% confidence interval, 1.62–1.89). Reported CDI rates significantly changed 1.6 months on average after switching to NAAT testing (standard deviation, 1.9 months).

Hospitals that switched from EIA to NAAT testing experienced an average postswitch increase of 75% in reported CDI rates after adjusting for other factors, and this increase was often gradual or delayed.

Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is commonly administered in orthopedic procedures. Research regarding SAP appropriateness for specific orthopedic procedures is limited and is required to facilitate targeted orthopedic prescriber behavior change.

To describe SAP prescribing and appropriateness for orthopedic procedures in Australian hospitals.

Multicenter, national, quality improvement study with retrospective analysis of data collected from Australian hospitals via Surgical National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (Surgical NAPS) audits from January 1, 2016, to April 15, 2019, were analyzed.

Logistic regression identified hospital, patient and surgical factors associated with appropriateness. Adjusted appropriateness was calculated from the multivariable model. Additional subanalyses were conducted on smaller subsets to calculate the adjusted appropriateness for specific orthopedic procedures.

In total, 140 facilities contributed to orthopedic audits in the Surgical NAPS, including 4,032 orthopedic surgical episodes and 6,709 prescribed doses. Overall appropriateness was low, 58.0% (n = 3,894). This differed for prescribed procedural (n = 3,978, 64.7%) and postprocedural doses (n = 2,731, 48.3%). The most common reasons for inappropriateness, when prophylaxis was required, was timing for procedural doses (50.9%) and duration for postprocedural prescriptions (49.8%). The adjusted appropriateness of each orthopedic procedure group was low for procedural SAP (knee surgery, 54.1% to total knee joint replacement, 74.1%). The adjusted appropriateness for postprocedural prescription was also low (from hand surgery, 40.7%, to closed reduction fractures, 68.7%).

Orthopedic surgical specialties demonstrated differences across procedural and postprocedural appropriateness. The metric of appropriateness identifies targets for quality improvement and is meaningful for clinicians. Targeted quality improvement projects for orthopedic specialties need to be developed to support optimization of antimicrobial use.

To study the effect of implementing the Israeli national carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) guidelines on controlling a hospital-wide outbreak of Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).

A before-and-after study from 2014 to 2018.

A 740-bed, secondary-care hospital in central Israel.

Acquisition of CRAB was defined as a positive culture taken at least 48 hours after admission or a positive sample identified upon admission in a patient who had been readmitted within 30 days after discharge from our institution. The intervention included maintaining a case registry of all CRAB patients, cohorting patients under strict contact isolation, using dedicated nursing staff and equipment, rigorous cleaning, education and close monitoring of hospital staff, and involvement of hospital management.

In total, 210 patients were identified with hospital-acquired CRAB: 141 before the intervention and 69 after the intervention. CRAB acquisition rates decreased by 77%, from 1.3 per 1,000 admissions before the intervention (2014–2015) to 0.3 per 1,000 admissions after the intervention (2016–2018) (P < .001). The decrease in acquisitions was observed hospital-wide, year by year (P for trend, <.001). In 2018, only 7 new acquisitions were detected in internal medicine wards (P = .058) and none in the ICUs (P = .006).

A structured intervention based on the Israeli CRE management guidelines was successful in controlling a hospital-wide CRAB outbreak.

To assess whether the implementation of an intensive care unit (ICU) rounding checklist reduces the number of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs).

Retrospective before-and-after study that took place between March 2013 and February 2017.

An academic community hospital 16-bed, mixed surgical, cardiac, medical ICU.

Participants were all patients admitted to the adult mixed ICU and had a diagnosis of CAUTI.

Initiation of an ICU rounding checklist that prompts physicians to address any use of urinary catheters with analysis comparing the preintervention period before roll out of the rounding checklist versus the postintervention periods.

There were 19 CAUTIs and 9,288 urinary catheter days (2.04 CAUTIs per 1,000 catheter days). The catheter utilization ratio increased in the first year after the intervention (0.67 vs 0.60; P = .0079), then decreased in the second year after the intervention (0.53 vs 0.60; P = .0992) and in the third year after the intervention (0.53 vs 0.60; P = .0224). The rate of CAUTI (ie, CAUTI per 1,000 urinary catheter days) decreased from 4.62 before the checklist was implemented to 2.12 in the first year after the intervention (P = .2104). The CAUTI rate was 0.45 in the second year (P = .0275) and 0.96 in the third year (P = .0532).

Our study suggests that utilization of a daily rounding checklist is associated with a decrease in the rates of CAUTI in ICU patients. Incorporating a rounding checklist is feasible in the ICU.

Pancreas transplantation is employed for the treatment of type I diabetes mellitus. It is postulated that surgical site infection (SSI), particularly organ-space infections, after pancreas transplantation may arise from microbial contamination arising from the donor duodenal segment. Therefore, some centers have adopted the practice of culturing the donor duodenal segment and subsequently administering antimicrobial therapy to the recipient directed at the microorganisms isolated to prevent SSI.

In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the correlation between positive donor duodenal-segment cultures and SSIs in the recipients. Data were recorded and analyzed to assess the correlation of the organisms isolated in the donor duodenal cultures with those producing SSI in the recipients.

We evaluated 379 consecutive pancreas transplant recipients from January 2000 to December 2015. Donor duodenal swab cultures were performed at the time of pancreas transplantation, and 206 (54.3%) were positive. SSIs occurred in 51 of the 206 recipients (24.8%) with positive duodenal-segment cultures and in 41 of 173 individuals (23.7%) with negative cultures (P = .81; r = 0.00). Notably, deep and organ-space SSIs were observed in 27 of 206 of the positive duodenal culture groups (13.1%) versus 29 of 173 of the negative duodenal culture groups (16.8%; P = 0.31; r = −0.059). No differences were detected in the pathogens producing SSIs between the group with a positive duodenal swab versus the group with a negative swab. Microorganisms producing SSIs matched those found in the positive donor duodenal cultures in only 15 patients (7.8%).

Although positive cultures from the donor duodenal segment prompted the administration of antimicrobial therapy in the recipient directed against the pathogen isolated, this practice did not reduce SSIs compared with those transplant recipients with culture-negative duodenal swabs. In addition, the organisms isolated from the donor duodenal segment were not predictive of subsequent SSI.