Older adults residing in congregate living settings (CLS) such as nursing homes and independent living facilities remain at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from coronavirus disease 2019. We performed a prospective multicenter study of consecutive severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposures to identify predictors of transmission in this setting.

Consecutive resident SARS-CoV-2 exposures across 17 CLS were prospectively characterized from 1 September 2022 to 1 March 2023, including factors related to environment, source, and exposed resident. Room size, humidity, and ventilation were measured in locations where exposures occurred. Predictors were incorporated in a generalized estimating equation model adjusting for the correlation within CLS.

Among 670 consecutive exposures to SARS-CoV-2 across 17 CLS, transmission occurred among 328 (49.0%). Increased risk was associated with nursing homes (odds ratio (OR) = 90.8; 95% CI, 7.8–1047.4), Jack and Jill rooms (OR = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3–3.6), from source who was pre-symptomatic (OR = 11.2; 95% CI, 4.1–30.9), symptomatic (OR = 6.5; 95% CI, 1.4–29.9), or rapid antigen test positive (OR = 35.6; 95% CI, 5.6–225.6), and in the presence of secondary exposure (OR = 6.3; 95% CI, 1.6–24.0). Exposure in dining room was associated with reduced risk (OR = 0.02; 95% CI, 0.005–0.08) as was medium room size (OR = 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2–0.6). Recent vaccination of exposed resident (OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3–1.0) and increased ventilation of room (OR = 0.9; 95% CI, 0.8–1.0) were marginally associated with reduced risk.

Prospective assessment of SARS-CoV-2 exposures in CLS suggests that source characteristics and location of exposure are most predictive of resident transmission. These findings can inform risk assessment and further opportunities to prevent transmission in CLS.

To ensure whether spaced education, which increases long-term knowledge retention, could be integrated into auditor competency assessment.

Quality improvement project.

Academic, freestanding children’s hospital.

Hand hygiene (HH) auditors.

We enrolled trained HH auditors in an online spaced-education platform to assess mastery of knowledge, delivering 46 unique questions at spaced intervals followed by rationale; we retired questions after 3 correct answers. An e-mailed 10-item survey gauged participant satisfaction with the program. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare change in median knowledge score from first to final attempt.

A total of 12,120 questions were attempted by 126 auditors, and 49 (39%) completed the entire course. Median knowledge score increased significantly by 10.5 percentage points (IQR 4–15) between first and final attempts (P < 0.001). Thirty auditors (27%) responded to the survey. The majority agreed the number and complexity of questions were appropriate (57% and 67%, respectively). Eighty-seven percent reported the platform easy to navigate, and 77% agreed adequate time was provided for completion. Free-text suggestions included delivering fewer questions at a narrower spacing interval over a shorter time frame because of competing work demands.

Auditor knowledge of HH indications and technique is critical to ensuring data validity. A spaced-education competency program improved HH auditor knowledge in the short term. Completion rate was low, and some participants expressed a desire for fewer questions over a shorter time frame. This study offers insight into ways to optimize spaced education as a potential tool for HH competency assessment.

To compare rates of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recurrence following initial occurrence treated with tapered enteral vancomycin compared to standard vancomycin.

Retrospective cohort study.

Community health system.

Adults ≥18 years of age hospitalized with positive C. difficile polymerase chain reaction or toxin enzyme immunoassay who were prescribed either standard 10–14 days of enteral vancomycin four times daily or a 12-week tapered vancomycin regimen.

Retrospective propensity score pair matched cohort study. Groups were matched based on age < or ≥ 65 years and receipt of non-C. difficile antibiotics during hospitalization or within 6 months post-discharge. Recurrence rates were analyzed via logistic regression conditioned on matched pairs and reported as conditional odds ratios. The primary outcome was recurrence rates compared between standard vancomycin versus tapered vancomycin for treatment of initial CDI.

The CDI recurrence rate at 6 months was 5.3% (4/75) in the taper cohort versus 28% (21/75) in the standard vancomycin cohort. The median time to CDI recurrence was 115 days versus 20 days in the taper and standard vancomycin cohorts, respectively. When adjusted for matching, patients in the taper arm were less likely to experience CDI recurrence at 6 months when compared to standard vancomycin (cOR = 0.19, 95% CI 0.07–0.56, p < 0.002).

Larger prospective trials are needed to elucidate the clinical utility of tapered oral vancomycin as a treatment option to achieve sustained clinical cure in first occurrences of CDI.

Emerging multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), can spread rapidly in a region. Facilities that care for high-acuity patients with longer stays may have a disproportionate impact on this spread.

We assessed the impact of implementing preventive interventions, directed at a subset of facilities, on regional prevalence.

We developed a deterministic compartmental model, parametrized using CRE and patient transfer data. The model included the community and healthcare facilities within a US state. Individuals may be either susceptible or infectious with CRE. Individuals determined to be infectious through admission screening, periodic prevalence surveys (PPSs), or interfacility communication were placed in a state of lower transmissibility if enhanced infection prevention and control (IPC) practices were in place at a facility.

Intervention bundles that included PPS and enhanced IPC practices at ventilator-capable skilled nursing facilities (vSNFs) and long-term acute-care hospitals (LTACHs) had the greatest impact on regional prevalence. The benefits of including targeted admission screening in acute-care hospitals, LTACHs, and vSNFs, and improved interfacility communication were more modest. Daily transmissions in each facility type were reduced following the implementation of interventions primarily focused at LTACHs and vSNFs.

Our model suggests that interventions that include screening to limit unrecognized MDRO introduction to, or dispersal from, LTACHs and vSNFs slow regional spread. Interventions that pair detection and enhanced IPC practices within LTACHs and vSNFs may substantially reduce the regional burden.

We evaluated the adequacy of microbiological tests in patients withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (WLST) at the end stage of life.

The study was conducted at 2 tertiary-care referral hospitals in Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Demographic findings, clinical and epidemiological characteristics, statistics of microbiological tests, and microbial species isolated from patients within 2 weeks before death were collected in 2 tertiary-care referral hospitals from January to December 2018. We also reviewed the antimicrobial treatment that was given within 3 days of microbiological testing in patients on WLST.

Of the 1,187 hospitalized patients included, 905 patients (76.2%) had WLST. The number of tests per 1,000 patient days was higher after WLST than before WLST (242.0 vs 202.4). Among the category of microbiological tests, blood cultures were performed most frequently, and their numbers per 1,000 patient days before and after WLST were 95.9 and 99.0, respectively. The positive rates of blood culture before and after WLST were 17.2% and 18.0%, respectively. Candida spp. were the most common microbiological species in sputum (17.4%) and urine (48.2%), and Acinetobacter spp. were the most common in blood culture (17.3%). After WLST determination, 70.5% of microbiological tests did not lead to a change in antibiotic use.

Many unnecessary microbiological tests are being performed in patients with WLST within 2 weeks of death. Microbiological testing should be performed carefully and in accordance with the patient’s treatment goals.

Days of antibiotic spectrum coverage (days of ASC: DASC) is a metric for antibiotic usage calculated by ASC scores for spectrum and addresses limitations of days of therapy (DOT), which does not include spectrum. This study aims to investigate whether ASC-related metrics offer different aspects compared to aggregated DOT for all antibiotics (DOTtotal) and to assess their correlation in evaluating the impact of antimicrobial stewardship team (AST) programs.

Retrospective.

A single center within an 845-bed hospital.

Trends in DOTtotal, DASC, and the DASC/DOT ratio, representing the average spectrum coverage per therapy day, were analyzed pre- and post-AST programs (April 2018) from January 2015 to December 2023, using interrupted time series analysis. Independent of the DASC/DOT, we also advocated ASC-stratified DOT (ASDOT), which facilitates comprehensive evaluation of DOT across ASC scores of <6, 6–10, and >10, representing narrow-, intermediate-, and broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Among inpatients, AST programs significantly moderated the increasing trends of these metrics. Specifically, although the rates of increase in DOTtotal and DASC were slowed or plateaued, the DASC/DOT ratio decreased (P < 0.001). ASDOT metrics revealed a decrease and subsequent plateau in DOTtotal for the broad- and intermediate-spectrum antibiotics, with an increase observed for the narrow-spectrum antibiotics (P < 0.001 for each). DASC did not provide additional insights in the outpatient’s population.

The study demonstrates that ASC-related metrics may yield different and useful conclusions about the effectiveness of AST programs for inpatients.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the importance of robust infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices to maintain patient and staff safety. However, healthcare workers (HCWs) face many barriers that affect their ability to follow these practices. We identified barriers affecting HCW adherence to IPAC practices during the pandemic in British Columbia, Canada.

Cross-sectional web-based survey.

Acute care, long-term care or assisted living, outpatient, mental health, prehospital care, and home care.

Eligible respondents included direct-care providers and IPAC professionals working in these settings in all health authorities across British Columbia.

We conducted a web-based survey from August to September 2021 to assess respondent knowledge and attitudes toward IPAC within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents were asked to rate the extent to which various barriers affected their ability to follow IPAC practices throughout the pandemic and to make suggestions for improvement.

The final analysis included 2,488 responses; 36% of respondents worked in acute care. Overall, perceptions of IPAC practice among non-IPAC professionals were positive. The main self-perceived barriers to adherence included inadequate staffing to cover absences (58%), limited space in staff rooms (57%), multibed rooms (51%), and confusing messages about IPAC practices (51%). Common suggestions for improvement included receiving more support from IPAC leadership and clearer communication about required IPAC practices.

Our findings highlight frontline HCW perspectives regarding priority areas of improvement for IPAC practices. They will inform policy and guideline development to prevent transmission of COVID-19 and future emerging infections.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for the detection of C. difficile is a highly sensitive test. Some clinical laboratories have included a 2-step testing algorithm utilizing PCR plus toxin enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) to increase specificity.

To determine the risk factors and outcomes of C. difficile PCR-positive/toxin-positive encounters compared to PCR-positive/toxin-negative encounters.

Retrospective study.

A Veterans’ Affairs hospital.

A retrospective case–control study of patient encounters with a positive C. difficile test by PCR and either a toxin EIA–positive assay (ie, cases) or toxin EIA–negative assay (ie, controls). Clinically relevant exposures and risk factors were determined to assess CDI recurrence at 30 days. Available encounter stool specimens were cultured for C. difficile and were subjected to restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) strain typing.

Among 130 C. difficile PCR-positive patient encounters, 80 (61.5%) were toxin EIA negative and 50 (38.5%) were toxin EIA positive. Encounters that were toxin positive were more frequently treated (96.0%) compared to toxin-negative encounters (71.3%; P < .01). A multivariable logistic regression model revealed that toxin-negative encounters were less likely to suffer a recurrent CDI episode within 30 days (odds ratio [OR], 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05–0.83). Additionally, a higher C. difficile PCR cycle threshold predicted a lower risk of CDI recurrence at 30 days. (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68–0.98). During the study period, the REA group Y strain accounted for most toxin-negative encounters (32.5%; P = .05), whereas REA group BI strain accounted for most toxin-positive encounters (24.3%; P = .02).

A testing strategy of PCR plus toxin EIA helped predict recurrent CDI.

Many providers use severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cycle thresholds (Ct values) as approximate measures of viral burden in association with other clinical data to inform decisions about treatment and isolation. We characterized temporal changes in Ct values for non–SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses as a first step to determine whether cycle thresholds could play a similar role in the management of non–SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses.

Retrospective cohort study.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston.

We retrospectively identified all adult patients with positive nasopharyngeal PCRs for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), rhinovirus, or adenovirus between January 2022 and March 2023. We plotted Ct distributions relative to days since symptom onset, and we assessed whether distributions varied by immunosuppression and other comorbidities.

We analyzed 1,863 positive samples: 506 influenza, 502 rhinovirus, 430 RSV, 219 HMPV, 180 parainfluenza, 26 adenovirus. Ct values were generally 25–30 on the day of symptom onset, lower over the ensuing 1–3 days, and progressively higher thereafter with Ct values ≥30 after 1 week for most viruses. Ct values were generally higher and more stable over time for rhinovirus. There was no association between immunocompromised status and median intervals from symptom onset until Ct values were ≥30.

Ct values relative to symptom onset for influenza, RSV, and other non–SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses generally mirror patterns seen with SARS-CoV-2. Further data on associations between Ct values and viral viability, transmissibility, host characteristics, and response to treatment for non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses are needed to determine how clinicians and infection preventionists might integrate Ct values into treatment and isolation decisions.

To determine prevalence of technical and behavioral interventions aimed at preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) following the COVID19 pandemic.

Cross-sectional survey.

US acute care hospitals.

Infection preventionists at participating hospitals.

Surveys were sent to infection preventionists from a national random sample of 881 US acute care hospitals. Questions covered use of technical interventions to prevent CLABSI (eg, alcohol-containing chlorhexidine gluconate [CHG] for skin antisepsis, use of coated catheters), socio-adaptive interventions (eg, feedback of CLABSI rates, use of appropriateness criteria), and leadership support for CLABSI prevention.

Survey response rate was 47% (415/881). Technical interventions such as maximal sterile barriers (99%) or CHG-impregnated dressings (92%) were highly prevalent, but routine use of CHG bathing was less common (68% indicated regular use in intensive care unit [ICU] vs 18% in non-ICU settings). Although 97% of respondents indicated use of systems to monitor CLABSI, feedback to providers on CLABSI events was reported by 89%. Only 53% of respondents indicated regular use of tools to determine appropriateness of central venous catheters (CVC). Three-quarters of respondents indicated their hospital assessed CVC necessity daily, but only 23% reported strategies to reduce routine blood cultures. CLABSI prevention was extremely important to hospital leadership at 82% of responding hospitals.

Most US hospitals continue to use evidence-based methods to prevent CLABSI as recommended by leading organizations. Opportunities to focus on socio-adaptive interventions such as feedback of infection rates, use of appropriateness criteria for CVC placement, and improving the “culture of pan-culturing” remain.

To estimate cost savings after implementation of customized electronic duplicate order alerts.

Alerts were implemented for microbiology tests at the largest public hospital in Victoria, Australia. These alerts were designed to pop up at the point of test ordering to inform the clinician that the test had previously been ordered and to suggest appropriate reordering time frames and indications.

In a 6-month audit of urine culture (our most commonly ordered test) after alert implementation, 2,904 duplicate requesters proceeded with the request and 2,549 tests were cancelled, for a 47% reduction in test ordering. For fecal polymerase chain reaction (PCR), our second most common test, there was a 54% reduction in test ordering. For our most commonly ordered expensive test, hepatitis C PCR, there was a 42% reduction in test ordering: 25 tests were cancelled.

Cancelled tests resulted in estimated savings of AU$52,382 (US$33,960) for urine culture, AU$34,914 (US$22,442) for fecal PCR, AU$4,506 (US$2,896) for hepatitis C PCR. For cancelled hepatitis B PCR and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) serology, the cost savings was AU$8,472 (US$5445). The estimated financial cost saving in direct hospital costs for these 6 assays was AU$100,274 (US$67,925) over the 6-month period. Environmental waste cost saving by weight was estimated to be 280 kg. Greenhouse gas footprint, measured in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions for cancelled EBV and CMV serology tests, resulted in a saving of at least 17,711 g, equivalent to driving 115 km in a standard car.

Customized alerts issued at the time of test ordering can have enormous impacts on reducing cost, waste, and unnecessary testing.

To describe the relative burden of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and non-CAUTI hospital-onset urinary tract infections (HOUTIs).

A retrospective observational study of patients from 43 acute-care hospitals was conducted. CAUTI cases were defined as those reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network. Non-CAUTI HOUTI was defined as a positive, non-contaminated, non-commensal culture collected on day 3 or later. All HOUTIs were required to have a new antimicrobial prescribed within 2 days of the first positive urine culture. Outcomes included secondary hospital-onset bacteremia and fungemia (HOB), total hospital costs, length of stay (LOS), readmission risk, and mortality.

Of 549,433 admissions, 434 CAUTIs and 3,177 non-CAUTI HOUTIs were observed. The overall rate of HOB likely secondary to HOUTI was 3.7%. Total numbers of secondary HOB were higher in non-CAUTI HOUTIs compared to CAUTI (101 vs 34). HOB secondary to non-CAUTI HOUTI was more likely to originate outside the ICU compared to CAUTI (69.3% vs 44.1%). CAUTI was associated with adjusted incremental total hospital cost and LOS of $9,807 (P < .0001) and 3.01 days (P < .0001) while non-CAUTI HOUTI was associated with adjusted incremental total hospital cost and LOS of $6,874 (P < .0001) and 2.97 days (P < .0001).

CAUTI and non-CAUTI HOUTI were associated with deleterious outcomes. Non-CAUTI HOUTI occurred more often and was associated with a higher facility aggregate volume of HOB than CAUTI. Patients at risk for UTIs in the hospital represent a vulnerable population who may benefit from surveillance and prevention efforts, particularly in the non-ICU setting.

To measure the impact of an automated hand hygiene monitoring system (AHHMS) and an intervention program of complementary strategies on hand hygiene (HH) performance in both acute-care and long-term care (LTC) units.

Prospective, nonrandomized, before-and-after intervention study.

Single Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), with 2 acute-care units and 6 LTC units.

An AHHMS that provides group HH performance rates was implemented on 8 units at a VAMC from March 2021 through April 2022. After a 4-week baseline period and 2.5-week washout period, the 52-week intervention period included multiple evidence-based components designed to improve HH compliance. Unit HH performance rates were expressed as the number of dispenses (events) divided by the number of patient room entries and exits (opportunities) × 100. Statistical analysis was performed with a Poisson general additive mixed model.

During the 4-week baseline period, the median HH performance rate was 18.6 (95% CI, 16.5–21.0) for all 8 units. During the intervention period, the median HH rate increased to 21.6 (95% CI, 19.1–24.4; P < .0001), and during the last 4 weeks of the intervention period (exactly 1 year after baseline), the 8 units exhibited a median HH rate of 25.1 (95% CI, 22.2–28.4; P < .0001). The median HH rate increased from 17.5 to 20.0 (P < .0001) in LTC units and from 22.9 to 27.2 (P < .0001) in acute-care units.

The intervention was associated with increased HH performance rates for all units. The performance of acute-care units was consistently higher than LTC units, which have more visitors and more mobile veterans.

The primary objective was to grade the potential impact of antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) interventions on patient safety at a single center using a newly developed scoring tool, the Antimicrobial Stewardship Impact Scoring Tool (ASIST).

Retrospective descriptive study.

A 367-bed free-standing, pediatric academic medical center.

The ASP team developed the ASIST which scored each intervention on an impact level (low, moderate, high) based on patient harm avoidance and degree of antibiotic optimization. Intervention frequency and characteristics were collected between May 1, 2022 and October 31, 2023. Intervention rates per impact level were calculated monthly.

The ASP team made 1024 interventions further classified as low (45.1%), moderate (47%), and high impact (7.9%). The interventions for general pediatrics (53.9%) and those to modify formulation (62.2%), dose/frequency (58.1%), and duration (57.5%) were frequently low impact. Hematology/oncology (12.5%), sub-specialty (11.7%), and surgical services (11.3%) had the greatest rate of high-impact interventions. Interventions to broaden antibiotics (40.8%) and those associated with antibiotics used to treat bacteremia (20.6%) were frequently classified as high-impact.

The ASIST is an effective tool to link ASP interventions to prevention of antimicrobial-associated patient harm. For our ASP team, it provided meaningful data to present to hospital leadership and identified opportunities to prevent future harm and reduce ASP team workload.

Environmental cleaning is important in the interruption of pathogen transmission. Although prevention initiatives have targeted environmental cleaning, practice variations exist and compliance is low. Evaluation of human factors influencing variations in cleaning practices can be valuable in developing interventions to standardized practices. We conducted a work-system analysis using a human-factors engineering (HFE) framework to identify barriers and facilitators to environmental cleaning practices in acute and long-term care settings within the Veterans’ Affairs health system.

We conducted a qualitative study with key stakeholders at 3 VA facilities. We analyzed transcripts for thematic content and mapped themes to the HFE framework.

Staffing consistency was felt to improve cleaning practices and teamwork. We found that many environmental management service (EMS) staff were veterans who were motivated to serve fellow veterans, especially to prevent infections. However, hiring veterans comes with regulatory hurdles that affect staffing. Sites reported some form of monitoring their cleaning process, but there was variation in method and frequency. The EMS workload was affected by whether rooms were occupied by patients or were semiprivate rooms; both were reportedly more difficult to clean. Room design and surface finishes were identified as important to cleaning efficiency.

HFE work analysis identified barriers and facilitators to environmental cleaning. These findings highlight intervention entry points that may facilitate standardized work practices. There is a need to develop task-specific procedures such as cleaning occupied beds and semiprivate rooms. Future research should evaluate interventions that address these determinants of environmental cleaning.

A substantial proportion of patients undergoing hemodialysis carry Staphylococcus aureus in their noses, and carriers are at increased risk of S. aureus bloodstream infections. Our pragmatic clinical trial implemented nasal povidone-iodine (PVI) decolonization for the prevention of bloodstream infections in the novel setting of hemodialysis units.

We aimed to identify pragmatic strategies for implementing PVI decolonization among patients in outpatient hemodialysis units.

Qualitative descriptive study.

Outpatient hemodialysis units affiliated with five US academic medical centers. Units varied in size, patient demographics, and geographic location.

Sixty-six interviewees including nurses, hemodialysis technicians, research coordinators, and other personnel.

We conducted interviews with personnel affiliated with all five academic medical centers and conducted thematic analysis of transcripts.

Hemodialysis units had varied success with patient recruitment, but interviewees reported that patients and healthcare personnel (HCP) found PVI decolonization acceptable and feasible. Leadership support, HCP engagement, and tailored patient-focused tools or strategies facilitated patient engagement and PVI implementation. Interviewees reported both patients and HCP sometimes underestimated patients’ infection risks and experienced infection-prevention fatigue. Other HCP barriers included limited staffing and poor staff engagement. Patient barriers included high health burdens, language barriers, memory issues, and lack of social support.

Our qualitative study suggests that PVI decolonization would be acceptable to patients and clinical personnel, and implementation is feasible for outpatient hemodialysis units. Hemodialysis units could facilitate implementation by engaging unit leaders, patients and personnel, and developing education for patients about their infection risk.

Despite infection control guidance, sporadic nosocomial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks occur. We describe a complex severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cluster with interfacility spread during the SARS-CoV-2 δ (delta) pandemic surge in the Midwest.

This study was conducted in (1) a hematology-oncology ward in a regional academic medical center and (2) a geographically distant acute rehabilitation hospital.

We conducted contact tracing for each COVID-19 case to identify healthcare exposures within 14 days prior to diagnosis. Liberal testing was performed for asymptomatic carriage for patients and staff. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted for all available clinical isolates from patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) to identify transmission clusters.

In the immunosuppressed ward, 19 cases (4 patients, 15 HCWs) shared a genetically related SARS-CoV-2 isolate. Of these 4 patients, 3 died in the hospital or within 1 week of discharge. The suspected index case was a patient with new dyspnea, diagnosed during preprocedure screening. In the rehabilitation hospital, 20 cases (5 patients and 15 HCWs) positive for COVID-19, of whom 2 patients and 3 HCWs had an isolate genetically related to the above cluster. The suspected index case was a patient from the immune suppressed ward whose positive status was not detected at admission to the rehabilitation facility. Our response to this cluster included the following interventions in both settings: restricting visitors, restricting learners, restricting overflow admissions, enforcing strict compliance with escalated PPE, access to on-site free and frequent testing for staff, and testing all patients prior to hospital discharge and transfer to other facilities.

Stringent infection control measures can prevent nosocomial COVID-19 transmission in healthcare facilities with high-risk patients during pandemic surges. These interventions were successful in ending these outbreaks.