“The lack of active screening for ESBL-producing bacteria in the majority of American hospitals means that infection prevention measures, such as contact isolation and patient cohorting, are not applied to patients who do not have symptoms, but who may be colonized with the bacteria,” Joshua Thaden, MD, PhD, a lead author of the study and fellow in the division of Infectious Diseases at Duke University Medical Center, said in a statement. “These ‘silently’ colonized patients increase the risk of transmission to vulnerable patients via healthcare workers or environmental contamination, compromising safety and quality of care.”
Researchers found between 2009 and 2014, the number of incidents of E. coli infections per 100,000 patients increased from 5.28 to 10.5 infections per year across 26 community hospitals in the southeastern U.S. According to the study, the incidence of these types of infections is now surpassing that of other bacteria, like Klebsiella pneumoniae, which is responsible for UTIs and many surgical site infections. While most E. coli-related infections still occur in the larger healthcare system, the authors note the incidence of community-associated infections is rising.
More articles on infection control:
Danville VA fights flea infestation most likely caused by raccoons
CDC: Infections from new superbug strain CRE on the rise
Breast cancer treatment may combat MRSA infections, study finds
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.