Infectious Disease Commons^™

The Power Of Proximity: Driving Hand Hygiene Compliance Through Sanitizer Placement, Jennifer E. Jones, Eric Van Middendorp, Leanne Wendt

Posters

Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of infection prevention in healthcare settings and is particularly critical in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where patients are highly vulnerable due to immature immune systems and frequent exposure to invasive procedures. Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates. Evidence consistently identifies proper hand hygiene as the single most effective intervention to reduce HAIs in NICUs. Despite its simplicity, compliance among healthcare workers is often suboptimal, influenced by factors such as workload and accessibility of hand hygiene resources.

Quality In Action: A Systematic Approach To Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection Prevention, Jennifer E. Jones, Maggie Simons, Sherri Hoard, Gabriel Laney, Adam Nicholson, Victoria Springvloed, Tracy James, Erica Tuffs

Posters

Central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a major source of morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs in hospitalized patients. Reducing CLABSI rates requires more than isolated interventions; it demands a coordinated, multi-disciplinary strategy that addresses clinical practice, workflow and organizational culture.

Proactive Strategies For Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (Cauti) Reduction: Leveraging Audit Tools And Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Mica Blauw

Posters

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a known cause of harm to patients. Policies enforcing infection prevention measures may help minimize the risk of harm to patients, but written policies do not always translate to bedside practice. We implemented a proactive daily audit to increase awareness of, and compliance with, CAUTI prevention tactics.

Code Wet: Navigating Water Leak Mitigation And Remediation Behind The Red Line, Mica Blauw

Posters

Water leaks in the hospital setting are concerning because of the possibility of mold growthon porous materials such asdrywallthatmaylead toinfections. Water leaksbehind the line of demarcation in the surgical services suiterequire extra care during the remediation processdue to the high-risk nature of surgical patients. We navigated water leakmitigation and remediation in a surgical suite while keeping surgical operations funning safely.

An Exploration Of Drivers Of Sepsis Outcomes In Racial And Ethnic Minority Populations, Matthew Moritz, Omar Pandhair, Shelley Schoepflin Sanders

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

RATIONALE: Race and ethnicity affect sepsis outcomes in unclear ways. Existing data is conflicting, with some studies suggesting minority patients do worse, while others did not show a difference in outcomes between these groups. We sought to investigate whether inequalities exist in sepsis outcomes for different racial and ethnic groups in our large hospital system and to characterize how they may manifest. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adults diagnosed with sepsis and discharged from any of Providence’s 52 hospitals between January 1 and December 31, 2023. We grouped patients into ten different race/ethnicity groups including White, Black, …

Hydroxocobalamin In Septic Shock Management – Should It Be Introduced Sooner?, Linh Tang Taylor, Md, Cameron Miles Long, Md, Omar Pandhair

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Introduction: Treating sepsis involves timely antibiotics, adequate fluid resuscitation, and vasopressor support if shock develops. Plasma concentrations of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfides are elevated in early sepsis, contributing to vasoplegia,1 a pathology that isn’t addressed by vasopressors. High-dose hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B12) does, and therefore, has long been explored as a potential adjunct to vasopressors, though no consensus or official guidelines for its use have been published. Case Report: A 26-year-old man who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia a few months prior presented to the emergency room for fever, weakness, and emesis. He was found to be profoundly hypotensive …

Closing The Gap: Standardizing Sepsis Management To Address Racial Disparities Across Oregon Providence Hospitals, Jennifer Wong, Do, Shelley Schoepflin Sanders, Md, Facp

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Introduction: Sepsis is a time-sensitive, life-threatening medical emergency affecting approximately 1.7 million adults annually in the United States, contributing to nearly 270,000 deaths and over $24 billion in healthcare expenditures. Delays in recognition and initiation of treatment can significantly increase mortality. Previous studies have identified persistent racial disparities in sepsis care, including lower rates of recognition as the principal diagnosis and delayed antibiotic initiation for Black patients compared with White patients. In alignment with Providence’s mission to provide compassionate, equitable care, Oregon Providence hospitals implemented a standardized “Sepsis Order Set” in all Emergency Departments (ED) to reduce treatment delays and …

Idiopathic Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome With Shock And Compartment Syndrome Due To Influenza A, Jobe Ashby, Md, Katelyn Bobrowski, Do, Ryan Best, Md

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (ISCLS) is a rare, poorly understood condition that leads to extreme pathology with severe but predictable complications. First described in 1960, ISCLS has been identified in about 260 case reports and is marked by a triad of hypotension, hypoalbuminemia, and hemoconcentration often preceded by upper respiratory tract infection. It is divided into distinct phases of prodrome, extravasation, and recovery. We present a case of a middle-aged woman who presented with influenza A infection and developed ISCLS needing ICU level care for shock and bilateral upper extremity compartment syndrome. DESCRIPTION: Our patient is a 49-year-old …

Sepsis Transitional Care Management: A Phone Call To Reduce Readmission Health Inequity, Linh Tang Taylor, Md, Erica Leser, Ms, Alyssa Nelson, Michelle Schoepflin Sanders, Md

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Introduction: Sepsis accounts for 52% of hospital admissions in the United States and is the leading cause of death among hospitalized patients1 . However, disparity exists among sepsis survivors with race being reported as a determinant of recovery2 . Such disparity exists in Providence Oregon 8 hospitals: Providence Black patients have higher sepsis readmission rates than White (12.93% vs 11.65%). Using modified community-based participatory research, data analysis, and stakeholder interviews, we identified one potential root cause of the disparity: Black patients being readmitted are not receiving our system's Transitional Care Management (TCM) services. We aim to eliminate the Black/White sepsis …

Ofatumumab Associated Legionella Pneumonia In A Young Multiple Sclerosis Patient, Jobe Ashby, Omar Panhair

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Ofatumumab is the only anti-CD20 IgG1κ human monoclonal antibody therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) that patients can self-administer subcutaneously. Anti-CD20 agents are biologic therapies that carry an increased risk of serious infections, but rarely Legionellosis. We present the case of a young man taking ofatumumab for his MS who developed Legionella pneumoniae pneumonia. A 30-year-old man with MS diagnosed two years prior, stable on ofatumumab, presented with fevers, cough, and hemoptysis. A week earlier, he developed fevers and myalgias after administering ofatumumab, but these symptoms persisted longer than usual. Though initial vital signs were normal, he appeared …

Health Disparities For Pneumonia And Sinusitis Antibiotic Treatment In The Emergency Department, Joshua Saucedo, Leslie Hueschen, Amanda Nedved, Rana El Feghaly Md

Posters

Optimal antibiotic selection and duration are pillars of antimicrobial stewardship efforts. In our emergency department (ED), >80% of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) are treated with first-line (FL) guideline-concordant antibiotics. Differences in care based on socioeconomic factors (race, ethnicity, language, and insurance status) have not been characterized. We sought to compare differences in antibiotic choice and duration for different socioeconomic factors, and analyze changes after quality improvement (QI) efforts. Multidisciplinary QI team used multiple Plan- Do-Study-Act cycles and was successful in improving antibiotic duration for CAP and ABRS from a baseline of 13% to 61% (January …

Development Of A Dendritic Cell Model To Unravel The Secrets Of Cards Toxin, Lizbeth Gomez

Posters - 2026

Dendritic cells (DCs) are derived from hematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow. They are the most efficient antigen presenting cell, presenting antigens to T cells to initiate clonal expansion and differentiation of the T cells into memory and effector cells. Thus, activating the effector functions of T cells in cell-mediated and humoral immune responses (2). Community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin is produced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae that causes acute and chronic lung infections (4). Dendritic cells play a key role in the immune response to respiratory mycoplasmas (3). However, the mechanism underlying in DC and CARDS toxin interactions are …

Hyperglycemia And Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Cards Toxin Impacts On Lung Epithelial And Fibroblast Injury And Recovery, Alejandra Y. Delgado, Naila Villagomez, Shuri Magdalene

Posters - 2026

Mycoplasma pneumoniae CARDS toxin induces cytotoxicity and inflammation in lung epithelial cells²·¹⁰·¹¹, while hyperglycemia independently elevates ROS and disrupts fibroblast repair¹·⁵·⁸, contributing to the heightened respiratory infection severity seen in diabetic patients¹. However, the interaction between hyperglycemic conditions and CARDS toxin-induced lung injury remains unexplored.

This study investigates how increasing high-glucose (HG) pre-conditioning modifies CARDS toxin-induced injury and recovery in A549⁶ and IMR-90⁷ cells compared to normal glucose (NG ≈ 5mM) controls. We hypothesized that increasing glucose pre-conditioning concentrations would produce a dose-dependent increase in CARDS toxin-induced oxidative stress¹² and inflammatory cytokine production¹⁵ in IMR-90 and A549 compared with normal …

Japanese: 敗血症 知っておくべきこと - Sepsis What You Need To Know, Providence

All Sepsis Education Materials

敗血症 知っておくべきことSEPSIS What You Need to Know (Japanese Language)

Samoan: Sepsis Mea E ManaʻOmia Ona E Iloa - Sepsis What You Need To Know, Providence

All Sepsis Education Materials

SEPSIS Mea e Manaʻomia Ona E Iloa SEPSIS What You Need to Know (Samoan Language)

A Rare Case Of Disseminated Strongyloidiasis Causing Polymicrobial Sepsis In A Patient With Lupus: A Diagnostic Conundrum, Greeshma Molugu, Anupama Chennupati, Ayo Dereje, Machaiah Madhrira

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Introduction: Disseminated strongyloidiasis is a very rare condition with case-fatality rates approaching 90%. However, the diagnosis is often delayed because of nonspecific presenting symptoms. Early diagnosis relies on a high index of clinical suspicion, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Long-term corticosteroid therapy, leading to some suppression of inflammatory and immunologic responses, is a well-known risk factor for severe strongyloidiasis.

Case presentation: A 52-year-old male with a past medical history of lupus on chronic corticosteroid therapy presented with chief complaints of dyspnea and diarrhea. He has a recent history of travel to Mexico. Hemoglobin was 5.3. CTAP with contrast showed diffuse colitis …

The Utilization Of Uv-C Devices To Improve Cleaning And Disinfection In The Operating Room For Reduction Of Infection Rates: An Integrative Research Review (Irr), Kathrina Joyce L. Manalo

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases: A Concise Guide On The Fundamentals Of Infectious Disease In Podiatric Medical Education, Paramita Basu

Open Touro Created

2026

This Open Educational Resource (OER), Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, is a student-centered textbook designed to support pre-clinical podiatric medical students enrolled in PCLP 610 Infectious Diseases at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. The book is structured as a collection of concise “chapter briefs” or high‑yield notes that align closely with the course syllabus, lecture objectives, and student learning outcomes, while also reflecting the Microbiology learning objectives outlined in the AACPM Council of Faculties Curricular Guide.

The content covers core principles of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, host–pathogen interactions, antimicrobial therapy, resistance …

Monitoring The Laboratory Frequency For Musculoskeletal Infections At A Tertiary Care Children's Hospital: A Diagnostic Stewardship Qi Project, Kedar Tilak, Douglas Swanson, Christine Symes, Alaina N. Burns, Ann L. Wirtz, Rana El Feghaly

Posters

Patients with musculoskeletal infections (MSKI) undergo several laboratory tests. To promote laboratory stewardship, our Infectious diseases (ID) division recommended the following frequencies for labs: 1) C-reactive protein (CRP) every 2-3 days until >50% reduction while >3mg/dL, otherwise weekly until normal, 2) Sedimentation rate (ESR) at the start of therapy and end if > 20mm/hr initially, 3) Complete blood cell count (CBC) at the start of therapy and when transitioning to oral therapy if WBC is initially elevated. Baseline data showed that of 42 children evaluated between July 2023-May 2024, only 15 (35.7%) had a CBC and 13 (30.95%) had a CRP …

Circulation Of Respiratory Viruses From Air And Human Specimens In A Pre-Kindergarten-12th Grade School District In Kansas City, Mo, Nicole Neeley, Brian Lee, Brittney Fritschmann, Luke Gard, Nibha Sagar, Dithi Banerjee, Anjana Sasidharan, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Olivia Almendares, Hannah L. Kirking, Jennifer Goldman, Jennifer E. Schuster

Posters

Background: Air sampling with respiratory virus testing in community settings may be a potential non-invasive, scalable method to monitor respiratory viruses. We performed an ecological analysis to describe the correlation between respiratory virus detections in air and human samples across all schools to evaluate the potential for air sampling as a tool for community-level surveillance. Methods: Knowledge of Infectious Diseases in Schools (School KIDS) is a voluntary respiratory virus surveillance program in a pre-kindergarten-12th grade public school district in Kansas City, MO. In 10 schools, students and staff collected anterior nasal swabs while at school, with optional on-demand swabbing when …

Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis: It’S Not Always What You Think, Gabriela M. Henriquez, Kedar Tilak, Douglas Swanson, Susana Chavez-Bueno

Posters

No abstract provided.

Epidemiology And Microbiology Of Admission Surveillance Nasal Swabs In A Level Iv Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) And Their Association With Subsequent Infections ​, Kedar Tilak, Neena Kanwar, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Venkatesh Sampath

Posters

Background Newborns, especially preterm infants, are highly susceptible to sepsis, a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Known risk factors include prematurity, low birth weight, prolonged NICU stay, and use of central venous catheters. The link between early nasal colonization (within the first week of life) and later infections is unclear. Although many NICUs screen for Staphylococcus aureus using nasal swabs, the predictive value of early colonization by other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is not well understood. In our NICU, admission nasal swabs were sent for aerobic cultures to detect these organisms, highlighting the need for further research into …

Variation A Blood Culture Testing For Three Common Infections, Smit Shah, Jennifer Goldman, Matt Hall, Jillian Cotter, Samantha A. House, Matthew J. Molloy, Michelle Polich, Michael J. Steiner, John R. Stephens, Michael J. Tchou, Ronald J. Teufel Ii, Irma Ugalde, Andrew Yu, Jessica Markham

Presentations

Background: Routine blood culture (BC) testing in uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), and urinary tract infections (UTI) has demonstrated low clinical utility. Objectives: To evaluate hospital-level BC testing trends and their association with clinical outcome differences for children hospitalized with CAP, SSTI, and UTI. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the Pediatric Health Information System database to identify hospitalizations of children aged 3 months-18 years admitted with CAP, SSTI, or UTI from 2016-2023. We excluded patients with complicated infections, medical complexity, ICU admission, or length of stay (LOS) >7 days. Hospital-level BC testing rates were …

Early Versus Late Vasopressor Initiation In Septic Shock – Elviss Study, Nathan Crawford, Brittanii Prahl, Jordan Amaro, Barbara Branneman, Jack Huber

2025 Swedish FISH (Fostering Interdisciplinary Solutions in Healthcare) Conference

No abstract provided.

Once-Daily Versus Twice-Daily Oral Vancomycin For Secondary Prevention Of Clostridioides Difficile Infection In Patients Treated With Systemic Antibiotics, Catherine Palmer

2025 Swedish FISH (Fostering Interdisciplinary Solutions in Healthcare) Conference

No abstract provided.

June 2025: Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (Resptc) At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’S Hospital, Providence - Special Pathogens Program

Special Pathogens Newsletters

REGION 10 SPECIAL PATHOGENS NEWSLETTER

Influenza Talk Proposed Titles, Henry Arguinchona

Conferences

No abstract provided.

A Rare Case Of Adolescent Epiglottitis Secondary To Streptococcus Dysgalactiae, Kedar Tilak, Mohamed Aashiq Abdul Ghayum, Douglas Swanson, Rana El Feghaly

Posters

Streptococcus dysgalactiae causes pharyngitis, cellulitis, necrotizing soft tissue infections, sepsis, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome • It can lead to both toxin-mediated and immune-mediated diseases • Mostly seen in adults, rare in pediatric patients • Here we present a 15-year-old with S. dysgalactiae- associated septicemia, and epiglottitis with extensive neck infection

Index Cost Comparison Of Laparoscopic Vs Robotic Surgery In Colon And Rectal Cancer Resection: A Retrospective Financial Investigation Of Surgical Methodology Innovation At A Single Institution, Ekene Ezeokoli, Roula Hilli, Harry J. Wasvary

Posters

Robotic assisted colorectal cancer resection (R-CR) has become increasingly commonplace in contrast to traditional laparoscopic cancer resection (L-CR). The aim of this study was to compare the total direct costs of R-CR to that of L-CR and to compare the groups with respect to costs related to LOS.

Treatment Rates In A Two-Step Clostridioides Difficile Diagnostic Testing Algorithm, Renee Ringler, Matthew Sims

Posters

Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive obligate anaerobe long associated with healthcare-acquired infections in the United States. 1 Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has thus become a key metric for assessing facility cleanliness and iatrogenic infection. C. difficile carriage is common, present in approximately 8% of hospitalized patients.2 Therefore, appropriate patient selection for testing and careful testing procedures is crucial to appropriately identify CDI while avoiding the detection of chronic colonization.

Considerable variability exists among institutions regarding standardized CDI laboratory diagnostic methods. Historically, the gold standard for CDI testing was the clinically inefficient toxigenic culture (TC). 3 This was followed by cytotoxic …