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Automated Outbreak Detection of Hospital-Associated Pathogens: Value to Infection Prevention Programs
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9 2020
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Source: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 41(9):1016-1021
[PDF-81.51 KB]
Details:
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Alternative Title:Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
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Description:Objective:
To assess the utility of an automated, statistically-based outbreak detection system to identify clusters of hospital-acquired microorganisms
Design:
Multicenter retrospective cohort study
Setting:
43 hospitals using a common infection prevention surveillance system
Methods:
A space-time permutation scan statistic was applied to hospitals’ microbiology and admission, discharge and transfer data to identify clustering of microorganisms within hospital locations and services. Infection preventionists were asked to rate the importance of each cluster. A convenience sample of 10 hospitals also provided information about clusters previously identified through their usual surveillance methods.
Results:
We identified 230 clusters in 43 hospitals involving Gram-positive and negative bacteria and fungi. Half of the clusters progressed after initial detection, suggesting that early detection could trigger interventions to curtail further spread. Infection preventionists reported that they would have wanted to be alerted about 81% of these clusters. Factors associated with clusters judged to be moderately or highly concerning included high statistical significance, large size, and clusters involving Clostridioides difficile or multidrug-resistant organisms. Based on comparison data provided by the convenience sample of hospitals, only 18% (9/51) of the clusters detected by usual surveillance met statistical significance and of their 70 clusters not previously detected, 58 (83%) involved organisms not routinely targeted by the hospitals’ surveillance programs. All infection prevention programs felt that an automated outbreak detection tool would improve their ability to detect outbreaks and streamline their work.
Conclusions:
Automated, statistically-based outbreak detection can increase the consistency, scope, and comprehensiveness of detecting hospital-associated transmission.
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Pubmed ID:32519624
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC9451926
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Funding:
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Volume:41
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Issue:9
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