SHEA Expert Commentaries

Studies Track Infections to Measure Mask Effectiveness These three recent studies demonstrate that universal masking is associated with a significantly lower rate of COVID transmission.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), August 14, 2020
Two Ways We Transmit Pathogens to Hospitalized Patients A pair of hospital studies look at the role of healthcare personnel in nosocomial pathogen transmission.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), May 08, 2019
Pre-op Urine Screening: Changing Our Culture New evidence strongly suggests that it's time to end the longstanding practice of screening for and treating asymptomatic bacteriuria before surgery.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), February 06, 2019
No Flushing Them Away: Bacteria in Sinks and Restrooms A pair of studies looked at sinks, showers, and even methods of drying hands in restrooms. Where were the pathogens found?
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), January 30, 2019
The Latest Dirt on Hospital Cleanliness An infectious diseases specialist reviews the evidence for contamination sources in healthcare facilities.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), January 15, 2019
Antibiotics for Everyone? Is it possible to keep patients happy while practicing antimicrobial stewardship?
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), November 15, 2018
Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing in Outpatient Settings The high number of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions in outpatient settings leaves much room for improvement.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), October 19, 2018
De-escalating Antibiotics: A Nudge in the Right Direction To encourage de-escalation of vancomycin, a unique behavioral "nudge" aims to change provider prescribing behavior.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), October 02, 2018
Multidrug-Resistant Infections: What's on the Horizon? As resistance develops to 'last-line' antimicrobials, what's next in the treatment of serious bacterial infections?
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), July 18, 2018
What's the Verdict for UTIs in Women and Children? Recent studies support antibiotic selection for adult women and test a handy online calculator that predicts which febrile children have UTI.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), July 12, 2018
A Closer Look at Skin and Soft Tissue Infections New data provide opportunities for antibiotic and diagnostic stewardship in the management of SSTIs.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), June 07, 2018
Could Less Be More in Febrile Neutropenia, Too? Two recent studies inform antimicrobial stewardship in high-risk patients with febrile neutropenia.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), June 05, 2018
Survival of the Slimiest: The Persistent Nature of Biofilms Biofilms are hardier than we imagined, playing an underappreciated role in nosocomial transmission.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), March 22, 2018
Two Simple Ways to Improve Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases Recent data support taking a hard look at clinical practices surrounding diagnostic testing in C difficile and bloodstream infections.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), March 15, 2018
Therapy Duration and Follow-up Blood Cultures in Bacteremia Two recent studies can help streamline therapy of gram-negative bloodstream infections.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), February 08, 2018
Getting the Dirt on Healthcare Worker Clothing Two recent studies evaluated contamination of healthcare worker scrubs, gowns, and gloves in inpatient settings.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), February 02, 2018
For Every Infection, a Season? Are there seasonal patterns to surgical site infections? This perspective from SHEA on a recent study offers some insight.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), July 07, 2017
Preventing Recurrent CDI: New, Old, and Really Old Strategies Three new studies assess strategies for preventing recurrence of C difficile infection in patients at risk.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), June 15, 2017
Treatment of Suspected VAP: When Shorter Is Better Is it possible to identify patients with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia in whom antibiotics can be discontinued early?
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), May 31, 2017
Clostridium difficile: To Test or Not to Test (and How?) New data help clinicians select appropriate patients for C diff testing.
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), May 18, 2017

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