Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreaks in inpatient settings are associated with poor outcomes in cancer patients. The use of molecular epidemiology to document RSV transmission in the outpatient setting has not been well described. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of two nosocomial outbreaks of RSV at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). Subjects included patients seen at the SCCA with RSV detected in two outbreaks in 2007-2008 and 2012, and all employees with respiratory viruses detected in the 2007-2008 outbreak. A subset of samples was sequenced using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the RSV attachment glycoprotein coding region. Results Fifty-one cases of RSV were identified in 2007-2008. Clustering of identical viral strains was detected in 10 (67%) of 15 patients with RSV sequenced from 2007-2008. As part of a multimodal infection control strategy implemented as a response to the outbreak, symptomatic employees had nasal washes collected. Of 254 employee samples, 91 (34%) tested positive for a respiratory virus, including 14 with RSV. In another RSV outbreak in 2012, 24 cases of RSV were identified; nine (90%) of 10 patients had the same viral strain, and 1 (10%) had another viral strain. Conclusions We document spread of clonal strains within an outpatient cancer care setting. Infection control interventions should be implemented in outpatient, as well as inpatient, settings to reduce person-to-person transmission and limit progression of RSV outbreaks.

Legionnaires' disease (LD) can be fatal among high-risk transplant recipients. To understand the epidemiology of LD, we reviewed 15-year longitudinal data from a center in Seattle, Washington that cares for both solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. We identified all laboratory-confirmed LD and extracted data on species, diagnostic modalities, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes from medical records. Among 32 patients with LD, transplant recipients made up the majority of diagnoses (22, 69%; SOT 10, HCT 12). Approximately 0.8% of transplant recipients who underwent Legionella-specific testing were positive. Non-pneumophila Legionella species (LNLP), which are not detected by urinary antigen test, accounted for half the cases, led by Legionella micdadei (32%). The severity and outcome between Legionella pneumophila and LNLP infections were similar (attributed mortality, 36% vs 27%); all LNLP deaths occurred in transplant recipients with L. micdadei. The clinical and radiological features mimicked other opportunistic pathogens; 32% (n=7) were not on empiric treatment at the time of diagnosis. These data add to the emerging literature describing the importance of LD and highlight the need for both routine Legionella testing on transplant recipients with pulmonary findings and empiric Legionella-active antibiotic therapy.

Background Influenza is a major complication in cancer and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. We set out to maximize influenza vaccination rates in healthcare personnel at our large ambulatory cancer center with high baseline compliance and to assess alternatives to mandatory policies. Methods Baseline influenza vaccine compliance rates at our center were over 85%. In 2011 an incentive-based “carrot” campaign was implemented, and in 2012 a penalty-based “stick” approach to declining staff was required. Yearly approaches were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. Results Both the incentive and penalty approaches significantly improved upon the baseline rates of vaccination (2010 vs. 2011 [p=0.0001]; 2010 vs. 2012 [p<0.0001), but 2012 significantly improved over 2011 (p<0.0001). Staff with direct patient contact had significantly higher rates of vaccination when compared to those with indirect and minimal contact in every campaign year, except in the penalty-driven campaign from 2012 (p<0.001, <0.001, 0.24, and p<0.001, <0.001, 0.17, respectively). Conclusion A multifaceted staff vaccination program that included education, training and active declination was more effective than one offering incentives. Improvements in vaccination rates in the penalty-driven campaign were driven by staff without direct care responsibilities. High compliance with system-wide influenza vaccination was achieved without requiring mandatory vaccination.

BackgroundAlthough hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients are routinely exposed to classic risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), few studies have assessed CDI risk in these high-risk patients, and data are especially lacking for pediatric HCT recipients. We aimed to determine incidence and risk factors for CDI in adult and pediatric allogeneic HCT recipients.MethodsCDI was defined as having diarrhea that tested positive for C. difficile via PCR, cytotoxin assay, or dual enzyme immunoassays. We included all patients who received an allogeneic HCT from 2008 to 2012 at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; those <1 year old or with CDI within 8 weeks pre-HCT were excluded. Patients were categorized by transplanting hospital (“adult” or “pediatric”) and followed for 100 days post-HCT.ResultsOf 1182 HCT recipients, CDI was diagnosed in 17 % (33/192) of pediatric recipients for an incidence of 20 per 10,000 patient-days, and 11 % (107/990) of adult recipients for an incidence of 12 per 10,000. Pediatric recipients were diagnosed a median of 51 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 5, 72) after HCT and adults at 16 days (IQR = 5, 49). Compared with calendar year 2008, pediatric recipients transplanted in 2012 were at increased risk for CDI (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.99, p =.02). Myeloablative conditioning increased CDI risk in adult recipients (HR = 1.81, p =.005).ConclusionsPediatric and adult allogeneic recipients are at high risk of CDI post-HCT, particularly adult recipients of myeloablative conditioning. Differences in CDI incidence between children and adults may have resulted from exposure differences related to age; therefore, separately evaluating these groups should be considered in future CDI studies.