Regional Variation in the Interpretation of Contact Precautions for Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Contact precautions (CP) are recommended when caring for patients with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), carbapenemase-producingPseudomonas aeruginosa(CPPA), and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E). Aim: Our aim was to determine the interpretation of CP and associated infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in the non-ICU hospital setting for patients with CPE, CPPA or ESBL-E in 11 hospitals in the Southwest of the Netherlands. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was developed to collect information on all implemented IPC measures, including use of personal protective equipment, IPC measures for visitors, cleaning and disinfection, precautions during outpatient care and follow-up strategies. All eleven hospitals were invited to participate between November 2020 and April 2021. Findings: The survey was filled together with each hospital. All hospitals installed isolation precautions for patients with CPE and CPPA during inpatient care and day admissions, whereas ten hospitals (90.9%) applied isolation precautions for patients with ESBL-E. Gloves and gowns were always used during physical contact with the patient in isolation. Large variations were identified in IPC measures for visitors, cleaning and disinfection products used, and precautions during outpatient care. Four hospitals (36.4%) actively followed up on CPE or CPPA patients with the aim to declare them CPE- or CPPA-negative as timely as possible, and two hospitals (20.0%) actively followed up on ESBL-E patients. Conclusion: CP are interpreted differently between hospitals, leading to regional differences in IPC measures applied in clinical settings. Harmonizing infection-control policies between the hospitals could facilitate patient transfers and benefit collective efforts of preventing transmission of MDR-GNB.