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The Healthcare-Associated Infections Program is delighted to congratulate the following Oregon Hospitals on being named to Oregon’s Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Honor Roll!
These hospitals have shown exceptional dedication to improving antimicrobial use and patient safety. We thank them for their commitment to evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship practices that will enhance patient outcomes.
 Facilities can be recognized for their commitment to antimicrobial stewardship by applying for the Oregon Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Honor Roll. View the application form for details, or email us with questions.
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Read our newest report! Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health problem driven by the unnecessary use of antibiotics, particularly for conditions like acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). Despite promising trends showing a decline in prescribing for ARTIs, recent data reveals antibiotic prescriptions are nearing pre-pandemic levels. Discover how these trends reflect the need for continued antibiotic stewardship and what it means for public health.
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Need infection prevention support? Our experienced Infection Preventionists are here to help! Our team can offer expert guidance if you're managing an outbreak or looking to strengthen your infection prevention practices. Reach out for a consultation, and let us help you keep patients and staff safe!
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Admission Screening Recommendations OHA recommends that Oregon hospitals and ventilator-capable skilled nursing facilities screen for Candida auris and carbapenemase-producing organisms in patients who have in the past 12 months:
- Spent the night in a healthcare facility (hospital or long-term care) outside of Oregon or
- Had outpatient surgery or hemodialysis outside the US or Canada.
- Testing is provided at no cost to facilities. Contact us to get started.
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In a recent meta-analysis participants with a low-risk penicillin allergy history received a small oral dose of penicillin without prior testing, followed by observation for a reaction. This is a more practical and cost-effective method for confirming penicillin allergies than skin testing. However, it is not used often because of concerns about potential reactions. Of 9,225 participants across the studies, 438 (3.5%) had reactions to the direct penicillin challenge, with only five (0.05%) reporting severe reactions. These findings suggest that such reactions are rare and that direct challenges are safe for incorporation into penicillin allergy evaluations.
Why is this analysis significant?
Patients with penicillin allergies are more likely to be treated with second-line antibiotics, which may lead to longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics that have been associated with the development of antimicrobial resistance.
These findings could encourage more use of direct penicillin challenge and expand efforts to de-label persons incorrectly labeled as penicillin-allergic.
9 out of 10 patients who think they have a penicillin allergy are not truly allergic
Why might people be incorrectly labeled as having a penicillin allergy?
- Side effects caused by antibiotics (like nausea and diarrhea) are sometimes incorrectly labeled as “allergic” reactions.
- People sometimes assume they are allergic to penicillin because a family member is. Patients with a family history of allergic reactions do not need to avoid penicillin.
How can I identify an incorrect allergy in my patient?
 Learn more at AAAAI’s penicillin allergy center.
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- Penicillin allergies pose a problem for nursing home residents, study finds.
- New data from Brazil show carbapenem resistance remains elevated in Brazil post-COVID.
- A study suggests that the widespread use of an antibiotic to prevent liver disease is causing cross-resistance to a last-resort antibiotic for treating vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE).
- An investigation at four hospitals in California and Colorado identified the use of contaminated ice and water from ice machines for consumption or clinical care as the likely sources of 46 cases of Burkholderia multivorans infection from September 2020 to February 2024.
- On October 12, CDC issued an advisory for healthcare providers, pharmacists, and health administrators about a shortage of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and IV solutions from Baxter’s North Carolina facility due to Hurricane Helene. This disruption could affect patient care and may require changes in treatment plans. Summarized recommendations from the FDA can be found in the HAN.
- A recent analysis of national outpatient antibiotic prescribing trends during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals interesting shifts. Antibiotic prescribing was significantly lower in 2020 and the first half of 2021 and 2022 compared to 2019 levels. However, from July to December in both 2021 and 2022, prescription volumes approached or even surpassed pre-pandemic levels, especially for azithromycin. Despite some recovery in prescribing, the total volume of prescriptions in 2022 remained 5.5% lower than in 2019.
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We observe U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) each year during November 18–24 to raise awareness of the importance of appropriate antibiotic use and the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Everyone has a role in fighting antimicrobial resistance.
Salem and Woodburn will shine a light on antimicrobial resistance by participating in “Go Purple for USAAW.” This nationwide effort encourages everyone to wear purple and bring purple to their social media to raise awareness of our role in combating antimicrobial resistance.
 
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November is diff Awareness Month. C. diff can affect anyone and is often associated with recent antibiotic use. CDC estimates that C. diff causes almost half a million infections in the United States each year. Learn how to optimize antibiotic therapy to minimize the risk of C. diff colitis. Attend a free virtual symposium to learn more.
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Tuesday, November 19, 7:30-9 a.m. EST
- The Race Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Neonates: Insights on Data, Infection Prevention and Stewardship; Register
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Wednesday, November 20, 3-4 p.m. EST
- Implementation of Priority Core Elements in Critical Access Hospitals; Register
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Thursday, November 21
The USAAW observance dates align with the World Health Organization (WHO) observance of World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), recognizing that antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat that everyone has a role in combating.
On September 26, global leaders convened for a High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at the United Nations General Assembly. They highlighted AMR as a critical global health challenge responsible for 1.27 million deaths annually. Since the last meeting in 2016, the U.S. has made substantial progress through its National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria, which invests in enhancing surveillance capacities, strengthening infection prevention, promoting appropriate antibiotic use, and raising awareness of AMR.
Global leaders committed to fight antimicrobial resistance in a political declaration outlining global goals, commitments, and targets to tackle AMR, including a target to reduce deaths linked to bacterial AMR by 10% by 2030. Key prevention measures identified include:
- Immunization (reduces infections and antimicrobial use)
- Early and accurate detection of pathogens
- Infection prevention and control
- Improved access to Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
The declaration emphasizes a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health. It urges countries to implement national AMR action plans, curb inappropriate antibiotic use, and ensure equitable antibiotic access. The declaration acknowledges that while AMR affects every country, drug-resistant bacteria disproportionately impact low-resource nations. Additionally, the declaration stresses the need for new incentives to drive research and development of antibiotics and vaccines.
While the declaration is comprehensive, some experts expressed disappointment at the absence of specific targets for reducing antibiotic use in agriculture and regulations for over-the-counter antibiotic sales in low- and middle-income countries. Collective action is essential to combat this pressing global health challenge. Learn how everyone can join the fight.
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Get to know the exceptional members of the HAI team.
Terran Gilbreath is a Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Applied Epidemiology Fellow stationed at the Oregon Health Authority. He works closely with the HAI team to assist in data analyses relating to antimicrobial stewardship. Terran received a B.S. in Biochemistry from Washington State University and an MPH in Epidemiology from Oregon State University. Terran’s role on the HAI team has primarily been to describe trends in antibiotic use for acute respiratory tract infections in Oregon. This was the major project for his fellowship – and is currently being written up for publication.
Outside of work, Terran enjoys restoring tractors and trucks built before 1950. Terran also enjoys fishing, kayaking, brewing, and spending time with his dogs (and many farm animals).
As a first-generation college student, Terran strives to honor the work ethic of his parents and grandparents. His favorite quote is, “Without labor, neither knowledge nor wisdom can accomplish much.” This is a passage from the opening meeting ceremonies of the National Future Farmers of America Organization acknowledging the value of hard work in life.”
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Many medical advancements, including cancer therapies and treatments, rely on our ability to fight and prevent infections effectively with antibiotics. If these medications lose effectiveness, we risk losing the ability to provide the best cancer care to patients.
People receiving cancer treatment are at higher risk for infections, and the growing global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance can make infections harder—if not impossible—to treat.
Watch the April 2024 AMR Exchange webinar recording to learn more about antimicrobial resistance's impacts on cancer care and the importance of infection prevention and control efforts to limit cancer patient exposure to antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
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Oregon Health Authority works to transform the health care system in Oregon by lowering and containing costs, improving quality and increasing access to care to improve the lifelong health of Oregonians. OHA is overseen by the nine-member citizen Oregon Health Policy Board working toward comprehensive health reform in our state.
The HAI program within the OHA Public Health Division is dedicated to preventing and containing healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and addressing the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AR). Through initiatives such as the Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network (AR Lab Network) and the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), we are bolstering our ability to detect and respond to antibiotic resistance while strengthening the nation's most widely used HAI tracking system. We also focus on antibiotic stewardship to improve the appropriate use of antibiotics, and we provide comprehensive infection prevention and control (IPC) education and training to equip the health care workforce with the necessary skills. Our team further offers IPC consultations to health care facilities throughout the state, providing expert guidance and support in implementing effective infection prevention strategies and responding to outbreaks. Together, we are committed to enhancing patient safety and reducing the impact of HAIs and antimicrobial resistance.
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