BITSCOPIC

Building a Scalable PGx Program: 5 Workflow Pitfalls to Avoid Explore the challenges of PGx implementation and discover five pitfalls to avoid for successful pharmacogenomics programs.

PGx at scale often stalls on workflow. Here are 5 pitfalls to avoid so reports are fast, consistent, and audit ready.

bitscopic.com/building-a-s...

#PraediGene #PGx #HealthIT

Hospitals lose millions managing recurrent C. diff, study suggests - Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis Recurring Clostridioides difficile infections could be costing hospitals millions, an AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center study found. The study, published Sept. 29 in Cambridge Core, included 29 patients from Pomano, N.J.-based AtlantiCare Regional who had three or more inpatient admissions due to C. diff from January 2017 to December 2020. Researchers used the patient medical records […]

A recent study in Cambridge Care reveals how recurring C. difficile infections can cause a financial burden on healthcare organizations. How are you preventing these infections to protect patients and reduce costs at your facility?

#PraediAlert #Cdiff

www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/infe...

Listeria Outbreak Linked to Prepared Pasta Meals Information about Listeria outbreak linked to prepared meals.

🚨 LISTERIA OUTBREAK: 4 deaths, 19 hospitalized. Foodborne illness requires rapid reporting to trace the source! PraediAlert by Bitscopic enables you to share case data quickly with public health to accelerate investigations.
CDC: www.cdc.gov/listeria...
#Listeria #FoodSafety #Bitscopic #PraediAlert

New study finds primary oral vancomycin prophylaxis reduced C. difficile infection in high-risk hospitalized patients, with few adverse events. Raises key questions for clinicians on dosing, resistance, and stewardship. doi.org/10.1017/ash.... #AMS #Cdiff

Hero Program: A data-driven reward system to improve hand hygiene Healthcare-associated infections compromise patient outcomes and pose a burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Despite widespread awareness of the critical role of Hand Hygiene (HH) in preventing healthcare-associated infections, compliance among healthcare workers remains suboptimal. This study evaluates a reward program called the Hero Program which is designed to incentivize and sustain HH practices through positive reinforcement.

How do you reward hand hygiene heroes? This study shows that a hospital observed an 11.45% increase in hand hygiene compliance after implementing a daily reward program for top performers.

#HandHygiene #PraediAlert

Evaluation of the safety of cefazolin monotherapy in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy at a large academic medical center Abstract. In outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy, weekly lab monitoring is often standard practice, even for antimicrobials with low complication r

🩺 Can reducing the frequency of monitoring safely lessen the burden on OPAT teams and patients?

In 420 patients, only 2% had lab abnormalities linked to readmission or treatment change.

academic.oup.com/ofid/article...

#OPAT #AntimicrobialStewardship #IDPharmacy

Top 5 Infection Prevention Articles of Summer 2025 Check out the top 5 infection control and prevention articles for Summer 2025! Perennial articles like Bug of the Month and The Clean Bite, and a look at borescopes in sterile processing.

Summer's over, but the fight against HAIs continues! These are the top 5 topics from the season:

+ Borescopes in Sterile Processing
+ Risks of unauthorized UVC devices
+ Emerging pathogens (BOTM)
+ Dental assistant training & more

Stay ahead of the curve:

The FDA Backpedals on LDTs: What It Means for Clinical Labs Understand the FDA's role in laboratory developed tests as oversight transitions back to CLIA for better lab regulation clarity.

The FDA has officially rescinded its 2024 rule on laboratory developed tests (LDTs) confirming that oversight belongs under CLIA.

What does this mean for clinical labs? bitscopic.com/the-fda-back...

New data show shifts in carbapenemase-producing CRE from 2019–2023. KPC remains most common, but NDM and other metallo-β-lactamases are rising. doi.org/10.7326/ANNA...
PraediAlert can help monitor resistance patterns in your facility. #AMR #PraediAlert

Why Report Standardization Is the Next Frontier in Clinical Genomics Explore the importance of standardized Genomic Reports and how they enhance clinical decision-making with clear insights.

📊 Genomic reporting needs clarity, not chaos.

Standardized templates = faster decisions, fewer errors, more trust.

See why templated reporting is now essential: bit.ly/42jut2d

#PrecisionMedicine #Genomics #PraediGene

Rapid Rise and Threat of Drug-Resistant Fungus Candidozyma Auris: Alert for Healthcare Professionals Candidozyma auris, formerly referred to as Candida auris, has been identified as a swiftly spreading drug-resistant fungus posing a significant risk to individuals with compromised immune systems. Its ability to cause severe illnesses and even death is causing alarm in the healthcare sphere, particularly as its transmission continues to increase and outbreaks ramp up

Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris) is on the rise. PraediAlert provides early detection of new cases and potential outbreaks!

#PraediAlert #Candidozymaauris

Apixaban for Extended Treatment of Provoked Venous Thromboembolism | NEJM The appropriate duration of anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients who have a transient provoking factor (e.g., surgery, trauma, or immobility) and concomitant enduring risk f...

🔑 HI-PRO Trial (NEJM): In pts w/ provoked VTE + enduring risk factors, 12 mo of low-dose apixaban ↓ recurrent VTE (1.3% vs 10%) vs placebo, w/ low major bleed risk. www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... #VTE #Thrombosis #NEJM

Research shows that educating and empowering patients can improve central line care practices. This highlights how a multi-pronged approach, from data-driven alerts to patient partnership, is crucial for preventing infections. #PraediAlert #PatientCare #DataDrivenHealthcare

New CID state-of-the-art review highlights strategies to achieve HCV elimination by 2030 through expanded screening, simplified treatments, and addressing barriers to care.
Read more 👉 doi.org/10.1093/cid/...
#HepatitisC #InfectiousDisease

#121 - Finding BALANCE In Antibiotic Durations: The BALANCE Trial – Breakpoints: The SIDP Podcast In this second-ever collaboration between SIDP’s Breakpoints and ESCMID’s Communicable podcasts, hosts Erin McCreary and Angela Huttner invite the two

🦠💊 How long should we treat bacteremia?

Ep. 121 of Breakpoints podcast dives into the BALANCE trial, exploring 7 vs 14 days of antibiotics in critically ill pts.

What does this mean for stewardship? Tune in: breakpoints-sidp.org...

#SIDP #ASP

Stanford Develops Real-World Benchmarks for Healthcare AI Agents | Stanford HAI Researchers are establishing standards to validate the efficacy of AI agents in clinical settings.

New research from Stanford is benchmarking AI agents that can perform clinical tasks in a virtual EHR. Their goal? To create an AI "teammate" that can help offload burden from clinicians and combat burnout. This is the future of #HealthIT.

hai.stanford.edu/new... #AIinHealthcare

A new study found that >50% of VA outpatients with asymptomatic bacteriuria were prescribed antibiotics, despite guideline recommendations against treatment. A key target for improving #AntibioticStewardship

Managing Back-to-School Respiratory Infections - Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis Managing Back-to-School Respiratory Infections In late summer, tens of millions of children throughout the United States return to school, sharing tales of their summer adventures and, inevitably, new germs. Many will develop a cough, sore throat, or runny nose in the coming weeks, as part of a well-documented “summer wave” of respiratory infections.  In 2025, […]

Recent insights highlight how diagnostic test choice (rapid antigen vs molecular/PCR) has real implications — not just for individual treatment, but for public health, resource allocation, and trust.

🚨 New study: Reflex urinalysis-to-culture protocols often lead to overtreatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria. 🔑 Findings highlight the need for diagnostic stewardship to reduce unnecessary antibiotics.
#AntimicrobialStewardship

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Home Delivery Meals Information about an outbreak of Salmonella linked to home delivery meals.

This Salmonella outbreak shows why proactive surveillance is critical. PraediAlert helps identify potential cases and facilitates communication with public health departments, helping to contain outbreaks faster.

The Take 5 Campaign in urgent care showed success in shifting antibiotic prescribing to 5-day courses for common infections. Same efficacy, less risk of resistance. doi.org/10.1093/ofid... #AntimicrobialResistance #Stewardship

Secular trends of bloodstream infections in hemodialysis patients: insights from a longitudinal Swiss study - Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control Background Hemodialysis-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs) represent a significant burden for patients. Understanding the trends in BSIs among hemodialysis patients is crucial for informing strategies to reduce their incidence and improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate secular trends, identify causative organisms, assess resistance patterns, and determine the sources of hemodialysis-associated BSIs at Geneva University Hospitals, where Staphylococcus aureus screening and decolonization of hemodialysis patients have been implemented since the year 2000. Methods A longitudinal cohort study was conducted using data from 2006 to 23. We included all patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis treatment at our institution. A hemodialysis-associated BSI was defined as BSI occurring during active hemodialysis treatment and diagnosed either during hospital admission or in outpatient hemodialysis unit. Outcomes included incidence rates of hemodialysis-associated BSIs, trends in causative pathogens, sources, and resistant organisms. Poisson regression was used to model trends over time of incidence rate ratios (IRR). Results A total of 313 true BSI episodes were identified in 218 hemodialysis patients over 11,413 patient-hemodialysis months. The overall BSI incidence rate was 2.7 episodes per 100 patient-hemodialysis-months, with a consistent decrease over time. Compared to 2006-08, hemodialysis-associated BSI rates decreased by 16% in 2009-11 (IRR 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60–1.18), and by a maximum of 44% in 2021-23 (IRR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36–0.83). The decreasing trend was mainly due to reduced S. aureus BSIs, while Enterobacterales BSIs rates remained stable. Catheter-related BSIs accounted for 41.5% of infections (130/313), with marked reduction following 2014. BSIs caused by resistant bacteria were rare, with decreasing trends of methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Conclusions Hemodialysis-associated BSI rates significantly declined, driven largely by reductions in S. aureus BSIs and catheter-related infections. No replacement by Gram-negative BSI was observed. Prevention of hemodialysis-associated BSI is key for reducing infection burden among hemodialysis patients.

New study (2006–23) shows hemodialysis‐associated bloodstream infections dropped by up to 44% mainly due to fewer Staph aureus and catheter-related cases. A win for infection control!

#PraediAlert #Dialysis

New evidence suggests short-course IV β-lactams may be an effective option for uncomplicated cystitis in hospitalized patients. Could this shift how we balance stewardship, efficacy & LOS?

Read the study here: tinyurl.com/y5mk9h3h

#AntimicrobialStewardship #InfectiousDiseases #Urology

<em>Journal of Internal Medicine</em> | Wiley Online Library Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are common adverse events, and surveillance is considered a core component of effective HAI reduction programmes. Recently, efforts have focused on automating ...

The future of infection surveillance is here! A new study highlights the power of AI & automated systems in detecting HAIs. PraediAlert uses this same technology to help you protect patients.

doi.org/10.1111/joim...

#InfectionSurveillance #HealthcareAI #HAIPerformance

The effect of commonly used non-antibiotic medications on antimicrobial resistance development in Escherichia coli npj Antimicrobials and Resistance - The effect of commonly used non-antibiotic medications on antimicrobial resistance development in Escherichia coli

Another reminder that all drugs, even seemingly-benign OTC pain relievers, can have off-target consequences: this study demonstrates that ibuprofen and acetaminophen may increase potential for antibiotic resistance in E. coli.

How Labs Interpret PGx and Somatic Variants: The Tools Behind the Reports Explore PGx variants and their role in pharmacogenomics. Learn how genomic reports translate data into clinical insights.

PraediGene embeds PharmWatch (PGx) and SylVIA (somatic) directly into its workflow so genomic labs can deliver decision-ready reports efficiently and at scale.
See how these engines power clinical reporting: bit.ly/4p42ahG

APIC Urges Leapfrog to Revise Hand Hygiene Standards Citing Misinterpretation of WHO Guidelines - APIC

APIC urges Leap Frog to revise Hand Hygiene Standards. How do the recommendations line up with you hand hygiene program?

#PraediAlert #HandHygiene

apic.org/news/apic-ur...

Infection Preventionists Under Strain: More Work, Fewer Resources This installment of the interview with study authors, survey data reveal rising hours and responsibilities for infection preventionists, with staffing shortages fueling burnout risks and threatening the safety of both patients and health care workers.

PraediAlert offers a range of tools to help IPs that have more work with fewer resources. Features like HAI surveillance, contact tracing, & device identification, significantly reduce time IPs spend on tasks.
www.infectioncontrol...

#PraediAlert #HAI #infectioncontrol

CDC reports more cases of drug-resistant Candida auris spreading in healthcare facilities. PraediAlert provides instant data and insights to contain outbreaks, protecting patients. thehill.com/homenews... #HealthcareIT #InfectionControl #PatientSafety #CandidaAuris #PraediAlert #DataDriven

Emergency Department Survey of Vaccination Knowledge... This report describes an emergency department (ED) survey of vaccine knowledge, self-reported vaccination status, and willingness to receive vaccines if offered in an ED.

Emergency Department visits may represent an under-utilized and under-appreciated opportunity to increase vaccine coverage among underserved patients.

www.cdc.gov/mmwr/vol...

#IDSky #vaccines