Author: Jasmine Riviere Marcelin, MD

What to Expect in Antimicrobial Stewardship…Shorter is Better, Of Course!

The following was previously posted by Dr. Marcelin to SHEA Journal Club published online in February 2019. Electronic clinical decision support tools and rapid diagnostic testing have significantly impacted the way we practice Infectious Diseases. Despite these scientific gains, Antimicrobial Stewardship still requires an understanding of the behavioral science of prescribing. Prior studies have demonstrated […]

Feb 26, 2019

UNMC ID Fellow wins Internal Medicine Scientist Development Award

We are pleased to share that Dr. Richard Hankins, one of our senior ID fellows has been awarded the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine Scientist Development Award for 2019-2020.  This award will allow Dr. Hankins protected time to study optimization of CHG patient bathing as a method to prevent HAIs/pathogen transmission and pursue additional opportunities […]

Feb 11, 2019

Prescribing in Pediatric Patients: Who is at Risk?

The following was previously posted by Dr. Marcelin to SHEA Journal Club published online in January 2019. In the inpatient setting, much of the broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing occurs in the context of the sepsis syndrome, where uncertainty leads to overly broad empiricism. Development of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative rods (high-risk GNRs) may complicate empiric treatment choices, and […]

Jan 31, 2019

Decisive De-labelling in Cancer Patients: Just what the Doctor Ordered

The following was previously posted by Dr. Marcelin to SHEA Journal Club published online in January 2019. Although 10% of Americans report penicillin allergies, 90% of those allergies are not substantiated. Up to 25% of patients living with cancer report penicillin allergies, but more than half of these are low risk and could tolerate beta-lactams. […]

Jan 16, 2019

SeptiCyte: Is It Ready for Prime-time?

The following is a summary of a recent ID Journal Club, presented and written by 2nd year ID Fellow Dr. Raj Karnatak: Sepsis defined as “life-threatening organ dysfunction due to the dysregulated host response to an infection” [1]. Sepsis most commonly results from a bacterial infection, or less frequently from a fungal or viral infection. […]

Jan 9, 2019

Technology vs. Humans: Role of Rapid Diagnostics and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Cancer Patients

Rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs) plays an important role in Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) and highlights the impact of the Microbiology laboratory on reducing inappropriate antibiotic use, particularly in hospitalized patients. Early microbial identification with RDTs can lead to earlier initiation of targeted antimicrobial therapy, which can in turn result in shorter hospitalization, fewer adverse events […]

Jan 3, 2019

Farewell to 2018; a year of UNMC ID growth

2018 has been a year of growth for our Division of Infectious Diseases. We have added several new faculty to our group (and still actively hiring), continued to redesign the College of Medicine Infectious Diseases curriculum, established a new Orthopedic Infectious Diseases service line, expanded our social media presence, joined multiple national Infectious Diseases committees, […]

Dec 28, 2018

At the end of 2018, we remember and respect Influenza, 100 years after the great pandemic

The Mother of All Pandemics In the 1918-1919 calendar year, the world experienced the worst influenza pandemic in modern times. Coming on the heels of WWI, the H1N1 pandemic occurred in three waves – in the spring of 1918, fall 1918 and spring 1919. Estimates suggest that the pandemic infected a third of the world’s […]

Dec 26, 2018

Pharm To Exam Table – Candida glabrata Urinary Tract Infections

The following is a clinical review written by Allison Graner, UNMC College of Pharmacy PharmD candidate 2019, and supervised by Scott Bergman PharmD FIDSA, Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator of Nebraska Medicine Antimicrobial Stewardship Program What is the appropriate treatment for urinary tract infection caused by Candida glabrata? Infections caused by the fungus known as Candida, the […]

Dec 21, 2018

Skin Deep: A Closer Look at Treatment of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Current guidelines for management of Skin/Soft Tissue Infections (SSTIs) were published in 20141.  Nevertheless, management of SSTIs is variable, likely driven by the fact that culture data is often unavailable to direct clinical decision making. Treatment variability results in inappropriate antimicrobial use, highlighting the need for antimicrobial stewardship. Consequently, management of SSTIs is one area […]

Dec 3, 2018