Blumberg, Emily A.

Abstract The field of infectious diseases (ID) offers a rewarding career path and is widely viewed as an essential subspecialty in medicine. However, in recent years, these positive aspects have been overshadowed by concerns surrounding low fellowship match rates, undercompensation, and burnout. The Infectious Diseases Society of America Fellowship Training Program Directors Committee met in 2023, discussed the future of ID as a specialty, and sought to develop strategies to highlight the value and opportunities of ID for future generations, as well as underscore the importance of and provide tools for positive messaging to trainees about the subspecialty. This paper presents ideas generated at this meeting and is meant to serve as a reference for ID training program directors, as well as the wider ID community, in uplifting and shaping the future of the field.

Abstract The Infectious Diseases Society of America Training Program Directors Committee met in October 2022 and discussed an observed increase in clinical volume and acuity on infectious diseases (ID) services, and its impact on fellow education. Committee members sought to develop specific goals and strategies related to improving training program culture, preserving quality education on inpatient consult services and in the clinic, and negotiating change at the annual IDWeek Training Program Director meeting. This paper outlines a presentation of ideas brought forth at the meeting and is meant to serve as a reference document for infectious diseases training program directors seeking guidance in this area.

AbstractBackgroundClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in recipients of solid organ transplant (SOT) or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). In retrospective single center analyses, severe disease and relapse are common. We undertook an international, prospective cohort study to estimate the response to physician determined antibiotic treatment for CDI in patients with SOT and HSCT.MethodsAdults with a first episode of CDI within the first 2 years of SOT or HSCT were enrolled. Demographics, comorbidities, and medication history were collected, and over 90 days of follow‐up clinical cure, recurrences, and complications were assessed. Logistic regression was used to study associations of baseline predictors of clinical cure and recurrence. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are cited.ResultsA total of 132 patients, 81 SOT and 51 HSCT (32 allogeneic), were enrolled with a median age of 56 years; 82 (62%) were males and 128 (97%) were hospitalized at enrollment. One hundred and six (80.3%) were diagnosed by DNA assay. CDI occurred at a median of 20 days post‐transplant (interquartile range, IQR: 6–133). One hundred and eight patients (81.8%) were on proton pump inhibitors; 126 patients (95.5%) received antibiotics within the 6 weeks before CDI. The most common initial CDI treatments prescribed, on or shortly before enrollment, were oral vancomycin alone (50%) and metronidazole alone (36%). Eighty‐three percent (95% CI: 76, 89) of patients had clinical cure; 18% (95% CI: 12, 27) of patients had recurrent CDI; global clinical cure occurred in 65.2%. Of the 11 patients who died, two (1.5% of total) were related to CDI. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, the type of initial treatment was associated with clinical cure (p = .009) and recurrence (p = .014). A history of cytomegalovirus (CMV) after transplant was associated with increased risk of recurrence (44% with versus 13% without CMV history; OR: 5.7, 95% CI: 1.5, 21.3; p = .01).ConclusionsAmong adults who develop CDI after SOT or HSCT, despite their immunosuppressed state, the percentage with clinical cure was high and the percentage with recurrence was low. Clinical cure and recurrence varied by type of initial treatment, and CMV viremia/disease was associated with an increased risk of recurrence.

Abstract Remediation of struggling learners is a challenge faced by all educators. In recognition of this reality, and in light of contemporary challenges facing infectious diseases (ID) fellowship program directors, the Infectious Diseases Society of America Training Program Directors’ Committee focused the 2018 National Fellowship Program Directors’ Meeting at IDWeek on “Remediation of the Struggling Fellow.” Small group discussions addressed 7 core topics, including feedback and evaluations, performance management and remediation, knowledge deficits, fellow well-being, efficiency and time management, teaching skills, and career development. This manuscript synthesizes those discussions around a competency-based framework to provide program directors and other educators with a roadmap for addressing common contemporary remediation challenges.

Abstract Background CDI is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in SOT and HCT patients (pts). In retrospective single-center analyses, severe disease and relapse were common. We undertook a multicenter prospective observational study to evaluate outcomes of CDI among both SOT and HCT patients. Methods Adults with a first episode of CDI, defined as 3 liquid stools/24 h with the detection of C. difficile toxin in stool, within the first 2 years of SOT or HCT were recruited from 12 centers internationally in the INSIGHT network. At enrollment, demographics, comorbidities, medication histories and outcomes were collected prospectively over 90 days to assess clinical cure, recurrences and complications and to define baseline risk factors for clinical cure and recurrent CDI. Results 132 patients (81 SOT, 51 HCT (32 allogeneic)) were enrolled: median age 56 years, 62.1% were males, 97% were hospitalized. 80.3% were diagnosed by DNA assay. CDI occurred a median of 20 days post transplant (IQR: 6–133). 108 patients were on PPIs. 98.5% were on antibiotics before CDI. 1st line treatment regimen was oral vancomycin in 66 patients (40 SOT, 26 HCT), metronidazole in 48 patients (27 SOT, 21 HCT), both drugs in 14 (10 SOT, 4 HCT), fidaxomicin (3) and linezolid (1). Rejection within 60 days before CDI was uncommon (6.2% SOT) as was GVHD (27.5%). 110 patients (83%, 95% CI: 46–89)) (65 SOT, 45 HCT) had clinical cure; 18% (95% CI: 11–27) had recurrent CDI, 2 were admitted to the ICU due to CDI, 11 (8.3%) died (2 HCT related to CDI). Among baselines variables, only first-line regimen was associated with a higher rate of clinical cure (P = 0.003), most notably for SOT. Factors that did not have a statistically significant negative impact on clinical cure included sex, age > 60, race, country, transplant type, steroids, diabetes, CMV viremia/disease, WBC > 15,000, creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL, or specific antibiotic given prior to CDI. Higher recurrence rates were associated with metronidazole-only regimen (OR: 4.6, 95% CI: 1.6–12.8; P = 0.004) and a history of CMV after transplant (OR: 5.2, 95% CI: 1.7–15.7; P = 0.003). Conclusion Despite their immunosuppressed state, recurrence, ICU admission and mortality occurred in a minority of SOT and HCT with CDI. Initial use of metronidazole and CMV viremia/disease were associated with higher recurrence rates. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Abstract Transmission of pathogens from donor to recipient is a potential complication of organ transplantation. Herein, we describe the clinical course and outcomes of 4 transplant recipients who received tissues from a donor with multi‐organ infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase ( KPC )‐producing K. pneumoniae . Recipient 1 underwent simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation for alpha‐1 antitrypsin deficiency and alcohol‐related cirrhosis, and acute tubular necrosis, respectively. Soon after transplantation, he developed an infected hematoma and peritonitis due to KPC ‐producing K. pneumoniae despite receiving tigecycline prophylaxis. He was treated with a prolonged course of tigecycline, amikacin, and meropenem, in conjunction with surgical evacuation and percutaneous drainage of the infected fluid collections. Recipient 2 underwent living‐donor liver transplantation for cholangiocarcinoma and primary sclerosing cholangitis using vein graft from the donor infected with KPC ‐producing K. pneumoniae . Culture of the preservation fluid containing the vein graft was positive for KPC ‐producing K. pneumoniae . The patient received preemptive amikacin and tigecycline, and he did not develop any infection (as evidenced by negative surveillance blood cultures). The isolates from the donor and Recipients 1 and 2 were indistinguishable by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. Recipients 3 and 4 underwent kidney and heart transplantation, respectively; both patients received perioperative tigecycline prophylaxis and did not develop infections due to KPC ‐producing K. pneumoniae . All transplant recipients had good short‐term outcomes. These cases highlight the importance of inter‐institutional communication and collaboration to ensure the successful management of recipients of organs from donors infected with multidrug‐resistant organisms.