Background: Measles is a highly transmissible virus. A single case can result in significant exposures within a healthcare facility and prompt action is needed to prevent secondary cases. In October 2025, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) was notified of a patient being admitted to our facility with recent international travel and symptoms consistent with measles. The patient was unvaccinated and had five healthcare facility visits prior to measles being suspected and subsequently confirmed. Objective: To describe our facility’s effective identification, prioritization, and prophylaxis of individuals exposed to measles. Methods: IPAC leveraged the electronic medical record to identify potentially exposed patients. Patients were quickly assessed for age and immune status, then prioritized and assigned to primary care teams. These teams promptly contacted patients and coordinated PEP administration. Results: Across five encounters, the index patient exposed 539 other patients. Due to delayed notification, our teams had less than four days to administer PEP for those exposed and still within PEP window. PEP administration began within hours of the index case’s positive test and patients received PEP within three days (Table 1). No secondary measles cases occurred within our facility. Conclusion: Timely and coordinated multidisciplinary effort enabled us to rapidly respond to our first measles case and control secondary transmission. Although the index case resulted in a large exposure, patients that were exposed and eligible for PEP were quickly prioritized to prevent secondary transmission.
Performance Improvement in Healthcare Facility Measles Management
Background: Advanced planning and adaptable response strategies are essential for preventing measles transmission in healthcare facilities. Objective: To describe a measles management plan and subsequent modifications in response to a cluster of measles cases. Methods: Drawing on previously published work (doi:10.1017/ice.2025.49), the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team initiated a multi-disciplinary team and developed a measles preparedness plan with the following domains: Guidance and education; early detection and testing; isolation and patient movement; contact tracing and exposure management (Table 1). In October 2025, a patient was admitted during their fifth healthcare encounter and was diagnosed with measles. Two family members were later hospitalized with measles. Delayed recognition of the first case prompted enhancements to our preparedness framework (Table 1). Results: The first case resulted in 539 exposed patients. The second resulted in 87 exposures, and the third resulted in no exposure. Despite the extensive exposure, zero secondary measles were reported. Conclusion: Proactive planning enabled rapid response to our first case and controlled secondary transmission. Despite extensive planning, delayed identification of the first case caused significant exposures. As the cluster unfolded, we refined our plan, resulting in zero exposures from the last patient and zero secondary cases, despite over 850 exposures. These efforts may guide other healthcare facilities in improving their measles preparedness and response.
Developing a Measles Flagging System within the Electronic Health Record
Background: In 2025, 50 measles outbreaks drove 87% of confirmed cases reported in the United States. As a highly infectious virus with an estimated R ranging from 12-18, we sought rapidly scalable and implementable measles preparedness measures for our facilities. Methods: The electronic health record (EHR) has flags that can be placed on patient records to denote the presence of, or concern for, active, transmissible infections. These flags are highly visible in the EHR and represent a good usability heuristic as front line providers are already trained to look for this information. Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) worked with nursing informatics to develop measles-specific flags for suspected, confirmed and exposed patients in the EHR, expanding flagging functionality in preparation for potential measles cases and exposures. The flagging was tied to registry functionality to allow for tracking of exposed and confirmed cases longitudinally for supporting IPAC investigations in addition to clinical operations. Results: Three different flags were developed in the EHR to address measles. Specific criteria were created for each flag, as shown in Table 1. Table 1: Attached as Image Conclusion: As a highly contagious virus, measles presents unique challenges to healthcare facilities managing both cases and exposures. Measles flags within the EHR can be leveraged to assist facilities with case tracking, exposure management, and infection prevention and control.
Leveraging the Electronic Medical Record to Identify Patients at Risk for Carbapenemase-producing organisms
Background: Carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) are a serious public health threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for combating CPO includes a recommendation to screen selected high risk patients. We describe a program to identify and screen patients at risk for CPO. Setting: An academic, tertiary care center with 2,059 licensed beds and 74,359 admissions a year. Methods: A report was created in the electronic medical record (EMR) to identify adult patients admitted in the previous 24 hours who were from countries and states with known CPO transmission based on address and zip code. A nursing protocol was subsequently developed in the EMR to facilitate CPO screening for eligible patients at admission. After the CPO order is placed, an electronic communication is sent via the EMR alerting the patient care team of the order, the rationale for screening, details on swab collection, and links to a toolkit with resources to help answer patient questions. A single perirectal swab is obtained by the patient’s primary nurse and is tested for Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC), New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), oxacillinase-48 (OXA-48), and Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Patients may refuse testing. Results: From May 2018 through November 2025, 6,039 patients were identified for CPO screening using case-finding report. Of these patients, 2,424 had CPO swabs completed. Eighteen patients with CPO were identified with an overall yield of 0.75% on admission screening. There was one patient who tested positive for KPC, 10 patients who tested positive for NDM, and 5 patients who tested positive for OXA-48. Two patients were identified to have both NDM and OXA-48. Conclusions: The EMR can be leveraged for early identification and screening of patients with epidemiologically significant pathogens. Use of the nursing protocol has enabled IPAC to complete timely CPO surveillance and prevent transmission to other patients. Protocols within the EMR can be effectively replicated for a timely response to emerging infections.
Optimizing Pediatric ICU Central Line Maintenance and Removal Through Weekly Multidisciplinary CLABSI Prevention Rounds
Background: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) remain a challenge in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs); central line days have been directly correlated with risk of CLABSI. The Mayo Clinic PICU is a 23-bed multidisciplinary unit including dedicated bone marrow transplant beds with an average of 1048 admissions annually. In 2024, the unit’s CLABSI rate was 0.82 per 1,000 central line days or approximately 1–3 CLABSIs per year. Weekly multidisciplinary CLABSI Prevention Rounds were piloted from August 2024 to March 2025 with the aim of reducing central line device utilization rate as a method to reduce CLABSI risk. Methods: A multidisciplinary team of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), Nurse Managers, and off-service PICU physicians conducted weekly CLABSI rounds on PICU beds (excluding 4 BMT beds), meeting with each bedside nurse as well as the on-service providers. The CLABSI team assessed central line necessity using a standard questionnaire and provided education to physicians and nurses regarding central line care and CLABSI prevention. Monthly data were compared for the same 8 calendar months pre versus post intervention for central line days, patient days, and device utilization rate (DUR; central line days/patient days), both unadjusted and adjusted for PRISM (Pediatric Risk of Mortality) 3 severity of illness score. Pre- and post-implementation staff surveys assessed confidence in line management and interdisciplinary communication using Likert scales. Results: Thirty-two CLABSI rounds with a total of 118 individual patients and 45 discrete interventions were noted over 8 months and compared to the 8 pre-intervention corresponding months. Pre versus post monthly DUR was 0.42 [0.32–0.57] vs 0.46 [0.30–0.55], p = 0.49 (PRISM 3–adjusted p = 0.97). Nursing confidence in ‘discussing central line need’ significantly improved post-implementation, 5 [4–5] vs 5 [5–5], p = 0.035. Nurses also positively perceived third-party involvement in need assessment, 4 [3–4] vs 4 [3–4], p = 0.06. All surveyed clinicians trended toward being less likely to think a central line was left in too long, 3 [3–4] vs 3 [2–4], p = 0.06. Conclusion: Structured weekly multidisciplinary CLABSI rounds are a feasible intervention that empowers bedside nurses and improves confidence in line maintenance and interdisciplinary communication. Median DUR was not significantly altered by the intervention, but nursing perception of central line management improved qualitatively in pre- versus post-implementation surveys. Continued expansion of multidisciplinary initiatives addressing central line necessity and management is needed to further evaluate overall effects on DUR and CLABSI incidence.
1708. Molecular Epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Colonizing Infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A 4-Year Cohort Study
Abstract Background Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infections, both methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant (MSSA, MRSA), cause significant morbidity among infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Colonization usually precedes infection. We studied the molecular epidemiology of SA colonization in NICU infants using whole genome sequencing (WGS) and in relation to the opening of a new NICU with single-family rooms. Methods From 2019-22, a prospective cohort of infants admitted to the Level IV NICU at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN was screened twice weekly for SA colonization using cultures of nares/axilla/groin swabs. Infection control procedures were consistent throughout, including use of Contact Precautions for infants colonized with MRSA but not for MSSA. The study was divided into period 1 (1/1/2019-11/30/2020) and period 2 (12/1/2020-12/31/2022) due to a move from a 34-bed unit (26 beds in four open-bay rooms and 8 beds in single-family rooms) to a new 34-bed unit (all single-family rooms). WGS was performed using Illumina MiSeq instrumentation and chemistry with Illumina Nextera XT library chemistry. Assembly and core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis were performed with Ridom SeqSphere+ software. Groups of related isolates were identified based on the number of allelic differences (related 0-8 differences, possibly related 9-29 differences, unrelated ≥ 30 differences). Groups of MRSA-related isolates were compared with reference USA genotypes. Chi square tests did not adjust for clustering. Results There were 663 admissions in period 1 and 730 in period 2. The prevalence of MSSA and MRSA colonization was unchanged in the two periods (MSSA, 18.6% vs. 16.7%, p=0.37; MRSA 1.8% vs. 3.3%, p=0.08). By WGS, most MSSA and MRSA isolates were unrelated to another isolate in both periods (Table). Groups of related MSSA and MRSA isolates differed between the two periods and the number of isolates/group was small (< 6 isolates). Groups of related MRSA isolates were associated with reference genotypes USA100 (period 1), USA1000 (periods 1 & 2), and USA300 (period 2). WGS Results for MSSA and MRSA in Periods 1 and 2 Conclusion NICU infants were usually colonized with unrelated strains of MSSA and MRSA, with only small clusters of related strains. The new NICU was not associated with a change in MSSA or MRSA colonization. Disclosures Priya Sampathkumar, MD, Merck Vaccines: Advisor/Consultant Robin Patel, MD, Abbott Laboratories: Advisor/Consultant|Adaptive Phage Therapeutics: Grant/Research Support|Adaptive Phage Therapeutics: Mayo Clinic has a royalty-bearing know-how agreement and equity in Adaptive Phage Therapeutics.|BIOFIRE: Grant/Research Support|CARB-X: Advisor/Consultant|ContraFect: Grant/Research Support|Day Zero Diagnostics: Advisor/Consultant|HealthTrackRx: Advisor/Consultant|Mammoth Biosciences: Advisor/Consultant|Netflix: Advisor/Consultant|Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Advisor/Consultant|PhAST: Advisor/Consultant|See details: Patent on Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis PCR issued, a patent on a device/method for sonication with royalties paid by Samsung to Mayo Clinic|See details: continued, patent on an anti-biofilm substance issued|TenNor Therapeutics Limited: Grant/Research Support|Torus Biosystems: Advisor/Consultant|Trellis Bioscience, Inc.: Advisor/Consultant W. Charles Huskins, MD, MSc, ADMA Biologics: Advisor/Consultant|Bristol Myers Squibb: Stocks/Bonds|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Stocks/Bonds|Zimmer Biomet: Stocks/Bonds