Reflecting on a contact precautions talk at ECCMID with Dr Gonzalo Bearman

After his excellent session atthe ECCMID meeting, Martin talks to Dr Gonzalo Bearman (Chief of Infectious Diseases at VCU Health, Editor in Chief of Antimicrobial Stewardship Healthcare Epidemiology (ASHE), footballer and drummer) about the removal of contact precautions for endemic organisms like MRSA and VRE and how evidence can change practice. Challenges of applying evidence from one setting to another are also discussed. Some of Gonzalo's papers on this subject are here:

• Bearman GM, et al. A controlled trial of universal gloving versus contact precautions for preventing the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms. Am J Infect Control. 2007;35(10):650-655.  https://10.1016/j.ajic.2007.02.011
• McLemore A, et al. Effect of contact precautions on wait time from emergency room disposition to inpatient admission. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2011;32(3):298-299.  https://doi:10.1086/658913
• Banach DB, et al. Duration of Contact Precautions for Acute-Care Settings. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2018:1-18.  https://doi:10.1017/ice.2017.245
• Bearman G, et al. Impact of Discontinuing Contact Precautions for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2018;39(6):676-682.  https://doi:10.1017/ice.2018.57
• Godbout EJ, et al. Impact of discontinuation of contact precautions on central-line associated bloodstream infections in an academic children's hospital. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2019:1-3. 
• Haessler S, et al. Stopping the routine use of contact precautions for management of MRSA and VRE at three academic medical centers: An interrupted time series analysis. Am J Infect Control. 2020;48(12):1466-1473.  https://doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.06.219
• Morgan DJ, et al. Contact Precautions for Endemic MRSA and VRE: Time to Retire Legal Mandates. JAMA. 2017;318(4):329-330.  https://doi:10.1001/jama.2017.7419
• Bearman G, et al. Control of drug-resistant pathogens in endemic settings: contact precautions, controversies, and a proposal for a less restrictive alternative. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2012;14(6):620-626.  https://doi:10.1007/s11908-012-0299-8