Determining barriers to submitting antimicrobial-resistant isolates among hospitals in Texas Public Health Region 8

Abstract

Background

The Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network (AR Lab Network) was developed by the CDC to detect emerging antimicrobial-resistant (AR) threats and prevent outbreaks. However, low submission rates of AR isolates limit the potential of the AR Lab Network to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate barriers to submission of AR isolates in acute care hospitals (ACHs) and critical access hospitals (CAHs) within Texas Public Health Region 8 (PHR8) counties.

Methods

A survey was designed and emailed to laboratory professionals to identify barriers to AR isolate submission. Responses were analyzed using 2-sided Fisher’s exact tests to identify associations between responses and respondent characteristics.

Results

Of the 33 hospitals within PHR8 invited to participate in the survey, responses were received from 21, a response rate of 63.6%. Lack of awareness of the AR Lab Network was the most frequently cited barrier to submission (65.4% of respondents). Other reported barriers to submission included lack of laboratory staff time (57.7%), lack of training with the submission process (34.6%), lack of personnel certified to ship infectious substances (23.1%), and lack of laboratory/shipping supplies (23.1%).

Discussion

Regardless of the respondent’s role, time in that role, or type of hospital in which they worked, the most common barrier to isolate submission was lack of awareness of the AR Lab Network. In the future, we will address the identified barriers by implementing educational outreach programs about AMR and the AR Lab Network for hospitals and other healthcare facilities within PHR8.

Keywords

Antimicrobial resistance submission barriers Antimicrobial Resistance Lab Network surveillance studies

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019) Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Qualtrics XM Version 9.5 . Available at: https://www.qualtrics.com (accessed June 2021).

Texas Department of State Health Services (2021a) Texas Public Health Region 8. Available at: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/region8/overview.shtm (accessed 2 March 2022).

Texas Department of State Health Services (2021b) Texas public health Regions. Available at: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/regional-local-health-operations/public-health-regions (accessed 6 January 2022).

Texas Department of State Health Services (2022) Local health department and DSHS regional public health coverage. Available at: https://dshs.texas.gov/regions/state.shtm (accessed 4 October 2022).

Supplementary Material

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