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  Removing Barriers to Tecovirimat for Mpox-infected Individuals via Novel Models of Care Delivery

  Michael McCarthy, BA; Joe Glowacki, DO, MS; Rostislav Livinsky, PA; Daniel Taupin, MD, MHQS; and Dagan Coppock, MD. MSCE

  Problem Statement

  During the 2022 mpox outbreak, the CDC’s expanded access Investigational New Drug (IND) protocol created a practical barrier to the outpatient provision of tecovirimat. We rapidly implemented a tecovirimat prescription program for individuals infected with mpox to improves access to care.

  Project AIM

  Primary aim: describe how we rapidly implemented a program for increasing tecovirimat distribution in a metropolitan area.

  Secondary aims: describe the patient population who received tecovirimat as treatment for mpox at our clinic and analyze several clinically relevant time intervals along the continuum of care delivery.

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  Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibodies for Early COVID-19: A Real-World Experience

  Katherine Belden, MD; Bryan Hess, MD; Caroline Brugger, CRNP; Rachel Carr, PA; Todd Braun, MD; Joseph DeRose, DO; and John Zurlo, MD

  Higher rates of COVID-19 related hospitalization and death are reported in patients with underlying health conditions and advanced age as compared to the general population.While polyclonal immunity generated by vaccines has demonstrated protection against severe disease, vaccine response takes time and may be inadequate in some high-risk populations.1 Treatment with anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies affords prompt, passive humoral immunity and has been shown in randomized, controlled trials to reduce rates of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in high-risk ambulatory patients treated early in the course of infection.2,3 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Emergency Use Authorization for four monoclonal antibody products requiring intravenous administration including bamlanivimab monotherapy (since retracted), casirivimab/imdevimab, bamlanivimab/etesevimab (since retracted) and sotrovimab for the treatment of early, mild-moderate COVID-19 in high-risk outpatients as well as inpatients not hospitalized for COVID-19. How to effectively identify qualifying patients, arrange for infusion and administer therapy, however, poses challenges to the widespread, equitable utilization of these potentially lifesaving therapies.

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  Hand Hygiene Observations… Not So Secret Anymore

  Mary Ehly, BSN, RN, CIC; Courtney Mitchell, MPH, CIC; Charlotte Sacksteder, BA; and Kelly Zabriskie, BS, CIC

  Objective

  To create a hand hygiene surveillance program to reduce bias, be more reliable, yield a greater number of observations, and provide real time feedback

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  An Infection Control Journey in Hospital Based Practice Conversion

  Cathleen Strzalka, MPH, CPH, CIC and Kelly Zabriskie, CIC

  Objective

  • Effectively bring physician based practices (PBPs) under hospital licensure
  • Ensure safe delivery of care
  • Produce successful regulatory surveys

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  Physician Based Practices and Instrument Sterilization - How do you do it?

  Kelly Zabriskie, CIC and Cathleen Strzalka, MPH, CPH, CIC

  Objective

  To develop a process that allows the PBP to operate efficiently and effectively but still be compliant with proper instrument reprocessing rules and regulations.