This K23 award will provide Aaron Milstone, MD with the necessary resources and protected time to become an independent investigator performing patient-oriented research. In addition to the research studies, this proposal outlines a comprehensive career development program, including advanced coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, and clinical trial methods and mentorship from a national leader in healthcare epidemiology in combination with a faculty advisory committee. The research component of this award will focus on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in children with an emphasis on community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains. As CA-MRSA strains fuel an MRSA epidemic, the impact and control of MRSA requires further study. CA-MRSA strains are entering the hospital, being spread to children, and causing hospital-acquired infections and hospital outbreaks. The clinical spectrum of MRSA infection in children is well described. However, the epidemiology and impact of MRSA colonization and transmission in children is not well characterized. In addition, the virulence and transmissibility of CA-MRSA strains remains unclear. The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) provides an environment amendable to studying the epidemiology, pathogenesis and prevention of MRSA. The proposed studies will 1) measure the prevalence of MRSA colonization and the incidence of MRSA transmission in a pediatric population and determine the distribution of various MRSA strains;2) determine the risk of MRSA infection in children colonized with different MRSA strains;and 3) assess the efficacy of bathing patients daily with chlorhexidine as a feasible strategy to reduce MRSA transmission. These studies will utilize the resources of The Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Hospital Epidemiology and the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. We anticipate that these studies will serve as a model for assessing the impact of multidrug-resistant bacteria in a pediatric population, and help guide the allocation of resources towards infection prevention strategies in hospitalized children. Future studies will use the archive of bacterial isolates and their associated clinical data to further characterize the pathogenicity of various MRSA strains.

Public Health Relevance

MRSA is a significant cause of disease and death in the United States and around the world. Because studies in adults show increased financial costs and mortality associated with MRSA, the epidemiology and impact of MRSA in children requires further study. Sound epidemiologic investigation and innovative and feasible interventions are needed to control MRSA transmission and prevent MRSA disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23AI081752-04
Application #
8291414
Study Section
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases B Subcommittee (MID)
Program Officer
Huntley, Clayton C
Project Start
2009-07-01
Project End
2013-11-30
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-11-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$134,730
Indirect Cost
$9,980
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Popoola, Victor O; Budd, Alicia; Wittig, Sara M et al. (2014) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission and infections in a neonatal intensive care unit despite active surveillance cultures and decolonization: challenges for infection prevention. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 35:412-8
Popoola, Victor O; Tamma, Pranita; Reich, Nicholas G et al. (2013) Risk factors for persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in children with multiple intensive care unit admissions. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 34:748-50
Advani, Sonali; Sengupta, Arnab; Milstone, Aaron M (2013) Postdischarge surveillance to identify subsequent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in colonized children. Am J Infect Control 41:939-41
Jumani, Ketan; Advani, Sonali; Reich, Nicholas G et al. (2013) Risk factors for peripherally inserted central venous catheter complications in children. JAMA Pediatr 167:429-35
Popoola, Victor O; Carroll, Karen C; Ross, Tracy et al. (2013) Impact of colonization pressure and strain type on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission in children. Clin Infect Dis 57:1458-60
Milstone, Aaron M; Elward, Alexis; Song, Xiaoyan et al. (2013) Daily chlorhexidine bathing to reduce bacteraemia in critically ill children: a multicentre, cluster-randomised, crossover trial. Lancet 381:1099-106
Advani, Sonali; Reich, Nicholas G; Sengupta, Arnab et al. (2011) Central line-associated bloodstream infection in hospitalized children with peripherally inserted central venous catheters: extending risk analyses outside the intensive care unit. Clin Infect Dis 52:1108-1115
Briggs, Jessica J; Milstone, Aaron M (2011) Changes over time in caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Pediatr 158:1039
Sengupta, Arnab; Rand, Cynthia; Perl, Trish M et al. (2011) Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among caregivers of hospitalized children. J Pediatr 158:416-21
Milstone, Aaron M; Goldner, Brian W; Ross, Tracy et al. (2011) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization and risk of subsequent infection in critically ill children: importance of preventing nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission. Clin Infect Dis 53:853-9

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