IDWeek 2017 is in the books

I'm back from IDWeek 2017 in San Diego -- always good to reconnect with old friends, meet new colleagues, and hear the latest in infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship science and practice.  This year I noted an increase in pro-con and clinical controversies sessions, which I think are so valuable for those of us struggling day-to-day with issues where the evidence base is absent or opinion is conflicting.   If you didn't get a chance to attend, fear not, as I am sure there will be more conference-related news emerging over the coming weeks (all 6 of your favorite bloggers made an appearance). 

Of course, it's never too early to think about next year -- IDWeek 2018 heads back to the left coast, this time it's San Francisco, October 3-7, 2018 (mark your calendars!).  I'm among the SHEA contingent for the planning committee (along with Hilary), and we're very interested in program suggestions -- please send them our way.

I'll leave you with one meeting tidbit -- Shelley Magill presented the results from the CDC's 2015 HAI Prevalence study, a follow up to their 2011 survey that was published in the NEJM.  In the 4 years since the first survey (using the same hospitals included previously):

• The HAI prevalence rate among hospitalized acute care patients fell from 4.1% to 3.2% (a 22% decrease)
• Central line and urinary catheter use were both significantly lower
• Healthcare-associated UTIs and SSIs significantly decreased

Nice to see some positive news to reflect the extensive HAI prevention efforts nationwide.  Of note, antimicrobial use stayed stable, reinforcing the need for increased antibiotic stewardship efforts.  Given the enhanced focus in this area, I am hopeful that the next prevalence survey will show improvement on that end as well.